Page 93 of Massacre Monday
Aiden sets a double glass of rust-colored liquid on the table and slides into the vacant seat across from us. Logan and Landon soon join in the midst of a loud argument about something.
“No. We’ll do a Dom. Best you have. And a Dark and Stormy for my woman. Thanks, Karen.”
Despite him lacing our fingers together under the table, I feel on edge. Champagne? A big event? Dressed up? I’m not sure I can take it if he kneels in front of everyone. Where are my friends?
As if they heard me, Valencia and Amelia squeal and run to our table with a riot of comments about how elegant the restaurant is.
“So wonderful to see you, Logan,” Valencia immediately says as she takes a seat next to me.
Amelia strikes up a conversation with Landon that seems to be filled with more irritations than pleasantries.
Ryan leans forward, as if Aiden has communicated something, but he never opened his mouth.
“So?” Ryan asks.
Aiden sips his drink and murmurs his reply around the rim of the glass. “Not now.”
“Then when?”
With a shake of his head, Aiden glares at the crowd as a storm rages over his expression. “Not this year. Wait until after your graduation.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Both boys look over at their sister, Olivia, whose arm is around the waist of theBetapresident. I think Hunter is her boyfriend. The same man I saw eyeing Amelia at the Salty Oyster.
“I have other things going on and can’t deal with it now.”
Ryan huffs as he slams his back into his seat and glances over his shoulder at a crowd ofOmegas. “Things…”He nods at some of the sorority girls, including my cousin, Ashlyn. “Thosethingsare going to be an issue.”
Aiden’s jaw clenches as his eyes drift over to my face. With one eyebrow arched, he tilts his head, like he knows a secret. His piercing gaze is so intense, I blink away bashfully.
Ryan snaps his fingers in his brother’s face to break his concentration. “I took care ofmybusiness.” Standing, he tosses the table napkin at his Aiden’s chest. “Order us everything off the menu. I’m hungry.”
He grabs my hand and pulls me into his side. I trip over my heel, but he catches me and escorts me toward the middle of the space that’s cleared from the groups of people.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Away from him.” With a spin, he holds me in front of his chest. “And to dance.”
Now my pulse is pounding in my ears. We’re here, about to be the center of everyone’s attention. And all I can wonder is if he did this with Elina, but unwillingly. Were they standing in this spot?
Sways of his body lull me into less of a nervous wreck, but I maintain a clenching grip on his hand and shoulder as he moves into a slow waltz. “You don’t want to dance tonight?” he asks, eyebrows pinching slightly.
I can’t look anywhere but at his third button. If I meet his face, I’m sure he’ll read my frantic expression. He tucks a finger under my chin and lifts it so I have to do just that. And, unsurprisingly, he reads me easily.
“My Pen loves to dance. What’s going on?”
“What’s going on with you? What was that about with your brother?”
He pauses, and I think he’s not going to tell me, but then his countenance softens until he brushes his lips against my forehead. “We hate Olivia’s boyfriend, and he’ll be an issue for us.”
“You got an assignment to take care of Olivia’s boyfriend?” I cast a worried glance around. The two of them are laughing with friends near the bar, looking perfectly happy. When I stare longer, however, I notice Hunter’s eyes often dart to Ashlyn’s backside as she shifts her hips in time with the music.
“No. But I don’t care if I do or not.” Ryan’s jaw clenches as he swallows. “I can’t stand by and let her be appointed to him.”
“Is she?”
His inky black hair catches the light as he shakes his head. “Not yet. But I’m worried she will be.”
