Page 41 of Anteros' Return

“I know a lot about you, Em.” I kissed her cheek as Harry and Mike walked towards our booth.

She wanted to distance herself, but I didn’t let her. I pulled her as close as I possibly could, her body flush to mine.

“You know, she’s my sister, and I don’t need to see whatever this is.” Harry groaned as he slid into the booth with us.

“Well, feel free to sit somewhere else,” I told him.

“Mate, are you really going to disrespect Harry like that?” Mike chimed in.

“Nobody asked for your input, Mikey. There is no disrespect. I’m just having some time with my girl, and if neither of you like it or want to see that, then you can kindly fuck off.” I smiled, sipping the milkshake Em and I shared.

“Alright, calm down, Mike. I’m only kidding. I’m good with my sister’s choice in wanting to date Beckett.” Harry smiled at Emily.

“You staying or going?” I asked Mike who clearly didn’t like that question since his face scrunched up in annoyance.

“Staying.” He flopped down beside Harry in the booth, looking anywhere other than at Em and me.

I linked my fingers with Emily’s, draping my arm over her shoulder. “I can’t wait to get you back to mine,” I whispered in her ear.

Her eyes darted towards her brother who was too lost in the menu to care. The colour of them glimmered, making them even more beautiful than they already were. “Ah, yeah, why’s that?”

“I guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

Present day…

The waiter placed my food in front of me, interrupting my memories of Emily. Liam was in his element the second his food arrived. He wasted no time digging in.

“Thanks.” I nodded.

“Beckett, this is incredible!” Liam spoke between bites.

“Good to know.” I bit into my burger, realising this was one of the only things that hadn’t changed over the years. “Just as I remember it.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah.” I took a chip and dipped it into my milkshake, something I’d done since I was a kid.

“No way! You do that too?!” Liam grabbed a chip and mirrored my action.

“Of course, it’s the best!”

He smiled so wide as I shoved a milkshake covered chip into my mouth.

It was nice to see that Liam’s attitude had subsided. I couldn’t work out if that was because of Emily’s influence, or because I wasn’t as bad as he originally thought.

After I paid and received Emily’s food, we walked home. The temperature in the air had dropped drastically. After Liam knocked on the door, Emily answered within seconds, wearing that heart stopping smile of hers.

“I had a double burger!” Liam blurted out before she had the chance to say hello.

“Drop me in it, why don’t you, mate.” I laughed as Emily mirrored it.

“Mum, it was so good! And guess what?!”

“What?” She asked.

“Beckett dips his chips in his milkshake too!” He beamed, darting past Emily and up a couple of steps before turning around and coming back down them. “Thanks for dinner,Beckett.” He waved his goodbye then disappeared up the stairs for good.

“Well, he seems happy,” Emily commented.

---