Chapter Sixteen - Dinner
Lincoln's P.O.V -
I continued to read through possible locations but I couldn't concentrate. I stopped because if I wasn't concentrating it was possible I could miss some vital information.
I'm so annoyed at Milo but I new it wasn't going to last long. I needed him and he wasn't there, he knew that if it was the other way around I would be there for him.
I ran a hand through my hair. Maybe I put too much blame on him? He was with me on Saturday, and it's not his fault that he couldn't come over on Sunday. Then again, I wasn't even upset for the most of Saturday. He was only there because he thought he cheated on me. He didn't know that he would have to end up consoling me, maybe he didn't want to?
I didn't know that he had a sister. I wonder what happened to her, but from the pain in his eyes he wasn't ready to tell me. I'd just have to wait to find out.
I stood up walking to my room. I stood in the doorway for a minute or two watching him as he slept. Wow, I'm such a creep.
I kicked off my shoes laying in the bed beside him, I pulled Milo towards me so his head was resting on my chest. He groaned in his sleep not happy about being moved. He reached up his hand to grip my shirt.
"Sorry." He muttered. I wasn't sure whether he was awake or asleep.
I smiled wrapping my arms around him a bit tighter. He slowly lifted his head so only his chin was on my chest as he stared at me.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"It's fine, I forgive you." I placed my hand in his hair letting the strands run through my fingers.
"Really? I was being selfish." He grumbled finally letting go of his grip on my shirt.
"It's fine." I said again. "You didn't know how much I needed you."
He mumbled something illegible, I wasn't sure he even knew what he said. I just smiled at him in response. He moved off me sitting up rubbing his eyes.
"How long have I been asleep?" He asked tiredly.
"Not long, about an hour." I stood up from the bed.
His phone dinged from the bedside table, we both turned to look at it.
"What does it say?" He asked when another message came through.
I picked it up quickly reading through the texts. "It's your mum she's asking where you are and when you'll be home for dinner." I spoke disappointed.
"Oh." He stood up taking the phone. He started typing on his phone concentrating on the screen. "She's asked if you want to come over for dinner?"
I thought about it. I would love to meet Milo's mother but I've got so many reports and evidence to look through. Frankly finding my mum was much more important than meeting Milo's.
I was about to decline when a loud familiar shout sounded from downstairs. "Dad." I gasped sprinting out of the room. I could hear Milo's footsteps following after me.
He was rocking on the floor of the living room growling, everyone stood watching him with concern. I slowly reached out to touch his shoulder but he jumped up pushing me away. I noticed the tears soaking his cheeks.
"They're doing it again." He cried clutching his chest.
I bit my lip as my eyes welled up, anger rose in me knowing what they were doing to my mum. Wyatt's dad, Cameron, stepped forward holding my dad by his upper arm.
"I'll take care of him." He told me.
I nodded watching as Cameron pulled him up the stairs. I rubbed my eyes noticing everyone watching me with sympathy.
"Uh Milo, I've got a lot of reports to look through so I can't go to dinner." I told him aware everyone was listening.
"Cora and I have already done it." Wyatt told me removing his arm from over Lucy's shoulders. "While you were in your room."
"Oh, thanks." I forced a smile. I was still going to look over those reports at some point.
"We sent warriors out to the most likely locations to see if there's anything suspicious going on." Cora added.
"And if there is?" I raised a brow.
"We told them not to act." Wyatt explained. "They'll report back then we'll decide what to do after."
I still wasn't sure if I was in the mood to meet Milo's mum or to eat in general, but I wanted to be with him.
"I'll go with you then." I nodded.
"Okay well we should leave soon." Milo walked over leaning into me.
The nerves of meeting his family hit me all at once and I suddenly felt unprepared.
"I need to get changed." I pointed out glancing down at my clothes.
"No you don't." He told me with a small laugh. "You look fine."
"Yeah fine." I mumbled. "Not good."
"Come on lets go." He entwined my fingers with his.
This soothed me slightly. I grabbed my car keys walking out of the house with him after we said goodbye to everyone.
We climbed into the car and I began the drive to Milo's house.
"So who's going to be there?" I glanced at him quickly before focusing on the road again.
"My mum and my two uncles." He replied.
"Roberto and ..." I trailed off so he would fill in the gap.
"Marco." He smiled at me. "They'll be talking Italian half the time, but they'll talk to you in English though so don't worry."
I nodded in relief. "Okay good."
We soon reached Milo's house. We stood at the front door waiting for Milo to find his key in his backpack.
The door swung open, revealing one of Milo's uncles along with the dog. He was the same height as Milo and had dark almost black hair.
"Hi." He smiled at us. "I'm Milo's uncle Marco."
"It's nice to meet you I'm Lincoln." I greeted.
"I know, Milo's told us a lot about you." He smirked.
I laughed glancing at Milo who's face was turning red. We walked in and straight to the dining room where Milo's other uncle was sat.
"Ciao nipote."Â (Hello nephew)Â He smiled at Milo.
"Ciao zio." (Hello uncle)Â Milo replied taking a seat at the table, he gestured for me to sit to his left. I liked hearing Milo speak Italian, it sent shivers down my spine.
"I am Roberto, we talk on telephone." He spoke to me.
"Yeah, I remember." I nodded. "I'm Lincoln."
His smile widened turning back to Milo. "Tua madre dovrebbe finire presto con la cena." (Your mother should be done with dinner soon) I stared confused, I'm going to have to start learning Italian aren't I?
Milo nodded at him. "Dinner will be ready soon." He told me quietly.
His uncles spoke for a few minutes in Italian while Milo gave me reassuring looks while holding my hand under the table. Marco noticed and stared at us slightly uncomfortable before turning back to his brother.
"When did you two get here?" Milo's mother asked coming out of the kitchen with plates.
"Only a few minutes ago." Milo explained standing up to help her, he placed down an empty plate in front of each place.
"I'm Gianna." She told me with a weak smile. "It's nice to meet you Lincoln."
"Thank you for having me." I smiled politely.
She walked back into the kitchen to get the food while Milo sat back down in his chair. I reached out for his hand again but he moved it away from me.
"Not now." He whispered cautiously glancing at his mother as she walked back into the room.
I nodded. His mum still wasn't entirely comfortable with everything so we shouldn't do anything to make the situation worse. Gianna placed down a large plate or lasagne making Roberto clap in excitement.
He reached forward to get a slice when Milo's mum slapped his hand away. "Prima gli ospiti." (Guests first) She scolded.
"Sono un ospite." (I am a guest)Â He huffed.
Milo laughed at the exchange before looking at me and gesturing towards the plate. "Guest's first."
I nodded with a smile taking a small piece placing it on my plate.
"Small appetite this one." Marco chuckled from the head of the table.
Ironically I had rather a large appetite usually, just not right now.
"More for us." Milo countered.
I smiled shyly down at my plate. Everyone else soon grabbed the portion of food they wanted and began to eat.
"So Lincoln." Milo's mum began. I looked up at her nervously. "Do you go to school with Milo?"
"Uh no, I go to Eastwood." I answered.
"Oh I applied for Milo to go there." She smiled before turning to her brothers. "They get good grades there."
"Good sports teams too." Marco nodded.
"That's why you wanted to go isn't Milo?" His mum asked.
Marco nodded. "Their basketball team always wins."
"And the football team." Milo commented looking at me.
"Do you play a sport Lincoln?" Marco asked me.
"I'm the quarterback for the football team." They looked impressed at my words.
"We should go to one of your games." Gianna offered.
"Oh, I haven't played for a while." I said looking down. "Family stuff."
"Milo hasn't been playing basketball either." She narrowed her eyes slightly at her son. "For different reasons though."
I looked at him curiously and he sighed.
"I got into a couple fights so they banned me from playing for a few weeks until my behaviour improves." He rolled his eyes.
I just nodded not sure what to say to that. I didn't like hearing that Milo getting into fights was a normal occurrence but it wasn't unexpected. I glanced at the bruise on his chin, which he had gotten from Mark, with a frown. Was I going to have to get used to seeing him like this?
"Yeah I don't like seeing Milo with bruises either." Gianna spoke quietly.
"What?" Milo asked turning to us as he heard his name.
"Nothing." His mum smiled.
He looked between us suspiciously before turning back to Marco.
"So how did you two meet if you go to different schools?" Marco asked curiously.
"Through our friends, Lucy and Wyatt." I explained briefly.
"It's when you let me go to that bar with the people I had never met." Milo told his mum.
She nodded. "I remember you were being all secretive and messaging someone with a goofy smile."
Milo blushed while I looked at him with a smirk. So he liked me when we first met then.
"Mum." He whined.
I laughed at his childish voice as did his uncles.
"You're lucky I let you go to that bar then." She pointed out. "You two wouldn't have met."
"We should thank you." I replied with a smile.
She stared at me amused. Dinner continued with small talk about school and sports.
"Well I should get these cleaned up." His mum stood up collecting the plates.
"I can help if you would like." I went to stand up but she stopped me.
"No don't worry, Milo can help me." She smiled nudging him.
"Suck up." He glared jokingly before following after his mum.
Both his uncles turn to me with an expectant look. "Hi." I spoke slowly.
"So," Roberto began. He appeared to be younger and his hair was a few shades lighter than Marco's, apart from this they looked very similar. "you dating our nephew."
"Yes." I nodded.
"Why?" Marco asked me.
"What do you mean why?" I asked confused. "Because I love him?"
"You sound unsure." Marco narrowed his eyes.
"I'm unsure of what you're asking me, not about whether I love him or not." I stated confidently this time.
They mumbled some things in Italian, I assumed Marco was just telling Roberto what I said.
"We'll be watching you." Marco said. "Well I will, Roberto won't be here."
I smiled slightly. "That's fine with me, you're just looking out for him."
"You seem too nice." He added. "Suspiciously so."
"There's nothing wrong with being nice." I pointed out.
"There is if you need to defend Milo." He argued.
"Trust me, if I need to protect Milo I will." I promised.
"Bene."(Good)Â Roberto nodded. "We go to living room."
I agreed standing up and following him into the living room. All three of us walked in, Marco sat in the armchair while Roberto and I sat on the couch.
"Cane." (Dog) He called while looking at Buddy.
"Buddy." I told him.
He looked at my confused, I repeated myself while pointing to the dog.
"Buddy." He called out again. This time the Labrador stood up running over and sniffing him.
He jumped up onto the couch laying down in between us. I wasn't sure whether or not he was allowed on here.
"Via." (Off) Milo told the dog as he entered.
Buddy jumped off walking in a few circles before settling on the floor. Milo sat on the floor beside him stroking beneath Buddy's chin, his tail hit against the floor. My mind flickered to the idea of my wolf being in Buddy's place.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when Milo's mum came and sat in the middle of the sofa and we all continued to get to know each other.