Chapter Twenty-Three
KYRA
T he entire downstairs smells like coffee and pancakes. I round the bottom step and move toward the kitchen. Elena is snuggled on the couch with a blanket watching cartoons and Cora is in the swing facing the dining area. I snuggle into my light pink robe a little more and walk up to the kitchen counter to make myself a cup of coffee.
Apollo is laughing at something quietly as he flips pancakes over the stove. My dad is nearby, slicing up strawberries and watermelon. There’s a half-filled bowl next to him. Selene and Daphne are sitting at the dining table with smiles on their faces.
I love this quiet moment around my family. If I could capture this memory and bottle it up, I would. Everything seems perfect and peaceful.
The coffee pot is full, clearly this is the second pot that has been made this morning. I reach for my favorite mug in the cabinet. A light pink one Daphne gave me a couple of Christmas’ ago. It has a bikini on it and says beach babe in a pretty bubble font.
Warmth spreads through the mug as I fill it, soaking into my palms and lingering. It’s exactly how I wanted to linger in bed this morning before Ares woke up and left to go to his own room. I can’t believe he stayed in my room last night. What if someone had seen him coming out of my room?
I add some caramel syrup to my coffee cup and reach for the milk. Then, I feel him. A quiet presence entering the kitchen area. I don’t have to see him to know he’s there. When did I become so attuned to him?
My heart falters and the air shifts. Everything feels heavy and light at this moment. My eyes snap up to him, naturally drawn. I can feel my heart beating faster. It’s as if my whole body betrays me and I’m worried everyone can tell something is up with me.
Ares is freshly showered, his damp hair looking darker. His muscles strain against his simple white t-shirt. I can’t help but look him up and down. The sun coming through the window hits him in this way that makes it look like he stepped out of my wildest dreams, looking like a Greek God. His gaze finds mine instantly. A smirk covers his face. And for one small moment, everything else fades away.
I force myself to look away and grab the coffeepot to pour coffee into my cup while I pretend I’m unaffected by him. He moves behind me and grabs a cup. An excuse to press his body heat into me without being obvious.
“Morning.” His voice is low. It’s slightly growly in a way that has my nipples pebbling, and I pray that my pajamas and robe are enough to keep me hidden from the family.
“Morning,” I barely whisper.
My body falters, leaning in slightly. His hand brushes across my back as he moves to the other side of me to prepare his own cup of coffee.
I turn to move to the table and see them staring. Soft smiles that hold back a laugh. They look like they’re trying to pretend to not notice something. But I feel it, their eyes on me.
Ares doesn’t touch me again. He does nothing that would give away whatever is going on between us. Our kitchen is full of our family. Then his eyes are on me and I glance, lingering too long.
I squeeze my coffee cup tighter, grounding myself in the ceramic mug as if it can keep things from progressing. My chest tightens and I hold my breath.
They know.
I walk over and slide into one seats. Selene looks at me and smiles, her eyes meeting mine and she gives a nod. It’s subtle and if I weren’t paying attention, I wouldn’t notice.
Ares speaks softly with Apollo and my dad. I’m not paying any attention to what they’re talking about.
Selene glances around at everyone before looking back at me. Her hand reaches across and squeezes mine reassuringly.
What is happening?
“Is breakfast ready?” Elena walks up to the table, her purple stuffed bunny tucked under her arm.
“I’m already making your plate, sweetie,” my dad says from the kitchen before walking over and sitting it next to Daphne, then another plate in front of Selene.
Elena climbs up onto the seat next to her mom. “Pancakes! Woo!” Her eyes glance up. “Auntie Kyra, are you going to have pancakes too?”
“She sure is.” Ares walks up behind me and slides a plate in front of me then another plate in front of Daphne.
The tension drops slightly as we dig into breakfast. Maybe it was all in my head. I attempt to convince myself until I see Selene glance between me and Ares with a smile on her face. Maybe she’s just happy to see all of us here and getting along. That has to be it.
It has to be.
* * *
My hands grip the railing as if it can anchor me. I refuse to look back at Ares. We’ve been talking in circles all afternoon it feels like. My gaze focuses in and out on the sun setting.
“This can’t work. Why can’t you see it?” I mutter.
I can feel the heat of him at my back before he speaks as he steps closer to me. He cages me in.
“I’m not giving you up, Kyra.” His voice is steady and unshakable.
I spin around. “You have to. We can’t keep doing this. It’s wrong.”
“Does it feel wrong?” His hand moves to my throat, then to the back of my neck. His thumb traces my jawline. “I love you, Kyra.”
My lips part with a gasp. No. He can’t. I shake my head. “You can’t say that.”
He smirks. “I’m fucking in love with you.”
“No.”
“Tell me you don’t feel the same way. Tell me I don’t own your heart.” His jaw tightens. There’s something raw in his eyes. “I’m not letting you go and I’m not letting you push me away. No matter how messy it gets. I don’t care what everyone else thinks.”
For a moment neither one of us moves. The soft sound of the ocean nearby fills the air, but all I can focus on is how rapidly my heart is beating. I’ve been falling in love with him.
Footsteps come up from behind him, but he doesn’t move.
“Ares,” I plead for him to move. To show nothing is happening here.
He takes a slow step back and then turns around.
Fuck.
My dad and stepmom are staring at us and glancing at one another. For a moment we all just stand quietly, as if pretending there was nothing to see out here.
“What’s going on?” Dad asks, too casually.
“Nothing,” I blurt out too quickly.
Ares stays quiet next to me, refusing to lie. I shut my eyes and wish the earth would swallow me up at this moment. A pain forms in my chest knowing what’s about to happen.
We’ve been caught, and now everyone hates me. I messed up.
“We know,” Selene says.
I don’t think I can’t breathe. My stepmom smiles faintly as she steps closer.
“You two were always close growing up.” She shakes her head. “I knew the two of you wouldn’t see it when you were both so young. Six years of an age difference means nothing as an adult, but it feels like a lot as a kid. Part of me wondered if your friendship would grow into more when you were adults.” Her eyes move to Ares. “Then you stopped wanting to be around her. It wasn’t my business since you both seemed happy and healthy.”
Heat floods my body and I really wish a hole would appear so I can disappear.
“We’re not that blind.” My dad lets out a chuckle.
Why aren’t they yelling? Why aren’t they angry?
Ares grabs my hand, lacing our fingers together. What is he doing? Then I exhale. Have I been holding my breath the whole time?
“It’s weird, but it also doesn’t seem all that weird.” Dad nods to himself.
Our parents look down at our hands and smile. What the hell?