I scrunch up my nose and pucker my lips. “Not really. Thanks though.” I place my hand purposefully on his shoulder and balance myself, pulling my legs out from under me so they dangle off the end of the bed. Milo stiffens but doesn’t shake off my touch. I long for the closeness I feel with the others as I let my hand trail over his shoulder and down his forearm.
Milo licks his bottom lip while staring at the game on the TV with his eyes larger than normal. I don’t know how to take his response. It wasn’t long ago that he was asking me to include him, to consider him, but that feels like eons ago. I feel like I’m back to square one with him, questioning if he even wants to be in this Infinity with me.
“Milo.”
He blinks several times, not looking at me. “Yeah?”
I place my hand over his on the game controller. He swallows, hisAdam’s apple bobbing. I lose my nerve to ask him what’s wrong, to ask him if this is still something he wants. It feels so selfish of me to demand to know why he’s acting so distant. Pulling my hand back to my lap, I mutter, “Never mind.”
I see himpeek at me from the corner of his eye but ignore it. That’s what he wants anyway, right?
“Oh, shit,” Ollie pipes up, tossing his remote carelessly to the floor.
“What’s wrong?” Milo and I both ask, alarm in our voices as Ollie stands.
“I totally forgot Ares asked me to take care of something. I’ll be back before you need to leave for work,” Ollie explains, quickly sliding on a pair of mismatched socks.
“But that’s not for hours, and what did he ask you to do?” I glance at the clock. It’s not even nine yet. I realize the guys’ flight hasn’t even taken off. Shaking those thoughts away I focus back on Ollie.
His face it tinted red and he won’t look at me. “It’s not a big deal, just something I forgot. You guys wait here, I’ll be back before eleven thirty.”
I open my mouth to protest, to ask more questions, but he’s out the door before another word leaves my lips. I look over at Milo, my eyes wide. “Do you think something’s wrong?” A knot of worry tightens my belly.
Milo’s nostrils flare as his lips go thin and flat. “No, he’s lying his ass off.” There’s actually some heat to Milo’s words.
Confused, formore than one reason, I ask, “Why?”
“He’s a meddling, know it all bastard.” I jerk back, surprised by the vehemence of his words. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Milo mad at Ollie.
Milo’s shoulders fall and his head angles to the side. With a little more care, he tosses his remote to the bed. I shift, uncomfortable now that Ollieis gone. He’s always the best buffer. Balling my hands into fists I push them over my thighs. Awkward silence fills the surrounding space.
Milo tilts his head back to look up at the ceiling. His eyes close and I see his lips move silently. Is it really that hard for him to be alone with me for a little while?
Rising to my feet I back away a few steps. “Uh… I’ll just go hang out in the living room. Give you some space.”
“Wait,” Milo calls out, with urgency in his voice.
I shift from foot to foot then turn to face him, my arms going over my stomach. “I ah…” Milo pushes both arms straight, gripping the end of the bed so his shoulders bunch up near his ears. “Can you stay?” So much uncertainty comes out in his words.
“You want me to?” I peer sideways at him, just as uncertain.
“I do.” He releases the bed, his movement jerky.
“Okay…” I fiddle with the long sleeves of my thermal shirt as I drop my arms to my sides, letting the fabric pull over my hands.
“Fuck,” Milo breathes. I don’t think I’m supposed to hear him, but I do. “Ollie thinks we need to talk,” he adds, hunching his back as he leans his forearms on his thighs. “That’s why he disappeared. He thinks he’shelping.” Milo winces at his own sarcasm.
“But you don’t want to talk…?” I don’t addto me,but I’m thinking it.Milo’s eyes are cast down at the ground. He shrugs noncommittally.
“We can, I guess.” He sounds a little sullen.
“We don’t have to, not if you don’t want to Milo.” He looks up at me when I say his name.
“We should though.”
The somberness of his tones makes me think I really don’t want to have this conversation. “Was there something particular that Ollie thought we should talk about?” I inquire tentatively.
Milo stand ups, his large frame filling up more space than you’d think possible. He begins a slow pace on the opposite side of the room. He only has a few feet to work with before he’ll hit the wall or come too closein my direction. He takes maybe three strides before turning back and following the same path.
