This was Paige's natural environment, though, and she socialized easily with a group of people in the corner. Not like me who was eyeing the cake with the rest of the sugar addicts.
A guy with graying sideburns that matched his suit and pinned-on enthusiasm all over his face walked up to me. Rick Morrissey, friend of my dad’s, and all around asshole. I’d never liked the guy, especially when I’d caught him making out with my mom. That had been...weird. Luckily they hadn’t seen me.
He had the same cutthroat look in his eyes as a used-car salesman, but he dressed better and didn't smell like sweat or breath mints. I would bet half the cake that I wouldn’t like him any more today than all those years ago.
“Sam Cleary,” he said, slapping my back and shaking my hand simultaneously.
I quickly slid my fingers out of his clammy ones. “Rick.”
“What have you been up to? How’s your mom and dad? Is Riley here with you?”
I wanted to tell him he was blocking my view of Paige—of the cake, too—because I’d run out of people skills fast.
"Great turnout, huh?" he said.
"Yeah.” Okay, his hyperactivity was starting to rival Keisha’s but was way less cute.
He gave a bobble-headed nod and glanced around, but let his gaze linger a little too long on the corner where Paige stood talking. Surely he remembered her since she practically grew up at our house, but there was something in his eyes...something I didn’t like.
"Did you come here alone or...?” Rick asked.
What a strange question. It almost sounded like he was hitting on me, but from the way his body was half turned in Paige's direction, I didn't think so. He was fishing for something.
And I would take the bait just to see if he was all worm.
"I'm here with Paige Sullivan," I said, jutting my chin in her direction.
His eyebrows climbed up his forehead. "You’re here...together? Are you...?"
Fucking her? He didn’t even have to finish the question since an arrogant smirk stretched his mouth.
I narrowed in on him with fine-tipped precision. A growled warning linked my mouth to my fists. "Am I what?"
Over his shoulder, Paige turned. The smile that had brightened her face since we came here fell. Her lips and the corners of her eyes pinched themselves into hard lines. The only thing that could rip that smile away, here of all places, had to be Senator Rick.
Which made me want to murder his fucking face.
