Page 15 of Dirty Saint

"The next time I see that motherfucker, we're going to throw down, and the second is you owe me another date," Gavin says.

Before I can say anything, Gavin is walking off in the opposite direction, "shit, this wasn't a date." I say to myself as I watch Gavin's retreating, but I know he didn't hear me.

It doesn't take Ares more than two seconds to be standing in front of me. You know those cartoons that say BOOM and BAM in big letters.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, if Ares Walker were a cartoon character, he'd have smoke coming out of his ears.

"You better have a damn good reason associating with that scumbag," Ares warns.

I'm stunned for a beat or two because I can't believe this is the first thing, he says to me.

One, why would he care who I'm associating with, and two, what the hell is he doing here?

I recover as Ares steps into my personal space, and I can feel his hot breath on my face. I instinctively step back and cross my hands over my chest.

"What the fuck are you doing here questioning me like this?" I grit out.

"That what you're going with?" Ares is incredulous – it's written all over his face. The lines in his forehead scrunched; I wonder if you hit him on the back if he'd freeze like that.

I'm getting pissed, and I start moving forward, pointing my finger at his cut. I keep my eyes on him to ensure he hears every word, "you will get the fuck out of my personal space.

I don't answer to you, asshole.

Oh, and it's none of your freaking business who I associate with."

"Are you back together?" Ares's voice isn't as hostile, but he's still has a menacing expression.

"No," I shake my head and toss my hands in the air out of frustration, "I've got to go."

Ares grabs my elbow as I turn away to grab my paper cup. I give him a death glare, and he puts his hands down by his side.

"Why didn't I see you last night?"

I stand there looking at him for several long heartbeats. His eyes are a storm cloud, and though his hold on my elbow is not rough, it is substantial.

"What do you want, Ares?" It's all I can say. I feel like I'm in an episode of theTwilight Zone.

"Just tell me you are not back with that asshat?" He asks.

"No, I'm not dating Gavin. That was high school," I'm not even sure why I confirm that for him.

"Good," he says simply.

"Good?" I query.

My head is pounding even more, and I decide to take a play out of Gavin's book and pretend as I have somewhere to be. I don't think Gavin backed down for any other reason than he plans some other creative way to mess with Ares. I get a distinct feeling there is a lot more to this story, and a big part of me wants to know desperately what that is. The sensible side of my brain wants to run back to New York and forget all about this town and the people in it.

"I have to go," I take a step away, determined to get to my car.

"Willow, can we talk?" Ares suggests.

I don't show how stunned I am by one that he used my actual name or that he asked nicely.

"Not today, Ares.

Besides, if you want to talk about child support, please speak to my sister. I should never have gotten in the middle," I say softly.

Ares just looks at me, but it doesn't stop me from proceeding in the other direction toward my car. I don't look back.

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