Chapter Five
KYRA
I t’s been three days since Ares arrived, and we’ve done a decent job of avoiding one another since that first night. I imagined family dinner would be awkward, but he avoided it on Sunday. Apollo said he was meeting someone for drinks to catch up, not that it was my business.
Beth arrived yesterday afternoon. We spent part of the afternoon at the club and then went out for the night. It was nearly midnight when I got back to the house. I don’t know what’s going to happen for dinner tonight. Are we taking turns skipping them?
Ryan should be arriving today, that gives me another opportunity to avoid Ares. I don’t want to completely stay away, though. Family is important and I haven’t spent as much time with them as I’d planned.
Ares being back has thrown me off. I don’t like it. I exhale and attempt to shake him from my thoughts.
Inhale. Arms reach up and back lengthens. I drop my shoulders and slightly roll my neck. Exhale. Arms go out and over, my back arches as I fold over. I keep my center of gravity and focus on the movements with my breathing. It’s a routine and rhythm I’ve done a hundred times. The one I default to when I know my body needs to move. The music plays softly in my headphones, blocking out all other noise.
I felt restless most of the day, like a change in the air as soon as I woke up. Maybe if I enjoyed cardio, I could go for a run on the beach. I’m not a runner. If I’m running, everyone should run because something is chasing us.
I’d never even cared much for fitness until my freshman year of college. The other girls rushing Omega convinced me to take a barre class with them and I fell in love with it. It wasn’t about lifting heavy weights or competing with others. It was about moving your body and pushing yourself in a way that didn’t feel like it. I loved it so much I kept going, even when the others decided to try different classes instead.
It surprised me; I thought it would be more like ballet because of the bar. I’d failed at those classes in my adolescence. This was something different. Sure, it incorporated ballet movements, but it was more than that.
Dad and Selene surprised me with the addition of the barre in the home gym during my first spring break from college. I’d barely mentioned it over the holidays, and they remembered. Selene was always like that, for as long as I could remember. She always remembered the little things. It’s one of the things I love about my stepmother, her caring heart.
I know my mom was the same, from what little I can remember. She passed when I was five and now all I have to look back on are pictures and home videos. A collection of shared memories from both my dad and Selene. Before they’d gotten together, it was just two families that felt like one larger one. Like a cosmic connection, where one of us was, the rest would follow.
I bend over and stretch sideways, breathing into each stretch as I continue the routine. My eyes go in and out of focus as I keep at it. I’m not sure how much time has passed when I stand up straight, a thin sheet of sweat across my back.
Movement at the edge of my vision has me nearly jumping out of my skin. I thought I was alone. I blink a few times, look away, then back again—just to be sure. It’s really him.
His eyes narrow on me and his jaw clenches. Clearly, he should change the music in his headphones to something that will make him more cheerful. Something that will pull the stick out of his ass.
I thought with the time apart, he wouldn’t still hate me. Clearly, I was wrong. Not that he would ever say why he suddenly despised me. At first, I thought it was because I was close to their mom, but that didn’t seem right. Selene loves her sons. No, all those years apart only made his hatred for me fester and grow.
The real problem is, I can’t even remember when it started. It’s as if his hatred has grown steadily over the years. When did it even begin? There are six years between us. Surely it was something I must’ve done as an immature child. I’m turning twenty-one. This has gone on for long enough. He hasn’t even been around the past few years.
“What’s your problem?” I walk over to him and place my hands on my hips.
He pulls his headphones off.
“Did I do something to upset you?” I sigh.
Ares scoffs. “Don’t take it personally, princess. It’s just your personality.”
Princess. The nickname he gave me I’ve been fortunate enough to not hear for years. Until he came back. It takes me back to all the times Ares has called me it in the past. One of my earliest memories of it was as a joke, a tease. It never felt so hateful before.
I can see the cruel humor in his eyes, the smirk threatening to spread across his face. It doesn’t need to be like this. I want to argue with him, but I won’t. For his mom, I’ll brush it under the rug.
“Let’s just keep our distance then.” I half smile and spin on the balls of my feet. “That’s what you told me when you arrived.”
I hold my breath as I leave our home gym and move across the hall to the sanctuary of my bedroom. I’m in over my head. My phone buzzes in the side pocket of my leggings and I pull it out to see a message from Ryan. Just the distraction I need.
Ryan: Hey babe, I’m excited to see you. I was going to stop by and then go to the club.
I know what he’s hinting at. He’s got a suite at Clear View Country Club and he’s here for my birthday.
Me: Can’t wait to see you! I’ll meet you at the club and join you for dinner, but I promised my niece I’d bake cupcakes with her tonight. So, I’ll have to head back to the house after dinner.
Ryan: I understand.
I groan. I hate feeling pressured, but I don’t want him to be disappointed.
Me: I’d love to come and spend the whole day with you tomorrow. It’ll give me a nice break from writing my paper.
Ryan: Yeah? Did you finally decide on your topic?
I thought about it for a while this morning as I lay in bed. It started with responding to a few messages about the games I was getting organized. The Greek Games were a way to look back on history, both in Greek life and of the original Olympics.
It came to me suddenly. I hadn’t even considered it an option before. The Olympics originated in ancient Greece. It was already something I’d been doing extra research on; it was the perfect way to put a little bit of me into my essay. I had the title, at least: Sex, Politics, and The Original Games, even though I still needed to write it.
He would find out the topic soon enough. This morning, while making coffee, I submitted my topic for approval and already received the professor’s go-ahead. I wasn’t expecting him to get back to me, but I was grateful I didn’t have to sit around and wait to find out if the topic was good enough.
I swipe over to my email and read it again.
Ms. Storey,
Call me intrigued. Approved.
Professor James O’Clery
I smile and swipe over to my messages to tell Ryan.
Me: The Origin of the Olympics
Ryan: Are you sure there’s enough information out there for a thorough essay?
Me: Yes.
Ryan: Fair enough.
Ryan: We’re getting ready to take off. See you soon.
Me:
Ryan wasn’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow, but decided to come an extra day early to get more vacation time out of his spring break. It was just the excuse I needed to stay away from Ares. I’d spent the day with Beth yesterday. Now I could at least avoid him tonight and most of tomorrow.
I have just enough time to accomplish an everything shower and pick out what I want to wear. Part of me debates packing an overnight bag. Just in case. We’ve never stayed the night with each other. Our relationship hasn’t gone that far. We’ve been together for nearly six months and the pressure is on, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to finally take that step.
I once joked about ripping the bandaid off, but Beth told me I’d waited this long, I might as well make sure my first time is with the right person at the right time. The problem is now it feels like an even bigger deal.
An hour later and I’m stepping out of the car and telling Selene bye. She offered to drop me off since she had a quick errand to run. I’m not worried about not having a car. I know Ryan will take me home or I can use a car service if it comes down to it.
I shoulder my small leather handbag before making my way inside. The breeze is picking up and I watch the palm trees sway slightly. I admire the arched doorways with the club’s crest displayed over each one. The chill in the wind has me stepping inside a little faster.
I step across the marble floor and towards the staircase on the left, taking it up to the exclusive members’ lounge. I could wait for him downstairs near the concierge. There are some comfortable brown leather armchairs, but I’d rather be more comfortable in case he takes longer to get here from the airport.
The concierge looks up when he sees me approaching, and I smile at him.
“Back again?” He laughs.
“It’s spring break, I’ll be here a lot this week.”
“I do hope you’re enjoying your time being back in Saint Bipal, Ms. Kyra.”
I smile and nod. “Always.”
Once I’m in the room, the site of the roaring fireplace and bookshelves puts my mind at ease. I move to the bar and wait for the server to walk up to me.
“Club soda with grenadine, on the Storey account please.”
“You’ve got it. How many more days?” She makes my drink.
I was just here with Beth yesterday and we were talking to this same server about how my twenty-first birthday was this week.
“Two, we’re having a party in the garden room.”
She places a napkin down, then my glass. “That rooms my favorite.” She types something into the screen and then hands me a receipt.
“Mine too.” I sign it and slide it back across the counter. “Thank you.”
I sip my drink as I peruse the bookshelf. Admiring everything from the local history books to the ones that promise stories of lore with sea monsters. I move to one of the comfortable armchairs facing the ocean and let my mind drift.
My phone buzzes in my bag, and I pull it out.
Ryan: I’m checking in now.
Me: I’m up in the lounge.
I tuck my phone back in my bag and place it next to me on the mahogany side table. My gaze lands on the leather-bound book left on the table. I pick it up and read the spine, The Lovibond Duet . I flip through it for a moment before a throat clears.
My eyes shoot up to see Ryan smiling down. “Hey, babe.”
I place the book down and stand to greet him. He pulls me into his arms and places a quick kiss on my lips.
“Hi. How was your flight?” I reach down to grab my glass. “Do you want to grab a drink?”
“It was a little bumpy, but it’s windy today. They said a storm was rolling in, the airport was a madhouse. People were trying to leave.” He takes a small step back. “Let me grab a drink from the bar and I’ll come back and sit with you.”
My eyes move to the large windows. Gray storm clouds rolling in faster than they were moving earlier.