Page 78 of Furious
“It’s something new.” Lev intervenes to save the day. “Chance and I met Ares’s girl, and she’s awesome. But Ares wants to keep things low-key until he knows how serious it is, right, dude?”
I exhale the breath I was holding when Ares nods. “Yeah. What he said.”
Rather than being appeased, Heather gets even angrier. “Chance and Lev met her, and I didn’t even know you were seeing someone? Why do you treat me like I don’t matter? I’m one of your closest friends and in the past year, you’ve been avoiding me more and more.”
His voice is hard and cold as he looks at Heather. “You and I aren’t close, and if you keep acting this way, we’re not even going to be friends. Got it?”
Mom, Lev and I flinch at how harsh that was.
“I hate you!” Heather yells, her face red and blotchy as new tears roll down her cheeks. “You’ve always kept me at arm’s length. Do you think I don’t know that you told Atlas to dump me several times? You were jealous that your brother loved me more than he loved you. And now that we both miss him and we could help each other navigate this terrible loss, you treat me like I was nobody to him. I wish that day it was your bike that got hit! I wish you were dead instead of him!”
“Heather!” Mom and Lev gasp.
Heather storms out of the room and Mom runs after her.
There’s a beat of silence in the kitchen, and when I look at Ares, I don’t like what I see. He’s pale as a sheet, his fists clenched at his sides to the point that his knuckles are white.
“Ares.” I whisper, feeling the tension that radiates from him when I touch his bicep. “Are you ok?”
His next words are barely above a whisper. “She’s right. It should have been me. Everyone would be better off if Atlas was here instead of me.”
The sadness in his voice breaks my heart and, against my better judgment, I close my arms around him. “Don’t you dare say that ever again. Heather was just angry. I know she didn’t mean it.”
He hugs me back, his cheek resting on the top of my head. “Princess, I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you. I?—”
“You two need to knock it off.” Lev utters, looking left and right. “You can hug and kiss anywhere but here. If Kelly comes back, or Scott sees you, Heather will be the least of your worries.”
Ares lets me go before I’m ready, and I miss his warmth.
“You’re right.” He sighs.
Lev pulls me closer to him and I go willingly. “We need to be careful, guys. Heather came to your place yesterday. It would have been way too easy for you to get caught. Think if she saw you opening the door to get a delivery or something like that. I think from now on, it’s probably safer if you two used my house when you want to be alone.”
Ares nods. “Yeah, you’re probably right. I just wish she understood that I’m not my brother. We might have looked identical, but she knows full well that we were two very different people. She and I were never friends when Atlas was alive, and sure as fuck, we aren’t going to be friends now.”
“Yeah, I know.” Lev sighs. “All I’m saying is just be careful. It isn’t just Heather’s nosiness you need to watch out for. When you aren’t alone, you shouldn’t get too close to Zara.”
Ares considers Lev’s words. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but there’s one thing I don’t understand.”
“What is it?” Lev asks.
“You want Zara just as much as we do. Why did you offer to help me and Chance fly under Dad’s radar? It goes against your best interest.”
I know the answer even before Lev explains it out loud.
“You’re right. I want Zara. But caring about her means that I want to see her happy. The same thing goes for you and Chance. I don’t want to be the chosen one just because I’m the easiest option. So until we all figure out this thing between us, I’ll do my best to keep things simple, at least with our families.”
“Hey guys.” Chance enters the kitchen in a pair of dark blue sweatpants and a faded Star Cove High School Hockey t-shirt. “What was all the yelling about? All that commotion woke me up.” He yawns, running a big hand through his short blond hair.
We barely get the time to explain when Scott comes in from the back door in a very similar outfit to his youngest son. The only difference is that he’s covered in sweat. He’s clearly been running on the beach.
“Morning, everyone.” He looks at Chance and Lev. “Shouldn’t the two of you be at practice?”
Chance explains that for once, they aren’t required to be at the arena at the crack of dawn.
“Excellent.” His father smiles. “Then, since we’re all here, why don’t we have breakfast together? By the way, where’s Kelly?”
As if summoned by her husband’s words, Mom returns to the kitchen.
