Yeah, she certainly was right about the two of us. Let’s hope Luca is just as lucky.
ChapterFifty-Two
Raven
* * *
“You seem nervous,” Ares says as we pull up in front of my parents’ house. I nod and turn toward him. “Moment of honesty,” I whisper. “I’m scared to face Hannah, and the thought of being surrounded by my family for an entire weekend fills me with anxiety. Every time I’m here, I feel like I’m lacking. Besides… this house… it’s filled with memories of you and her.”
Ares leans in and cups my cheek, his thumb brushing over my lips tenderly. “I’ll overwrite them,” he promises. “However, Cupcake, if you don’t want to go, we don’t have to, you know?”
I frown at him in surprise. “Family means everything to you.”
He looks into my eyes, his expression carrying a hint of sorrow that he tries to bury behind a smile. “That’s because I mean everything to my family.”
Hurt renders me speechless for a moment, and he looks away. “I love you,” he whispers. “I love you with all my heart, Raven, and I can’t stand watching them take you for granted. They’re your family, and I’ll always respect and honor your wishes when it comes to them, but know that I don’t agree with the way you let them treat you.”
I place my index finger on his chin and lean in for a kiss, loaning some of his strength. “I’ll be okay,” I whisper against his lips. “Because you’ll be there with me.”
I nod. “Always.”
“Ares?”
He tilts his head in question.
“Can I ask you to promise me something? This weekend… can you please put my father first? I want to keep the peace as best as I can. He should be able to enjoy his birthday, you know?”
He hesitates for a moment, but in the end, he nods. “I promise,” he says, his tone revealing his reluctance. “I’ll follow your lead, Rave. It’s your family. Your choice.”
I nod and lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He smiles at me, but I see the worry he tries to hide. “Ready?” he asks, his tone soft and patient, as though he’ll sit here all night with me if I want him to.
“Ready,” I nod.
Ares gets out of the car and walks around it, offering me his hand as we walk to the front door. Nerves truly set in, and I bite down on my lip. Going home to see my parents should be something I look forward to, yet I always dread walking through this door.
“Ares!” Dad says, a smile on his face. His gaze drops to our joined hands, and he looks away awkwardly as he pats Ares on the shoulder. “Got a great bottle of scotch for the two of us, my boy.”
Dad leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead before leaning in to whisper in my ear. “And I hid some of those cupcakes you like in your room, sweetheart.”
I giggle, my heart warming. This is why I keep coming home, because the good still outweighs the bad. “Thank you, Dad.”
“Ares, Hannah.” I look up at Mom, who freezes for a moment before raising her hand to her lips. “Sorry, Raven. I’m so used to saying their names together.” She shakes her head and walks toward us. “I’m glad you’re here,” she says, but she doesn’t sound it. Her smile is far more genuine when she turns toward Ares. “I prepared the guest room for you, Ares.”
He wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me into him. “I won’t need it,” he assures her. “I’ll share a room with my wife.”
Mom’s eyes drop down to his hand, and then she looks away, visibly uncomfortable. “Don’t you think that’s somewhat… insensitive?”
Ares stares her down. “Insensitive? What is? To be spending a weekend in the same home as the woman who left me at the altar? No, not at all.” He turns to me then. “You don’t mind that, do you? Or we wouldn’t be here.”
I bite back a smile at the way he’s purposely misunderstanding her and subtly shake my head. I love him for it, but I don’t need him to fight my battles, nor do I need to be reminded of their history even more than I already will be.
“Come on,” I tell him. “Let’s go put our stuff upstairs.”
Mom watches us as we disappear up the stairs, and I can’t help but feel uneasy. It’s been years since I last felt at home here, but I’ve never felt quite this out of place.
Ares pauses in the doorway to my room and smiles. “Hey, I bought you that little cupcake shaped pillow.” He walks in and looks around in wonder as I sit down on my bed, seeing my room through fresh eyes.