Page 44 of Dare Me

“I’ll wear it up,” she replied tightly.

Their food was served and Jamie picked the conversation right back up where he’d left off.

“Ari, didn’t you say you took that Bay cruise too?” he asked.

“Um…”

“Tell Ryleigh it’s a dumb idea to take the ones around here. Tell her she’ll be bored out of her mind. Will too.”

For the first time all night, Arianna looked up at him and he couldn’t tell if she was annoyed at him or her brother. “You’ll be bored,” she said before looking back at Jamie. “Happy?”

“What? I’m just saying that it sounded more like something you would do.” He shrugged. “Maybe you should take Will on the cruise?” he added with a grin.

Normally Will found Jamie to be harmless, but he had a feeling he was deliberately trying to start a fight right now and it was pissing him off. He was about to speak up when Mrs. Donovan added her two cents, smacking Jamie upside the head.

“Stop being such a troublemaker. Will is too old for Arianna,” she hissed before smiling at Will. “No offense.”

“Why do you even talk like that?” Ronan asked. “My parents were ten years apart and our grandparents were twelve years apart. Why are you harping on his age? Would you be upset if Liam brought home a younger girl?”

Kate looked ready to throttle him.

“Or Patrick?” Ronan went on. “Hell, I don’t think we can count Jamie because maturity-wise, he’s too young to even be dating!” He let out a boisterous laugh and the subject immediately turned. “Which reminds me, Jamie, I thought you were gonna call the roofing company about that leak?”

Conversation moved on to the pub and for a few minutes, Will felt like he could breathe.

But just as fast as everyone sat down to eat, they all were up and moving as soon as they were done. Patrick got a call, the pub was filling up and Jamie was needed in the kitchen, Ronan was tending bar, Liam was tired and wanted to go home and crash, and Mr. and Mrs. Donovan were looking forward to getting home to watch their favorite TV show.

Leaving Will, Ryleigh, and Arianna alone.

“So, um…”

“I need to get going too,” Ryleigh said as she quickly scooted out of the booth. “I’ve got a web design I need to finish tonight so I’ll see you at home, Ari!” And with a wink and a wave, she was gone.

Putting a little distance between them, Arianna toyed with her purse. “I should probably go too.”

“Really?”

She motioned to all the people around them. “Do you really think it’s a good idea to sit here alone like this?”

He shrugged. “Well, most of your siblings are gone, your parents left, and your uncle isn’t paying any attention to us.”

“Jamie will…”

“It seems like Jamie’s on to us anyway,” Will interrupted. “I don’t know how or why, but it just seemed like he was specifically poking at you and I didn’t like it.”

Her expression softened. “Yeah, well…he’s a jerk. But, for the most part, he’s harmless. He’ll give me a hard time and tease me, but…I know exactly how to get him to back off.”

“Now I’m intrigued.”

“I know exactly who to sic on him if he gets to be too much.” She grinned widely.

“One of your siblings?”

“Nope. An old family friend who we all love, but who irritates the hell out of Jamie. She’s the only person in the world who seriously makes him lose that cocky swagger. It’s glorious to see.”

“I’m gonna take your word for it,” he said. “So…do you want to maybe go somewhere for a little while? Grab some dessert or just hang out?”

Reaching beneath the table, she squeezed his hand. “I want to say yes, but it was a long day and I’m kind of beat.” She slid a little further away. “Text me later?”

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