Page 19 of Rush

You know, aside from my dad, she’s the only other person who’s asked me that question.

“It’s…” I risk a glance at Ares, and his eyes are staring off into the distance, his jaw clenched so tightly, it looks like it might shatter. I look back at Missy, and her eyes are sparkling with something that looks a lot like mischief. “It’s okay, I guess.” I shrug.

“Mmhmm. I can imagine, being surrounded by all those big, strapping football players—barring my brother, of course—must be a real hardship.”

She gives a teasing roll of her eyes, and I laugh.

“I’m just not a big fan of football,” I say.

“You’re not?” That’s Ares, and the sound of his voice surprises me. I thought he was done with his participation in this conversation.

“Oh Christ, don’t say that.” Missy laughs. “Not if you don’t want to endure a lecture on how football is the greatest game in the world.”

I’ve had enough of Ares Kincaid’s lectures to last me a lifetime, so I’ll pass on that one.

“Got it,” I say. “Well, I should head off. It was nice meeting you, Missy—”

“Hey, we were just about to go for some gelato, if you want to join us?”

My eyes dart to Ares.

He shakes his head ever so subtly, ensuring his sister doesn’t see.

My face goes hot with embarrassment.

I knew he wouldn’t want me to go, but I never thought he’d be so cold and actually tell me to say no.

That feeling of being disliked and my complete and utter loneliness hits me at a whole new level.

“I, um…” I’m stumbling over my words. “I can’t. I have to…” I can’t think of anything to say; my mind has gone blank. “Cheese,” I suddenly blurt out. “I need to buy cheese.”

Missy chuckles. “So, we’ll get your cheese on the way to the gelato place. We’re not taking no for an answer, are we, A?” She nudges him with her elbow.

He frowns at me. “Apparently not.”

And this is how I find myself sitting on a stool in a gelato shop across from a scowling Ares with his smiling sister, Missy, next to him.

Aside from the pissed off football player there, throwing daggers at me, it’s actually nice, talking to his sister. I can’t remember the last time I did this…just hung out and ate ice cream.

Probably before my mom died.

“So, you guys have another brother?” I say to Missy. “The boxer. Zeus, right?”

“Yep. Zeus is our big brother. And there’s also my twin brother, Lo,” Missy tells me.

“Wow. You have a twin. So cool.”

“Not as cool as you’d think. He’s like a menstrual cycle—”

“For fuck’s sake!” Ares groans.

She rolls her eyes at him, and I laugh.

“A menstrual cycle?” I cough out.

“Yep. He’s like this thing I have, and I wouldn’t function right without him, but he gives me serious cramps.”

My eyes are watering with laughter by this point. I can’t think of the last time I laughed this hard. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I laughed for real.