Page 68 of Milo
Chapter
Fourteen
I have all these feelings.
Milo
I feel mellow and loose-limbed when I make my way downstairs dressed in old ripped jeans and an oversized high-necked cream jumper. The clothes feel comfortable and soft on my skin and I’ve left my hair loose. I follow the sound of conversation to the dining room. This is a cosy room situated at the back of the house with views of the village through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Tonight the village is lit up like one of Blackpool’s illuminations.
The others are seated at the large table. A fire is crackling in the fireplace and Frank Sinatra is crooning about letting it snow. I inhale the scent of something wonderful cooking and my stomach rumbles. Almost without thought, my eyes search out Niall.
He’s slumped in a loose, contented sort of way at the head of the table talking in a low voice to my brother. Barefoot and wearing a green and blue plaid shirt with threadbare Levi’s, he looks gorgeous. I pause at the sight of the two of them with their heads together, but almost as if he senses my presence he looks up and grins widely at the sight of me. It’s a warm and wide smile with an edge of satisfied contentment about it, and I flush because surely it’s screaming at the others that yes, he got inside my arse this afternoon.
I sneak a quick look at them but luckily no one has noticed. Sam is slumped looking half pissed already while Jacinta and her sister are indulging in a conversation that has more hissing than a nest of snakes. Daisy’s husband, Adam, is rubbing his wife’s back somewhat anxiously.
He looks up and spies me and a rather relieved look crosses his face. “Milo,” he exclaims as if Madonna has just walked in the room. “Look, everyone, it’s Milo.”
Niall snorts and Jacinta and Daisy break off their argument for a brief second to smile before immediately returning to it. Adam slumps and I pat his shoulder gingerly as I make my way over to the table.
As I near it, Niall jumps up, and I stare at him as he pulls out my chair. Conversation stops immediately and everyone stares, making him redden.
“What are you doing?” I whisper bemusedly.
“Pulling your chair out for you. I would have thought that was obvious,” he hisses back.
I shake my head and sit down, wincing slightly when my tender arse protests. A smile plays across his lips and I shake my head. “Just because I took it up the arse doesn’t suddenly mean I can’t move furniture out for myself,” I whisper.
“Babe, the way you did it I’m inclined to give you a golden chair to sit in,” he says with a smirk. “And a silk cushion.”
I can’t help my smile. Sometimes it seems like it’s been grafted on there when I’m around him. I only have to look at him and my lips want to turn upwards. Feeling slightly flustered at the thought I look determinedly around the table, flushing when I find my brother’s eyes on me. He’s watching me curiously, as if I’m some sort of rare animal at the zoo. He’s been doing it for a few days and it’s alternately worrying and annoying me. I grimace at him irritatedly and an amused smile ticks at his lips.
Daisy breaks off her hissed conversation with Jacinta and eyes me. I immediately slump slightly in the vague hope that she can’t see me. It doesn’t work, and Niall snorts.
“So, Milo, have you given up the idea of snowboarding since you came off again today?”
I blink. “No, of course not. If I quit something just because I fell over, I’d never have learnt to walk as a child.”
She stares at me unblinkingly, like a rather judgemental owl. “You’re not terribly good at it though.” My brother bites his lips to keep a smile in and she continues remorselessly. “I think it’s always good to know one’s own limitations.”
“Do you?” I’m startled because there’s no way she recognises her own. She’s so hugely pleased with herself it’s not possible that she recognises her own faults, legion though they are.
She nods happily. “Of course. It’s so important for one’s personal development. Every morning I meditate for half an hour on my character. Adam is very keen on it.”
I bet he is,I think.It must be the only time in the day when she’s quiet.
The sudden shocked silence alerts me to potential danger which is elevated to Def Con One when Daisy glares at me. “What did you just say?” she asks in a dangerous voice.
“Oh my God, did I say that out loud?” I groan and Niall starts to laugh helplessly.
“You really did.” He leans forward. “Watch this,” he whispers and sits up straight, saying in a loud voice, “Daisy, you must tell me what I did wrong at skiing today.” She immediately unbends after giving me a caustic glare. “Thank you, Niall,” he intones to me as she launches into a whole monologue about his skiing technique.
“I don’t need to thank you,” I say sourly. “She’ll forget all about her grievance with me the second she spots me doing something wrong. I’ve never known anyone so obsessed with judging other people. I’m surprised she hasn’t popped up at the bottom of our bed with scorecards yet.”
“They’d say ten,” he says loyally and probably completely erroneously. Then he shudders. “I think you just gave me performance anxiety.”
I grin and shake my head at him and turn to tune into Daisy’s monologue. It’s abruptly broken by Jacinta who yawns widely and loudly. Daisy falters but valiantly continues to dissect Niall’s stance, then gives up when Jacinta makes snoring noises.
“I’m sorry,” Daisy hisses. “Am I boring you?”
