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Sensing Mila’s discomfort, Leonidas moved the conversation on, asking about his brothers, and Mila sat back and listened, eating in silence, as they began to discuss Dimitrios and Anastasios, as well as their cousins. Whenever Cora was mentioned, Leonidas would smile, and Mila felt that sharp stab of jealousy again, for the obvious affection he held for his cousin. Leonidas and Thanasi drove the conversation, back and forth, fast and witty, so at one point, Mila looked at Maggie and found the older woman studying her. Then, she put a hand on Leonidas’.
“I’m afraid you’re boring our guest.”
Leonidas looked at Mila, surprised.
“Not at all,” Mila rushed to reassure them. “In fact, quite the opposite. I never had any brothers or sisters. I was enjoying the sparing.”
“There’s plenty of that to be had, when this lot get together, let me tell you. Never a quiet moment.”
“You love it, mitéra,” Thanasi grinned, encompassing Mila in the glance, his eyes lingering just a moment longer than was necessary on her face. Heat flushed her skin, but not because of Thanasi, rather, she felt Leonidas’ inspection, and Maggie’s, and blinked away quickly, reaching for her wine and taking a large gulp, coughing when the acidic taste burned her esophagus.
“That’s true. I always did.”
The woman’s sentence fell away softly.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’m tired all of a sudden. Would you be offended if I head inside, Mila?”
“Of course not.”
“Leonidas, walk me back to the house,” Maggie said, holding out an arm. Leonidas cast a fulminating glance at Mila but stood immediately and Mila adored his quick responsiveness to his mother. It spoke highly of his manners.
Spoke highly of his manners? For what? A job application? She dug her fingernails into her thigh, refusing to watch as they walked away. Refusing to feel anything as Leonidas disappeared and she faced the reality that soon, this would all be over.
“Are you dating her?”
Leonidas wasn’t surprised by the question, asked in his mother’s gentle, perceptive tones.
“She’s Benji’s cousin,” he pointed out.
“So? Are you implying your friendship with Benji precludes the possibility of dating Mila?”
Exasperation flattened his lips. “You know what I owe him.”
“We all owe Benji a debt of gratitude. When you wouldn’t let us help, he was there.”
Leonidas dipped his head in silent acknowledgement.
“But doesn’t that prove how much you mean to him? And that he would want you to be happy?”
“Why do you think Mila would make me happier than I am now?” He said, wondering if his mother noticed the exasperation in his voice.
“You are relaxed around her. More than I’ve seen you in some time.”
Leonidas angled his face away; his mother was wrong. He wasn’t relaxed around Mila. Not here. He felt charged with voltage, aware that it would take very little to show how much he enjoyed being with Mila, and that his family might read too much into that.
“Benji is protective of Mila.”
“So?”
Leo gave his mother a look of impatience. “You are my mother, but surely you cannot be blind to my track record with women?”
“You haven’t yet met the right woman,” she said quietly. “Your father was also allergic to commitment until he met me.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
He searched his brain for an answer and simply shrugged. “You were madly in love.”
