Page 41 of Infinity Chronicles 2
Ares steps closer and he bends his knees, so I can see his face. I peer at him from under my lashes. He moves fast and wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me into his chest. I curl into the embrace, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“Was that our first fight?” My voicecomes out a little muffled from his chest.
Ares chuckles. “I don’t really thinkthatqualifies as a fight sweetheart.”
“Then let’s never fight,” I decree, like it’s possible for people to never argue.
“Okay,” he sighs like he feels exactly the same way.
Chapter 15
Milo enters the room first and he’s all smiles, holding a large wooden plaque in his hands. I readjust my legs so my feet hit the floor. I’ve been curled up with Dante on the sofa for the past half hour. He’s been asleep, but he wrapped his arm over my waist when I laid down next to him.
Ares is sitting on a desk chair near the window, he’s been working on creating his own list of Leons since we literally kissed and made up an hour ago. It’s getting harder to pull myself away from him every time he touches me. Knowing it was just him and I in the room, with Dante asleep on the sofa a few feet away, helped cool me down. I know I’m notready for the next step, but I’m soveryclose.
Ollie piles in after Milo, wrapping his arm around his friend’s neck and squeezing their faces together. “We got an MVP in the house!” Ollie hollers and makes some barking noises.
Milo’s cheeks flare pink, but his grin is wide. “Knock it off.” He shoves Ollie away, setting his plaque on the table near the entrance. His parents aren’t far behind and Linda comes in rubbing his shoulder as she passes.
“Did you guys decide what we’re doing this evening?” Matt asks, stepping up behind Linda. She leans back into him and reaches her hand out to grab Phil’s, like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I scan my eyes over them, checking for signs of jealousy or anyindication that one of them isn’t happy, but I can’t find any evidence that they’re bothered by the arrangement. Will that be us one day? I look over at Milo and Ollie still near the door, completelycomfortable with each other, and Ares has turned to see the room. Dante’s eyes are now open and he’s watching Ollie tease Milo with a little grin.
I realize for the first time it mightbe possible. Watching Milo’s parents together has made me understand that this isn’t just some fantasy, we could have what they do. My eyes meet Ares’s gaze, he’s been watching me. In that moment I understand what he meant when he said he would do anything to protect us. I would too. He tips his chin down and gives me a lazy wink; it’s like he knows exactly what I was thinking.
Dante sits up behind me, stretching out his long body, and he groans on a long exhale. “How did it go?” His voice is low and raspy from not being used in a while. There are several thingsI like about Dante, but his voice has to top the list. I shiver but play it off like I was just repositioning myself.
“It was fine, same as usual, a bunch of jocks stuffing our faces while the coaches take all the credit for our hard work.” Milo walks over to the small dinette set near the mini fridge and plops down.
“They harassed Milo about school again.” Ollie rolls his eyes, choosing to head to the sofa. He plants a kiss right on my lips then throws himself on the couch, dislodging Dante and me.
After righting myself I look over at Milo’s parents, wondering what they’ll think about the PDA. Either they didn’t see or don’t care, since no one is looking at me like I shouldn’t have let him kiss me.
“I took care of dinner, we can justgive them a call when we head home so they’ll know when to deliver it. Oliver, I figuredyou might want tocall your parents, we talked to ours whileyou guys were gone.”
Ollie groans from behind me, but peeking at him I see the easy grin on his face. “I’m going to get hell for not telling them sooner. Just so you know Ares, I plan on telling my momit was all your idea.” It sounds vaguely like a threat.
“I assumed,” Ares answers dryly.
We spend another houror soin the room. Idon’t think anyone is in a hurry to stuff ourselves back into the car for the ride home. Ollie tells us little stories about all the athletes and their families to keep us entertained, while Ares continues to work on his laptop. Milo’s parents took up seats with him at the table not long after coming in. It’s been so much easier than I could have ever imagined meeting his family. I can only hope meeting the others will be just as pain free.
Ollie called his dad from the room, and told his family Ares was throwing together a little congratulations dinner for Milo and wanted them to be there. I hope they like surprises, cause they’re sure in for one.
* * *
Eventually wedopile in the Suburban. Ollie, Dante, and I are in the back, with Milo, his mom, and Ares in the middle, and Phil and Matt up front again. I keep my legs tucked in close to give the guys as much room as possible, but I’m actually more comfortable back here than I was in the middle row. I think it has more to do with me being next to Ollie and Dante, and not sitting next to Linda than the ride itself. Lowering my head to Dante’s shoulder I let the low conversations and the smooth ride lull me until I’m almost asleep.
* * *
I excusemyself to Ares’s room not long after getting home. Being around all these people for any length of time is exhausting, andhalf of them aren’t even here yet. Mia greeted Milo’s parents like old friends. No awkward stunted conversations or behavior with her, she fits in with them likeshe was meant to be. That mightactuallybe more about me being petty than the truth, but that’s how it feels seeing her ingratiate herself with them all soeasily.
I know I won’t have much time before someone comes looking for me. Ares said dinner should be here soon, but even a few minutes alone is better than sitting there feeling like an intruder among these people who have known each other forever.
“Heybae.” Ollie enters the room without knocking. I lift my head off the bed, staring him down. “Yeah, I didn’t thinkthatone would fit,” he says without an ounce of regret.
“That has to be the stupidest pet name I’ve ever heard,bae,” I scoff, dropping my head back to the bed melodramatically.
“Uh oh, someone is cranky,” Ollie singsongs. He grabs hold of my foot and slides his thumb up my instep and I squirm. It doesn’t really tickle, but it feels funny.
“I’m not cranky.” My voice sounds like a pout even to myself.
