24. Aiden
AIDEN
Milo climbed up the ladder and out through the flower bed first. When I followed behind him, I closed the wooden box back down.
Walking around felt pretty good, actually.
I wasn’t sure why I felt so bad this time, but I was ready for it to be over.
Des always told me to go see a doctor about it, but it never lasted long enough to be that worried about it.
I also just really didn’t want to deal with the hassle.
“You look like shit.” Milo grimaced as we walked to the ledge at the end of the garden.
“Good to see you too.” I slapped him on the chest. “I’m just not feeling great, my usual thing.” I waved it off and winced as my lower back tightened. “What do you need to talk to me about, Milo? Must have been important if you couldn’t call me about it.”
Milo sat in an old wooden chair. The chair had seen better days.
It creaked when he shifted his weight. “Listen. Vea needs to see him. She’s not doing well.
” He leaned forward, and the chair creaked.
The lights from downtown shined blue and purple.
The glare off of his hair made it seem like he was glowing neon.
“I think it’s killing her knowing he’s safe but still being cut off from him. ”
I nodded, understanding what he was saying. “That makes complete sense. You know the security. You all have a better idea of what’s going on. If she can get here, then of course she should come.”
Milo’s eyes were wide. “You’re sure? Do you want me to tell Severn or will you?”
“I can tell him. When will she come?”
“Soon.” Milo still looked worried. I opened my senses as much as I dreaded doing so. I already felt exhausted. His aura pulsed a dull yellow. His worry was evident.
“Can you just give me like a day? Hopefully I’ll be feeling better.” Tossing my thumb over my shoulder, I gestured back downstairs. “I’m going to sleep this off.”
Milo stood, nodding. “The day after tomorrow then?”
We smiled at each other as we began walking back toward the wooden flower beds.
“I’ll text you,” Milo said as he walked down the stairs to the alley.
When I ducked back in through the small door, Severn was in the kitchen and started cooking dinner. “Was Milo not going to stay longer?” He asked when he realized I was alone.
“No, he just had to tell me something.” I walked into the kitchen and helped out where I could.
“Go sit down, I’ll do this.” Severn insisted.
Annoyed, I still managed to smile at him as I walked back to the living room. Picking up the remote, I scrolled through movies until I settled on one for us to watch during dinner.
Severn brought out two bowls of delicious-looking soup.
They were steaming and filled with vegetables.
I could see the chili oil floating on the top of one of the bowls.
“Don’t you dare try to give me that spicy one.
” When I gestured to the bowl in his left hand, he extended the bowl in his right to me. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
I eyed him skeptically but accepted the bowl he handed me before sitting down on the couch.
The sigh that left my body was a sigh of pure relief when the ache left my muscles.
Once Severn sat down and began eating, I spoke up.
“Sev,” I said, getting his attention. “So Milo wanted to let me know that Vea wants to come see you.”
“Really?”
I expected this question from him, but I thought he would be excited, or nervous.
I dropped the wall around my special sense and saw his aura pulsing the rainbow of colors again.
Reaching over, I touched his arm and his aura stopped on a soft blue.
He was relaxed,d and his gaze drifted to mine.
“I’ll be here, Milo too. She wants to meet you. But if you don’t want that…”
His mood immediately shifted. “I do want to meet her. I just don’t know how to feel about it. When is she coming?”
“Day after tomorrow.” I ate a spoonful of my soup. The flavors were amazing. The build-up of tension in my muscles subsided with each bite.
Severn nodded and continued to eat his dinner. “Okay,” he said before pressing play on the movie I had queued up on the TV.