Page 87 of Rush

“I appreciate that. But can you, uh, wait until I speak to Ares? He’s…not very happy with me at the moment.” I fidget in my chair, putting my hands under my thighs and sitting on them.

My dad frowns. “What do you mean, he’s not happy with you?”

“Well, we, uh…kind of got in a fight about it last night”—a big fight—“about keeping our relationship a secret. He wanted to tell you. I asked for more time. He got mad and walked out.”

“And that’s why you told me today.”

I bite my lip and nod.

“I’m glad you did tell me. Where is Ares today?”

I shrug. “Home, I’m guessing.”

“Okay then, I’m giving you the rest of the day off to go and see him.”

“You are?” I say, surprised.

“Well, it’s the least I can do. This is partly my fault.”

“Uh…thanks.”

“Do you need a ride into the city?”

“I can get the bus.”

He shakes his head. “I’ll drive you.”

“I appreciate that, Dad. But…I don’t think it’s a good idea for us both to go see him.”

My dad laughs low. “Ari, I wasn’t planning on coming to have a heart-to-heart with you and Ares. I was just going to drop you off at his place and then come back here.”

“Oh. Right. Well then, it’s a yes to the lift.” I smile.

“Thanks for the ride, Dad.” I reach for the handle to open the car door. “I guess…I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

“Ari?”

I stop and look at him.

“Could we have dinner tomorrow night? Ares is welcome, too.”

“Okay.” I nod slowly. “I’d like that. And I’ll let you know about Ares. I guess it depends on if he accepts my apology or not.”

He smiles, his eyes softening. “He’ll accept it.”

“I hope you’re right.” Then, I do something I never do. I lean over and press a kiss to my dad’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad.” Then, I climb out of his car, closing the door behind me.

I walk into Ares’s building. I give the security guard a smile and a wave, and I head into the elevator and hit the button for the eighth floor.

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to contain my nerves.

Feeling like this…really makes me want to have a drink. Something to calm my nerves.

But I don’t have that option, so I just breathe through it. In and out. I don’t have time to adopt the lotus position and focus. So, good old-fashioned deep breaths it is.

The elevator pings, and the door slides open.

I’m reminded of the time when I first came here to apologize to Ares for lying about canceling on him and to tell him that Luke was my sponsor. That’s the first time he kissed me.