Page 86 of Ski You Later
“Violet.” Henry smirks as he looks at us all.
“It’s Charlotte.” Carlos confidently states as he tries to scratch out Daniel’s name on the board.
“She just looks like a Chloe to me.” I muse as I watch Car erase the D with his nails.
Roman looks between us all, a mix of amusement and bewilderment on his face. It’s not like his brothers are much better. At least we aren’t brawling on the floor.
“Just in case any of you try to actually congratulate them, her name is Paige,” Roman states calmly. Moving his hand to hold mine and directing us to the reception area.
The giant event space is outlined with a large window and has flowers everywhere. The decoration isplaced in such perfect segments, making the room look busy and elegant at the same time.Since it is April and freezing outside, everyone mills about as they admire the décor and talk with one another.
As we make our way to the table, I can feel the eyes tracking us from all around the room. I catch conversations halting, and gazes being whipped our way as we pass through. Thankfully there’s also Paige’s side of the family here and they couldn’t care less about my dating history. I find shelter within their ranks, and I’m tempted to squeeze myself into one of their tables.
“Should we be like, talking to people?” Car asks as we get to our table, taking off his jacket and tossing it on the back of his chair.
I’m unfortunately thinking the same thing, but someone takes the stage before I can voice that opinion. “Hello everyone! Thank you so much for coming to celebrate Paige and Julian! If everyone could find their table, we will be getting started here shortly.”
As Henry and Carlos high five each other loudly, I shake my head at them and turn take my seat. Roman doesn’t miss a single beat, pulling out my chair and promptly pushing it back in.
“Why thank you, sir. You’re such a gentleman,” I say in my most high society voice.
“Anything for such a beautiful lady,” he muses back to me in an equally stupid tone. “I’ll go grab us a drink. Red wine?” I nod up to him, lightly squeezing his hand and watch as he walks away. I see Henry and Car follow excitedly, probably going to try and get themselves two drinks each.
Since sitting still isn’t really in my mental dictionary, I fiddle with the fun decorations littering the table. “Well, hello gorgeous, here’s your drink.” That was fast, but my distracted brain just says thank you, as I put the little flowers away.
When I look up to see a glass of white wine, I turn to Roman with a furrow in my brow. “Oh, I don’t drink white –.” My sentence dies in my throat as Daniel takes the seat beside me.
He looks exactly the same as he always does, hair styled into a boyish mess. His signature pretty boy smile on his face, as he sets those striking blue eyes on me. Although he’s a similar height and build to Roman, there’s not a bone in my body that feels anything for him.
His hand lands on the back of my chair and seems to have no issue with leaning into my space. “Listen, Rhodes. We need to stop playing these games and talk tonight.”
My brain isn’t even processing what’s currently happening. His body language and actions are so casual and it’s confusing the hell out of me. “Where is Jasmine?” Is the only question my brain can conjure up at the minute.
“Who knows,” he responds immediately, and placing both hands on the table in front of me. “But what I do know, is that your cousin is a lot more work than you ever were.” He whispers this as if it’s flattering for me to hear, but I don’t try and hide the disgusted look on my face.
“Don’t give me that look babe. I get why you were so upset now, and I’m ready to give us another chance.”
A blank stare is all I can give to this ignorant boy. “Are you joking? Is this, like, a joke?” I stare at his serious face and can’t comprehend where he keeps all this nerve he seems to have.
“Rhodes, I’ve been calling you for months. I wouldn’t have been declined every time if you weren’t playing hard to get,” he says with such confidence.
Blinking is all I can do to try and process this. As I do a quick glance around the room, I’m thankful no one is looking our way as I lean in toward him. “It’sbecause I blocked you, Daniel. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
He sends me a face as if I’m acting ridiculous and starts to reach for my hand. “Babe. You need to calm down and –.” He doesn’t get the chance to utter another word, as his wrist is captured by a much stronger hand. “What do you think you’re doing.” The menace that drips from Roman’s hushed words would’ve caused a much smarter man to turn tail and run.
Whether Daniel is delusional or just an idiot, he doesn’t seem to react as he calmly turns to Roman. “Hey man. I don’t know if you saw, but the seating chart put our seats next to each other.” He points between himself and I, as if this is some sort of checkmate. “I don’t know what to tell you.”
Daniel seems relaxed, but the slip of his smug smile tells me everything I need to know about his real feelings. I would be just as stressed if Roman was towering over me, with anger pouring off him in waves.
Roman puts down my glass of red wine, and promptly puts that hand on the back of my chair.
“It wouldn’t matter to me if the seating chart was tattooed to your face. You’re going to get up, sit across the table, and shut the hell up,” Roman says all this with a lethal sort of calm.
“And if I don’t,” Daniel says as a slight wobble enters his voice.
Roman leans down, talking too low for me to hear, but his words cause Daniel’s face to go a shade paler. I can’t help but think that it’s about time he’s the uncomfortable one between the two of us.
The announcer steals everyone’s attention suddenly, asking that people take their seats so the dinner can begin. I spy Jasmine near the front, surrounded by our relatives that fawn all over her. But as I look at her face, I get goosebumps at the death glare she is sending my way.
