“Mia…” Ares says her name with a patience I didn’t know he possessed.
“I’ll leave you alone, but first I just need a few minutes. You can spare a moment,” she rushes out.
I’m torn. I don’t want her here, especially in what I’ve come to accept as our space, but I also don’t want to be dealing with her every five minutes. And I have a feeling Mia is prepared to do whatever it takes until she feels like she’s been heard.
I glance up at Ares, and his mouth is a thin slash. There’s no way I’d want that look pointed at me. Mia folds her arms under her chest looking like she isn’t at all intimidated in the least. I pat Ares’s thigh. It’s strange looking at this woman who I know has a history with him. I was uncertain, insecure even, last night at dinner. “It won’t work,” I tell her, feeling remarkably calm considering I growled at her twenty minutes ago.
Mia ignores me. “Ares, a minute. Please.”
“You don’t understand. And I’m not saying that to be mean or spiteful, I didn’t even understand myself.” I try again.
“Don’t act like you know me,” Mia seethes, her cheeks going red. “You can’t possibly pretend to know him or me.”
I let out a sigh, shaking my head. “See, that’s what I mean. If you truly understood, you’d know how wrong you are. You thought you knew him.” Leaning back, I tilt my head to look at Ares, his face is soft, and the edge I’d always thought he carried is absent. He gives me a slow blink, one that, even in this moment, I find terribly alluring. I sigh again, but for a different reason.
“I know him, you think a few weeks could outweigh years?” Mia blusters.
“Seconds.” My eyes are still on Ares as I tell her, “Seconds was all it took, one look into those fathomless eyes, and I knew him on a level you’ll never be able to understand.” Ares drops a kiss to my forehead, his hand circling around the back of my neck.
“Bullshit,” Mia curses, her voice on the verge of shouting.
Ares squeezes my shoulder once before he shifts so he can stand from the bed. “Mia, I never meant to hurt you.” There’s that patient tone again, but I can hear the frustration in his voice.
“Well, you did,” Mia snaps back.
“I’m getting that.” Ares squeezes his temples between his thumb and fingers.
“You can’t expect me to just give up, to let go without you even knowing everything I feel, everything I’ve done to be with you.”
“It doesn’t matter, Mia, none of it matters.” Ares pauses for a brief second before saying, “Cara, go get in the shower.” His tone is completely different when he addresses me.
I trail my hand over his back as I walk past, not at all concerned that I’m leaving him alone with her. The bond between us gives me more reassurance than any words could.
Chapter 12
I run my hands over my jeans several times. I went casual, just like the guys, except for Ares, of course. My shirt is new, made out of a super soft sweater material in black with oversized sleeves. The hem hits right at my waist, just shy of exposing my belly. It’s one of the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn, but I still feel kinda cute. I need to be careful lifting my arms though. I think I gave Ollie a shot of my bra when I was pulling my hair up into a high ponytail.
I’ve looked at the clock so many times, I don’t think the hands are actually moving anymore. Ollie comes over and grabs my hands, lowering himself so he’s hunched down in front of me, with a sly smirk tipping one side of his face. “So, how’s it going?” he questions, like he’s an underpaid school counselor. I roll my eyes and try to pry my hands free from his. Ollie chuckles, completely unrepentant. “I don’t know how many times we can tell you to relax, sweetie. I promise they’ll love you.”
I narrow my eyes at him for teasing me, but I’m grateful for the reassurance. “I’ve never done this before,” I whisper, letting my nerves get the better of me.
Ollie’s eyes soften. “You really don’t have anything to worry about, I promise.”
“But... there are four of you,” I stammer, as I lean in close so only he can hear me. I have seen little of Milo since breakfast, he seems almost as nervous as I am. Dante is sitting on the couch watching TV, while Ares is still at the island where he’s been diligently working on a laptop for the past hour. Ollie looks at me in confusion. “And there’s only one of me.” I raise my brows, hoping he understands what I’m trying to say.
“Milo has three dads, one mom,” Ares says from the island.
Ollie’s head jerks back a fraction of an inch. “That’s what you’re worried about?” His tone implies it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard.
I grab the sleeve of his shirt, tugging him closer. “That’s all I can think about. This is… this isn’t something I…” I roll my lips together. I don’t know how to explain what I’m feeling. I never in a million years thought I’d be in a relationship with two guys, let alone four. I can’t kick the feeling that people will think badly of me, like I’m not loyal.
Ollie gives me a second to get my thoughts together. He rises from the floor and takes the seat next to me, keeping hold of one of my hands as he does. Dante’s head swivels in my direction, his eyes roaming over Ollie and me on the couch opposite him. I bite my bottom lip, deciding I need to just get it out there. “What if they think I’m a whore?” The doorbell rings as soon as the words leave my mouth.
Ares is now looking at me, too, and heat spreads from my neck over my cheeks. Dante is off the couch and next to me in a blink. “No one will think that,” Dante grimaces. “No one who matters will think that,” he amends, taking my face between his palms.
The bell rings again, and Ollie stands, dropping his hand onto my shoulder. “Listen to him, Laura. I’ll get the door.” He jogs off as I wring my hands together.
“I know what people say about girls that have, you know… have lots of boyfriends.” I thought it was impossible for my cheeks to get any redder, I was wrong. The screech of Ares’s chair moving draws my attention. He beckons me to him with a crook of his bent finger.
I stand, reluctant to leave Dante’s side but unable to deny Ares. As I approach, his arms open and he welcomes me into his embrace without an ounce of reservation. “I’m not going to pretend it won’t ever happen. People won’t always understand us, but,” with a finger under my chin he directs my attention up to his face, “I can promise you that will not happen here today, not with any of our families.”
I swallow, my back straightens, and I pull myself away from his hold. I feel like I’m being dramatic, but all of this is so new to me. “Okay.” I nod my head several times, telling myself I can do this. Ares doesn’t release my arms and his eyes are scanning my face.
“Hey, guys,” Ollie’s cheery voice fills the room. Ares is blocking my view of the doorway, but I know when he moves Milo’s parents will be there. My throat goes dry, I can’t even swallow.
Dante bounces up next to me. “Hey,” he calls back with a smile on his lips. He seems excited, and now that I take a second out of my own head I realize Milo, Dante, and Ollie all appear pretty excited. Ares turns, but I pull his arm close to my body so when he does, I’m still clinging to his bicep. Dante closes the distance between us and sandwiches me between them.