Page 8 of Anteros' Return

“With all due respect, Mike, he’s my son. I brought him up better than that, and he knows it.”

“But it’s Beckett. Don’t you feel a little proud of him?” He gave me a half smile, which, to be honest, pissed me off a little.

“At this moment in time—no, I don’t. I’m disappointed because he doesn’t know Beckett or our history, so he had no valid reason to act the way he did.” I walked over to the kettle and flicked it on. Hot tea brought me comfort that not a lot of other things did. It was something I had grown to rely on daily. “I appreciate you being there for Liam over the years, but his behaviour is not up for discussion.”

“As much as I hate Beckett, I agree with Em. Liam is her son, Mike, not yours.” Harry nodded at me with a supportive smile.

I always put my foot down when it came to Liam, and today was no different. I worked hard raising him as a single mum without a ton of help, and I didn’t need someone overstepping and giving him the impression that it was okay to behave the way he did.

I gathered three mugs and tea bags, making quick work in preparing mine and Harry’s the way we liked it.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to encroach upon your parenting or undermine you,” he held up his hand in an apology. “It’s just?—”

“Tea?” I asked, cutting him off.

“I’d love one.” He nodded as I prepared his cup.

Mike stayed with Harry for a while, the three of us making general chit-chat before the pair of them had to leave. I walkedthem out to the hallway, remaining at Harry’s side until we reached the door.

“You alright if we head off then?” Harry asked, placing his hand gently on my shoulder.

“You know me, always alright.” I half smiled, feeling neither here nor there right now.

“Harry, can you give me a second with your sister?” Mike asked without taking his eyes off me. Something never sat right with me when he looked at me like I was some sort of possession. I’d even go as far as saying it made my skin crawl.

“What’s up?” I questioned, arching my brow.

“So, I was wondering, can I take you out this weekend?”

“You already know my answer to that, Mike. I’m not interested in dating.”

“Because of him?” He raised his brow in question. Almost like he was silently asking if it had anything to do with Beckett even though he knew it did. Everyone knew.

“It doesn’t matter what the reason is, I just don’t want to date.” I held the door open for him, hoping he’d leave without another word.

“You know I don’t plan on giving up, right?”

“Bye, Mike.”

I could have sworn he rolled his eyes, but I didn’t care as I shut the door behind him. As I watched him walk down the path leading to his car, my hand automatically went up to the whisk necklace I wore everyday. It may have been hidden beneath my clothes, but I couldn’t bring myself to remove it. It was the last thing Beckett had ever given me. He knew how much I loved baking, and the whisk charm was quirky and the perfect thing to describe who a part of me was.

I still remembered the day we met as if it were yesterday.

Ten years ago…

I was sitting at the breakfast bar, enjoying my daily chat before school with my dad when Harry came bounding into the kitchen and shoved toast in his mouth before darting to answer the door.

“I can’t quite work that boy out sometimes.” My dad chuckled.

“Me either,” I finished off my cup of tea. On my last sip, I almost choked, the sight of Harry’s friend strolling into the kitchen behind Harry stunning me.

“Em, Dad, this is Beckett. He just moved here.” Harry's entire face lit up, his brown eyes almost glimmering in the kitchen light. If there was one thing about my brother, it was that he always thrived when it came to socialising. He made making friends look like a walk in the park.

“Nice to meet you, lad. Do you want some breakfast, or are you alright?”

“I’m good. I just ate.” Beckett spoke to my dad, but his deep hazel eyes remained firmly on me. Something that made my cheeks flush. He nodded his chin at me “Em, is it?”

“Y-yeah, Emily.” I stuttered.

---