Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Thirteen: Raphael Flores

Okay, I'll admit, I forgot that Grey was coming round.

It was arranged at that stupid party where I got absolutely wasted and slept with him while thinking of Mika before strongly regretting my night in the morning. Especially when I found Grey still in my bed and all I could feel was a rage, I legitimately wanted to push him out.

I almost laugh at the situation that he has walked into. I mean my kinda-boyfriend opened the door with his enormous and incredibly sexy body while I stood behind him with a kid in my arms. Now here I am thinking about what to say to him, it's not like we're together but then he seems like one of the clingy types.

I am an idiota (idiot).

"Who's that?" Ollie's voice is the first to ring out and I turn to see Mika stifling a laugh. He takes Ollie from me with gentle hands and I melt even more. 

"Uh, we'll be in the lounge. Have fun with all this." He vaguely gestures with his hand as he spins on his heel and gives me the perfect few of his ass in those jeans. 

Really, Runner? Are you kidding?

I turn back around and lean against the wall as I get ready to listen to this guy talk. He's not an asshole, just a little uptight. He straight up refused to be introduced to anyone while we were at the club, kept his top lip turned up as he surveyed the clubhouse and then stayed the night in my bed and didn't fucking leave until gone noon.

"Who was that?" Grey demands, thinking he has the right to be angry at me. I just raise my eyebrow as I survey him. He's wearing a suit and his Mercedes is parked on the side of the road, he has his hands on his hips and he attempts to scold me.

Brave.

"Romeo." I reply shortly, deciding not to give an explanation on who is in my fucking house.

"What is his fucking name, Runner? Are you fucking him?" Another muffled laugh sounds from the lounge and I roll my eyes. He's so gonna get it when I get back in there. Grey looks furious and I would find it intimidating if I didn't know a hundred different ways of getting his tiny little ass onto the floor, the fact that Mika and I are carrying helps too.

"His name is Romeo." I keep my voice monotonous and my face blank as he continues to glare up at me. "Look, I don't think you're up for everything that comes with being tied to a biker club. You're too..." I gesture to his body to try and get my point across since I don't really know the word for it in English.

"Whatever, you're just a fucking drug dealer anyway, scum of the Earth." He actually spits on my doorstep and I feel Mika looming behind me. I put my hand on his chest to stop him from launching himself at Grey and tearing him apart. At the anger on Mika's face, Grey hurries straight to his car like we lit a fire under his ass.

"Mika, relax." I try to calm him down as his chest heaves with heavy breaths. Is it bad that I find this attractive?

"What a dick." He blurts out after chilling out and I laugh, agreeing with that. Spitting on my fucking doorstep, how rude. I close the front door and head back into the lounge to see Ollie playing with Kota with a massive smile on his face. He's wearing one of my shirts that basically swallows him whole since we have to order a few things for him.

I hate shopping so I'll probably just order them online. Laziness is key.

"So, who was that?" Mika asks as he takes a seat on the couch, close to Ollie who seems oblivious to us.

"Grey, some businessman. He was not nice and did not like the club. He's gone now."

"Good." His firm nod and strong tone has me melting into the couch next to him and I beg in my mind for his arm to rest behind me like it has for years. Seconds after the thought arises, his arm lands on the back of the couch and I rest my head against it

This feels right and I have fucking missed it.

------

"Are you hungry?" Mika asks, his chin rested on my shoulder as Ollie sleeps on top of the dog, snoring softly.

"I'm hungry!" Ollie comes to very quickly, his eyes still blurry but his hand flying up in excitement. I jump violently at the shock, it was basically silent in here besides the quiet hum of the TV and Mika's soft voice.

Mika obviously laughs as he stands up and heads into the kitchen. He knows there's no food in there so brings back takeout menus with his phone in his hand. "What do we want?"

Ollie crawls into my lap and snatches the menus off of Mika who just sighs and sits down next to me. "Ooh! Pizza!" Ollie flaps the menu excitedly, pouting when Mika nicks it back with a playful smirk on his face.

"Sure, which one do you want?"

"Cheese!"

"You're in luck, I like cheese pizza too. I'll put jalapeños on the other half for you." He winks at me and I just wanna melt. It's kinda sad that I'm in love with the fact that he's remembered what my pizza order it after months apart, he really is trying for me and it hurts my heart in the best way.

"Gracias, meloso." (thank you, sweet) His cheeks go pink again as he fumbles to make the call and I make my way to the kitchen to grab some water for all three of us while opening the back door to let the dog out.

"This is weird, right?" I look over my shoulder at Mika, his hip is rested against the island with content look on his face as his eyes trail down my body before looking out the back where Ollie has reunited with Kota and they're playing fetch.

"The fact that we're talking or that there's a kid and a dog in my back garden?" I head over to him and wrap my arm around his waist, bringing him around so that he presses me into the island. His hands land on the counter either side of me, his eyes locked on mine. "The only thing that is weird is how right it feels, no?"

His smile is brilliant, blinding even and I stroke a hand down his cheek, revelling in the feeling of him. He gives me a gentle kiss before winking at me in a way that has me fired up.

Child in the garden, Raphael, child in the garden.