Page 24 of Risk

“Ari, this is Aaron. We go to school together. Aaron, this is Ari, my sister-in-law. She’s married to Ares,” I tell him.

“Nice to meet you, Ari,” Aaron says.

I’m starting to feel for the poor guy. Since he arrived here, it’s only been introductions to my family.

“Want a drink?” I ask him.

“I’ll get them,” he offers.

“Open bar,” I tell him. My brother is nothing but generous. “But even if it wasn’t, I’d have paid since you drove us here. So, I’ll get the drinks. What do you want?”

“Okay, just a light beer,” he tells me.

“Any specific brand?” I ask, unsure what they’ve actually got.

“Bud Light if they have it, but if not, anything will do.”

“Bud Light. Got it.”

I leave the group. I move down to the other end of the bar, where people seem to be getting served, and wait my turn.

“You brought a date?” Kaden’s words ghost over my shoulder and instantly get my back up.

That’s what he says to me after leaving me alone in a hotel bed and after a month of radio silence? No,How’s it going, Missy?

He might be good-looking and smell fucking great, but his question pisses me the hell off.

So, fuck him.

I turn around to face him, making sure to keep my expression neutral. I might be annoyed, but he won’t get the satisfaction of knowing that he can affect me in that way.

“And you care, why?”

I study his face, but see nothing in his expression, except for a tightening in his jaw. He’s clearly as schooled as I am in keeping his feelings in check.

“I don’t. It was just a question.”

Well, that stings.

“So, you’re just making conversation?”

“Yes.”

“Just an FYI, normal people say things like,Haven’t seen you in a while. How’s it going?Or,Party’s good. You enjoying yourself?”

“Haven’t seen you in a while. How’s it going? Party’s good. You enjoying yourself?”

“You’re hilarious. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get Aaron and myself a drink.”

As I turn back to the bar, his hand curls around my elbow, holding me in place. The feel of his touch sizzles my skin and angers me in equal measure.

My gaze snaps back to his. “Why are you touching me?”

“Beautiful—”

“Don’t call me that,” I snap, losing control of the emotions I was doing so well at keeping in check.

He lost the right to call me anything but my given name when he walked out on me without a word.

---