“Yeah, but if my mum’s watching, she’d be heavily disappointed in me if I didn’t open your door. And I don’t like disappointing my mum.” He smiles.
“You’re such a mummy’s boy, aren’t you?” I laugh.
“Yes. Proudly. You’ve met my mum. She’s fucking awesome,” he says.
“She is,” I agree, because I do really like his mum.
Ares leans forward, pressing his lips to mine. It’s brief, but the tingles that one little touch sends through me are intense. “You know you could hang out with me all day.”
“You’d get sick of me by lunchtime.” I laugh.
“Doubtful.” With my hand clasped in his, Ares leads me up to the front door.
The moment we step through it, I pull my hand free, something Ares doesn’t like too much, judging by the frown on his face.
“Follow me.” Ares walks past me towards the stairs.
“I should go home,” I remind him.
“Follow me, P,” he repeats.
Why I’m listening to him when he’s clearly cranky, I have no idea, but I do follow him.
“Oh, morning.” Ares’s mum is on the landing as we reach the top.
“Morning.” Ares pulls her in for a hug and kisses her cheek.
“Good morning, Mrs De Bellis,” I say politely, feeling really self-conscious again. I’m in her house, with her son, very early in the morning.
“Zara, it’s nice to see you, sweetheart. I had an extra plate set for you. Breakfast should be ready in fifteen,” she says.
“Oh, you don’t have to. I mean, I’m just going to go home.”
“You need to eat. You’re staying,” Ares grunts.
Mrs De Bellis smiles at me and winks. “Ares, do not order her around. She can do whatever she wants,” she says before turning back to me. “Zara, we would love for you to stay.”
“Thank you.”
As soon as she walks away, Ares smirks. “Guess you’re staying for breakfast. Although I don’t think anything the chef cooks can beat what I’ve already eaten this morning.”
“What have you already eaten?” This comes from behind him, and my face burns with embarrassment.
“Cara, eavesdropping isn’t a safe habit in this family,” Ares tells his sister.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. You’re standing in the walkway,” Cara fires back. “Zara, thank god you’re here. I need help.” She tugs at my arm, pulling me away.
“With what?” Ares calls after us as Cara drags me towards her room.
“Girl stuff. I need to ask her something about periods,” Cara deadpans.
“You can ask me,” Ares says confidently, and I do my best not to laugh.
“Yeah? You ever had to deal with cramps, Ares?” his sister counters before she slams the door in his face. “Now, tell me everything I’ve missed. How did this little development betweenyou and my brother happen? Also, blink twice if you need to escape. I’ll get you out.”
I laugh. “I don’t know.”
“You look love sick,” she tells me. “But I always knew the two of you would end up together.”
