Page 4 of Ask Me If I Care (SWAT Generation 2.0 4)
“We’re in the back right corner,” I said. “That’s what my ticket stub says anyway.”
Saylor headed that way with me right behind her.
My dad and Lock got sidetracked by a group of men that wanted to talk shop, and when we arrived at our table, I nearly came to a sudden, bone-jarring halt to find not only Ryan and his date there, but also Hayes. The man I just offended to the point where he closed up like a virgin’s legs.
Jesus Christ.
This should prove fun.
I took the seat that was farthest away from Ryan, but also not in his line of sight as long as I didn’t lean forward. Unfortunately, the seating arrangement also put me directly across from Hayes, who watched me move.
I swallowed hard and took my seat, urging Saylor down next to me.
“Talk to me,” I hissed. “Make it better.”
She frowned. “Make what better?”
“Who’s your friend?”
I gritted my teeth and spared Ryan a glance. He was leaning backward so far that he was threatening the integrity of the chair legs.
“This is my brother’s wife, Saylor,” I answered him, going for polite but coming out more ‘constipated.’
“Who is that?” Saylor whispered.
“That’s my ex,” I explained in just as low of a tone.
“And who is the man that’s staring at you like you’re his lunch?” she pushed, her eyes flicking to Hayes and back.
I chanced a glance in his direction to see his eyes on me.
Luckily, before I could answer, a waiter came by and asked what everyone wanted to drink.
When the man got to Hayes, Hayes said one word. “Whiskey.”
I swallowed hard, chancing another look to find his eyes still on me.
“And you, Miss?” the waiter asked me.
I licked my lips. “Ummm, whiskey sounds great!”
Whiskey sounded awful. I hated whiskey. Why did I just say that?
“Excellent choice,” the waiter sounded surprised by my order.
Don’t worry buddy, I was, too.
“When did your brother get married?” Ryan asked, looking confused.
I ignored him, my eyes scanning the room.
Since when did he care about my brother?
In fact, my brother and he did not get along. I was fairly sure he really didn’t care that my brother was now a married man.
“Ares?”
I gritted my teeth and turned to stare at Ryan.
“Yes?” I asked through gritted teeth when he waited for me to acknowledge him.
“I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Brooke.” He gestured to the woman next to him.
I gave her a smile and a wave. “Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Ares. This is my sister-in-law, Saylor. That man right there is Hayes, Ryan’s step-brother.”
Since I hadn’t seen Ryan introduce Hayes once, and I really didn’t want Ryan’s attention focused on me anymore.
Ryan’s eyes narrowed.
“I know who Hayes is,” Brooke said softly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ares. Saylor.”
I gritted my teeth and looked away, really wishing I’d said no to my father when he’d asked me to join him today.
“So, did you find a job?” Ryan asked.
I would’ve beat my head against the table if I thought it would help.
Ryan would just find it amusing to know that he was annoying me.
“Yep,” I said, then turned to Saylor. “I have to go to the bathroom. Want to come?”
Right when she would’ve answered, Lock arrived. “She just went. Go by yourself.”
I rolled my eyes and did just that, but not before pulling a lock of my brother’s hair as I passed.
“Ow,” he muttered, glaring at me over his shoulder.
I stuck out my tongue and moved swiftly across the large ballroom.
I smiled at people I knew and avoided the eyes of those that I didn’t.
By the time that I arrived at the bathroom, I wished I never would’ve said I needed to go.
I’d been stopped by no less than five people wanting to talk to me.
Making it to the bathroom, I made quick work of going—I mean I was in the bathroom. I didn’t pass up opportunities to go. One never knew when the opportunity would arise again.
By the time I finished, and I was making my way back out the door, I’d been at least ten minutes.
Seeing Ryan waiting for me outside the bathroom didn’t surprise me in the least. I ignored him and rushed forward, taking a hard left and bypassing him completely.
“Why are you here with him?”
The hissed question had me turning to stare into the darkened hallway.
“With who?” I asked, confused.
“My brother. I saw you come in with him. Saw y’all talking. He doesn’t talk to anybody,” Ryan said. “So I know that you have something going on.”
I would’ve rolled my eyes, but I knew that he wouldn’t like it. And it would keep me there even longer than necessary. Nor did I bother to correct him on my status with his brother not being what he assumed. What did I care if he thought we were together or not?
