Ares is leaning against the headboard when I open the door. His legs are crossed at the ankle, shoes off, and his fingers are laced behind his head. Coming to a complete stop I accuse, “You play dirty.”

  Without an ounce of regret Ares shrugs his shoulders. “You have no idea.” The yet hangs unspoken between us.

  Planting my hands on my hips I tell him, “She already invited herself along.”

  Ares rolls his eyes, looking more his age than I’ve ever seen. “She’s not coming.”

  “Oh no? Then why didn’t you stick around to tell her that?” My voice is airy, but the challenge is clear.

  “I have other things I’d rather be doing than wasting my time on her.” Ares’s pupils start to bleed past his irises. My heart rate quickens. He’s only across the room, but it feels like he’s so far away. Ollie told me it would be easier to be apart, but he didn’t mention how hard it would be when we’re together. My hand goes up to my neck, my fingers dancing over the base of my throat as I fight the pull I feel to touch him.

  Ares licks his lips. “Come here.” His chin dips down as he peers at me from under his lashes. My feet take me closer without thought and I stop at the edge of the bed. “Closer,” he beckons, his eyes closing as he takes a long blink. Planting my knee on the bed next to him, he doesn’t move. I brace my hand on his wide shoulder, bringing my other knee up to the bed.

  “I need to get in the shower,” I remind both of us in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

  “We have a little time,” Ares promises, his hand wrapping around my waist. As I settle my rump down on my heels, his eyes search mine, and the darkness in his expands even farther. “Are you okay?” I swallow, not expecting him to ask that question. When I don’t answer right away, his hand reaches up to brush my hair over my shoulder. “I know there’s a lot going on, but are you okay with what happened between us?”

  My mouth goes a little dry and my tongue feels thick. I jerk my head up and down a few times. “It feels different,” I confess, dropping my hands in my lap. Ready to have some answers and information, but a little unnerved to be about talking about it.

  “I know Cara,” Ares tells me. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it sooner.”

  I look down at the buttons on his shirt, not sure I can meet his eyes as I ask, “Does it feel different to you too? The connection?”

  I chance a peek up at him and see that he’s relaxed back against the headboard with one hand on the side of my thigh, and the other palm up on the bed beside us. He gives me a look that says I’m crazy for not already knowing it’s different for him too, but it’s not condescending, it’s more like how could you not know. “Yes, it does,” he answers anyway. Reaching for my shoulder, he pulls me against him and I settle into his side with my head on his chest as I rearrange my legs. I know I need to get ready, but I can’t tear myself away from him.

  Ares’s head knocks back against the wall. “Don’t tell the guys, but I really would rather just stay here,” he admits as his fingers trace over the skin on my inner forearm.

  “I’m nervous,” I divulge, since it feels safe to say alone with him. He wraps his arms around my shoulders holding me tight to his side.

  “You have nothing to be nervous about, but I understand why you are.” He settles himself back, keeping his arms locked around me. “I think meeting them will help you understand a little bit more about our situation.”

  The door opens without a knock, and I look up without moving from my position. Mia stops in the doorway. Her face blanching as she gazes at us on the bed, her eyes leave us long enough to take in the rest of the room. Her brows draw together before looking back at us.

  “Mia?”

  “I looked for you in the office,” she answers Ares before he can question why she’s here. This will get real old real fast. Mia’s eyes track the movement of my hand as I push myself against Ares’s thigh, preparing to get up. His arm, however, tightens against my side locking me in place.

  “I’m not working today,” he tells her gently. Mia licks her lips and shifts her weight.

  “I need to talk to you.” Her eyes dart to me. I know she means alone.

  Ignoring her silent plea, Ares says, “All right, what did you need?”

  Mia shifts again, her hip jutting out to the side as her chin lifts an inch. “It’s private.”

  “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 11

  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 felt 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’s 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, 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 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 I 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.

  Ollie saunters over, going around me and taking up residence right behind me. I feel his hand snake around my waist as he lines himself up with my back. I notice a woman in the doorway, and when she sees us, her eyebrows pinch as her mouth slowly opens. No words come out before she closes them again, her head tilting to the side.

  She’s pretty, with medium brown hair that has hints of red and gold as the light glints off of it. She has it pulled back in a swooping low side bun and a few tendrils escape, framing her pretty face. She’s not wearing a ton of makeup, but I can see hints of sooty lashes and rosy cheeks. She is long and lean, taller than my five-foot-six-inch frame, but she’s also wearing heels. She takes one step in our direction.

  “Mom.” Her heads snaps to the right. “Dads.” Milo nods at the three men I haven’t even glanced at yet. He passes them and heads right for his mother. Her face morphs the seconds she sees him. The confusion melts away to a beautiful smile that reaches all the way to her pretty light blue eyes.

  “Milo,” she responds with an unabashed joy as he makes his way over and wraps her in a tight hug. He’s a few inches taller than her, not by much, but he dwarfs her in size. When he pulls back, she doesn’t let go. Watching him from arm’s length she grins at him.

  I glance away from them long enough to see the three men openly staring at me. It takes everything in me not to slide behind Ares’s wide back and pull Dante with me. Two of the men are big, not Ares big, but close. The third man is shorter, maybe an inch or so shorter than Milo. I know immediately which one is Milo’s biological father. It’s the eyes—he has the same navy blue eyes as his son.

  Is that hard on them or does it bother them? I glance at him now. He’s in jeans and a fitted button-down shirt, just like Milo’s other dads. All of them look fit, and I would never guess that any of them were enough to have a child Milo’s age.

  I inch my hand over to Dante’s chest, barring it across him like I’m somehow protecting him. But I don’t sense any threat. I think I’m just really nervous. The man furthest to the left tilts his head, his eyes watching my every move. “Milo, is there something you want to tell us?”

  I hear a throat clearing as Milo turns to face our group, an easy smile on his face as he raises his hand, gesturing over to us. My fingers itch to pull him over. I feel beads of sweat dotting my upper lip. When did it get so hot? Is Ollie doing this to me?

  “Laura, I’d like you to meet my parents. Linda,” he wraps his arm around his mom’s tiny waist, “Matt, Phil, and Stephen.” He points to Matt first, the one with the same striking eye color as Milo. Phil turns to look at Milo, then back at me. Stephen lifts his fingers up to rub the stubble on his jaw.

  “No shit,” Matt curses, his eyes going between me and back to Milo at a rapid pace. Linda reaches around Milo and swats his arm, and it looks to be more of a habit than an actual reprimand.

  She takes a step forward, her eyes only on me. “You’re…” She clears her throat and tries again, “Are you?” Her shoulders fall the tiniest bit and she looks over at Milo, a little helpless expression on her face.

  “Yeah, she’s ours,” Milo confirms, releasing his mom and heading over to us. Ares takes a step away, making room for Milo at my side as I make a distressed noise, totally unintentional but there all the same. So instead he moves behind me and Ollie scoots over so I’m more in the middle of them.

  If they think my behavior is strange, no one acknowledges it. Phil goes over to Linda’s other side, not quite touching, but close enough too. Stephen just grins, he tries to hide it behind a big hand, but gives up rather quickly. “Laura huh, when did you find this rag-tag group?” Matt’s eyes twinkle, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was Ollie’s dad.

  Trying to find my voice I croak, “A few weeks ago.”

  I hear a gasp. “Milo Andrews,” Linda says in that mom voice every kid knows. His back goes rigid.

  “Oh boy.” Phil rolls his eyes. “You’ve done it now,” he mutters, bracing his arms over his chest.

  “I cannot believe you hid this from me!” Linda’s voice goes from angry to weepy in a matter of seconds. I can’t see any tears, but the emotion is clear in her tone.

  “Mom,” Milo’s voice is whinier than I’ve ever heard it, “it’s not like that. I didn’t want to keep it from you.” He looks behind me at Ares, his nostrils flaring as he widens his eyes in an, are you going to help me out at all expression.

  “It was my fault.” I raise my hand like I’m volunteering for the punishment. Milo snaps his neck to look at me. “I… you see, I didn’t know about…” I circle my finger around our group, stuttering.

  Linda wrings her hands together. There’s no anger on her face, but her lips are twisted down. Matt reaches over and drops a hand on her shoulder. Phil steps closer so his arm brushes hers, and the next thing I know she bursts into tears. I jump back, my mouth falling open as I stare at her. Matt pulls her in, putting her head on his shoulder as Phil rubs her back and shoulders, making soft reassuring sounds.

  Stephen rolls his eyes on a sigh, and Linda reaches up and swats him again, still not looking up from Matt’s chest. He chuckles. Within a few seconds, Phil pats her back, sorry he mouths to us with a wry grin.

  Milo starts to squirm next to me and I can tell he’s struggling. Only a few seconds more and Linda is straightening her back, wiping her cheeks with a delicate finger under each eye. Her cheeks are flushed, but not nearly as bad as I look when I cry. She even cries prettily. Matt looks down at her and nods like he’s proud. He kisses the top of her head in a gentle gesture and looks over at us.

  Linda waves her hand, her voice still a little breathy as she says, “That was… I’m so sorry.” Her nose crinkles up in embarrassment.

  “That’s okay.” I find myself saying to ease her obvious discomfort.

  Linda stomps one heeled foot and widens her arms before rushing over to our group. I back up and my body slams into Ollie and Milo behind me. I hear a sudden chuckle as her arms wraps around whoever she can reach and she’s crying again.

  I stand there, frozen, as she shakes against me, her face buried in my hair. My eyes must be big as saucers as they meet the men in front of me. Phil mouths sorry again actually rolling his eyes this time. While Matt lifts his hands pantomiming an embrace. He’s saying I should hug her? I pull one arm free and wrap it under her arm, around her back. I’m still stiff, but I give all the effort I can into hugging a complete stranger. Stephen grins and gives me two thumbs up.

 

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