Page 64 of High Stakes

“We’re not talking about that, remember.”

Cal hugs me tighter, “She’s got a point,” he whispers in my ear.

Aiden

“Stop looking for her,” says Raff from beside me. I give the crowd one last scan before turning my back on it and smiling at Raff. “She hates you, don’t ruin her night.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” I reply, dryly.

JP joins us looking pissed. “I wanted one night where Aria wasn’t in my head, and then I fucking bump into her,” he complains.

“She’s got to forgive you eventually, brother,” says Raff, slapping him on the shoulder.

“How come he gets sympathy?” I ask.

Raff grins, “He isn’t as big a prick as you.”

I roll my eyes and turn back to looking down on the dancefloor. And that’s when I see her. I inhale sharply, myheart swelling with hope even though she’s in the arms of the fitness freak.

I go to the bar and pay for a bottle of expensive champagne and ask the bartender to take it over to Bella, who’s now sitting with her friends at a table.

I watch as he taps her on the shoulder. She listens to whatever he’s saying, her eyes glancing around the bar, searching for me. And then she turns to the fitness freak and says something in his ear. Cal looks up and his eyes meet with mine. He looks instantly pissed and says something to the bartender. He nods once then heads back in my direction, the champagne still in his hand.

“She declined the champagne,” he reports back, and he puts it down in front of me.

I smirk,of course she did.

JP joins me, eyeing the bottle. “You celebrating?”

“Nope, but they are,” I reply, nodding towards the table. “She declined it though.”

He laughs, “Only Bella would turn down a bottle of champagne.”

“I don’t blame her. It’s gonna take more than this to get in her good books again.”

“Is that what you want?” he asks.

I think over his question. “Yes,” I say, firmly. “More than anything.”

“To ease your guilt or because you like her?”

“Both.”

“Then get her alone. You don’t stand a chance of getting her to hear you out with muscles one side of her, and her psycho bff, the other.”

He takes the champagne and heads back up to the lounge area, leaving me to watch Bella and her bodyguards and wait for my perfect opportunity to pin her down and listen to what I’ve got to say.

Bella

I’m in the bathroom, waiting in line for the toilet with aching feet and a real craving for my bed. Being pregnant is no fun. I’m exhausted and the thing isn’t even the size of a bean. I groan out loud, getting me a few curious glances from the other women in line. I can’t believe Aiden thought he could buy me off with champagne. Like him flashing the cash would make me forgive him.Prick.

“Ladies, would you give us a minute?” My head whips up at the sound of Aiden’s voice and I stare open mouthed as he fills the doorway.

The women smile wistfully, all heading for the exit. “No,” I snap, “Don’t go.” They don’t listen, filing out one by one.Great.“What happened to safety in numbers?” I cry after them.

“We need to talk,” he says, fixing his blue eyes on me.

I shrink back slightly, without Cal and Aria as my armor, I feel weak. The toilet flushes and a woman steps out. She keeps her head lowered as she washes her hands while we wait patiently in silence.

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