exact same outfit he was before — a long sleeved white shirt with a green polo over it and a pair of jeans. That was pretty much his standard uniform, but whatever floats his boat, I guess.
“You’re sure you want to come with?” I asked him, once I had finished getting ready. We walked out of the apartment, and Milo doubled check to make sure the door was locked and that he had his house keys in his pocket, something that I never did.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?” Then Milo shot a nervous look at me. “Do you not want me to?”
“No, that’s not what I meant!” I insisted quickly and smiled at him. “Of course I want you to come with.” I pushed the call button for the elevator and turned back to him. “There’s just a few things you have to know before we go.”
“Okay?” Milo raised an eyebrow at me, but I thought it’d be best if he was prepared. The elevator doors sprung open and we stepped inside. Thankfully, we were alone, because I would feel silly saying this stuff in front of complete strangers.
“First, his brothers are really hot. I mean, like movie star hot, except even hotter. I know that you think Jack is amazing, but his brothers blow him out of the water.” I looked over to gauge his response, but for the most part, he just looked skeptical. “Second, his family is super rich. One of their cars easily costs twice as much as Mom makes in a year, and they have five of them and this super fancy house. It’s really intimidating.”
“Like how rich?” Milo started to look nervous, so my point was getting through. “Like Bill Gates rich?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.” That was one thing I hadn’t asked Jack about.
Their wealth was really inconsequential to me. There were too many other curious things about them that over shadowed their fortune.
“Well what do they do for money then?” Naturally, Milo wanted to know all the practical reasons for everything. I had actually meant to ask what they did, but I always got sidetracked by something else.
“I didn’t ask that either,” I sighed, and the elevators opened to the lobby.
“Is there anything I should know about them?” Milo asked as we walked out.
“Um, Jack drives super fast, but he’s perfectly safe.” I pushed open the glass doors that led outside.
“Really?” Milo wrinkled his nose. “Like how fast?”
“You’ll probably see,” I told him offhandedly, and then hurried over to Jack’s Jeep and jumped inside before Milo could ask anything more about it. As soon as I realized what I’d done, it dawned on me why Jack had invited Milo along; he knew I wouldn’t say as much in front of Milo. He was trying to get off the hook about what he had said last night.
“Hey,” Jack smiled at me, then turned back to Milo, who looked very confused as he got in the backseat. “Hey, Milo. It’s good seeing you again.”
“Yeah, you too,” Milo replied. He stared at Jack for a moment, but he was much better at controlling his crush on Jack than most people. I wondered if it had to do with the fact that he was gay, or maybe just that he was so young. Or maybe he just had really amazing self control.
“So what did you have planned for tonight?” I asked as Jack sped off down the highway towards his house.
“I don’t know,” Jack shrugged. “I just thought it was time that your family met my family.”
“Why?” I really didn’t plan on asking him much in front of Milo.
Someday, I’d probably have to tell Milo everything, but that day definitely wasn’t today. Maybe when I had the answers myself, and I could actually explain everything. Until then, I didn’t feel like letting that much out in the open.
“Why not?” Jack countered.
“I don’t know. We haven’t known each other that long, and its not like we’re getting married or something.” That would be the logical time for families to mingle, not when two people have known each other for a couple weeks and are just friends.
“No, it’s definitely not like that.” Jack breathed deeply, and then turned up the stereo, blasting out the Violent Femmes. That was apparently all he was going to say on that. I’m not sure if it was because of Milo, or if it was just another thing he would explain someday.
We were silent on the short car ride, but when we pulled up in front of his house, I heard Milo gasp in the back seat and whisper, “Its like a castle.” I’d already been there a couple times, and it still felt breathtaking. The turret really set it off, but it completely suited them. After meeting Ezra and knowing that he designed the house, it all seemed even more perfect. If he had been a piece of architecture, this would be it.
“Is Mae gone?” We had pulled into the garage, and I noticed her black Jetta gone. Every other time I’d come here, the garage had been full, and her empty spot stood out.
“Yeah, but I thought she would be back by now.” Jack’s face flashed confused and concerned, but he instantly smoothed it out with a broad smile for me and Milo. “She’ll be back soon. And Ezra and Peter are still here.” He got out, and we followed suit.
“Hey, wait.” I lowered my voice then grabbed onto Jack’s arm to stop him.
Milo was a little bit behind us, admiring the Lamborghini. He’d never been much of a car person before, but the Lamborghini had that power over anyone. “Is Peter going to be nice to Milo?”
“Oh, yeah, he’ll be fine,” Jack nodded casually.
“So it’s just me that he has a problem with?” My heart tightened. I had been hoping that Peter’s icy demeanor had something to do with the fact that I was an outsider, but if he had no problems with Milo, then it had to do with me.
As in there being something inherently wrong with my person that he didn’t like.
“You are far more complicated,” Jack whispered.
“Is complicated like you’re ‘go to’ word or something?” I retorted crossly, making him laugh.
“Why are we just standing in the middle of the garage?” Milo piped in. He wasn’t that into cars, so it hadn’t held his attention for long, and he stood behind us looking confused.
“We’re not.” With that, Jack quickened his pace towards the house, and Milo and I followed more slowly. Jack threw open the door, and he was instantly greeted by Matilda jumping into him. Without Mae there to stop her or dampen her enthusiasm, she was free to jump and slobber all over Jack as much as she wanted.
“Oh, and they have a dog too,” I told Milo and gestured to the giant white ball of fur in Jack’s arms. Jack remembered that Milo was there, and he put her on the ground much sooner than he had last time.
“Yeah, I get that,” Milo mumbled dryly.
“This is Mattie!” Jack scratched her head roughly, but she pulled away from him to sniff Milo. She grew bored easily and returned her attention to Jack.
“She’s a good girl. She’s just a big baby.”
“I can tell.” Milo stood awkwardly off to the side, watching Jack wrestle with his dog.
“Oh, it’s just you.” Ezra had magically appeared in the doorway, and after taking a moment for myself to admire him, I looked back to see Milo’s reaction.
His eyes had widened and his jaw had even gone a little lax. I wondered if I looked that awestruck when I met Ezra.
“Thanks,” Jack replied sarcastically and stood up, temporarily ending his roughhousing with Matilda.
“No, sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” Ezra’s face broke out into a smile that made it hard for me to breathe. “I just thought that you might be Mae.” At the mention of her, his lips got tighter, and he and Jack exchanged a pained look. “But I guess she’s not back yet.”
“I don’t know what could be taking her so long,” Jack added, growing irritated. Ezra dismissed him and turned his attention to Milo.
“This must be your brother.” Ezra returned to his smile and walked over to Milo so he could shake his hand. He took it readily, and I watched to see if Milo noticed how weird (but good) their skin felt. If he did, it didn’t register on his face. He just smiled dumbly at Ezra. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Ezra.”
“I’m Milo.” It was difficult for him to form the words and he sounded out of breath. It was nice not being the only one gawking at everyone for a change.
“So, Jack,” I said when the silence bordered on awkward, “Milo really loves video games.”
“Really?” Jack’s face lit up and I half expected him to throw Milo under his arm and dash off into the next room. In fact, he all but did that. “Come on. I’ve got like everything, and I mean everything. From Grand Theft Auto to Pong, I’ve got you covered.” He started to hurry into the living room, and Milo gave Ezra one last longing look
