“I was starting to think the message I sent Thandie didn’t get through to you,” Harrison said with an unmasked air of contempt. The feeling was mutual.
“Oh, it did, but you can’t threaten me or my sister into getting what you want,” Drew said. “Thandie’s the best in the game. She would have gotten the deal without you. So, spreading rumors won’t stop her from being one of the best contenders for that sponsorship contract.”
Drew believed every word he said, but he had no idea if the second sentence was true.
“You really want to put your sister’s career on the line like that?” Harrison said, trying to maintain a kind of menace Drew knew people only used for empty threats.
“What are you going to do? Call Zeus? I dare you,” Drew said, holding Harrison’s gaze. He had no idea if Harrison actually had that kind of power, but he figured that if he sounded confident enough, Harrison would back down.
“I’m giving you until the closing ceremony. Break up, or I’ll call them,” Harrison said. But Drew could tell he was bluffing. His unwavering eye contact was the giveaway. It’s what people did when they were trying really hard to appear to be honest. Drew knew because he was doing it, too.
“Give it up,” Drew said, trying to sound dismissive. “We’re not ending things to soothe your insecurities, so just move on. Ari has.”
“Here’s the thing,Drew.I know Ari. I know what she needs. We’ve broken up before, but we always get back together. So, enjoy your time with her… but try not to add too many miles. She knows where home is,” said Harrison with a smirk.
Drew could feel the anger spreading across his body as he sized him up. Drew had met dozens of guys like Harrison before. People who’d built their entire identity on one thing and assumedthat everyone respected them because of it. Guys who used their stature to try to intimidate and saw women as objects to spar over. Drew hated guys like Harrison, and he was disgusted that the poor excuse for a man standing in front of him had the gall to talk about anybody like that, never mind Ari.
“Don’t speak about her like that,” Drew said firmly. His voice was level, but the threat in his tone was clear.
“Or what?” said Harrison, taking a step closer. Drew did the same. Boys like Harrison didn’t intimidate him. He knew the person standing in front of him was all talk. Drew knew how to fight, and he wouldn’t hesitate to show Harrison his answer to “or what?” if he needed to. But before things could escalate, Drew heard footsteps approaching them. He turned around and saw Ari.
“I don’t know whatthisis, but it’s an immediate no from me,” she said, shaking her head as she looked between Drew and Harrison. Drew wasn’t one to back down, but when Ari shot him a questioning look and he noticed the hint of irritation in her tone, he took a step away from Harrison and toward her.
“I can look after myself, remember?” she muttered so only he could hear her.
He nodded; he didn’t want to let his desire to shut Harrison down eclipse the fact that she clearly didn’t want him to intervene. Still, he made sure to pin Harrison down with a glare.
“We’re just chatting, no need to worry,” said Harrison with a wink that made Drew tense up. It was a sleazy smile and a seedy wink, worn by a man that Drew immediately hated more than anyone he’d ever met.
“Wait, is he carrying my watch?” Harrison asked, looking over at the black leather and gold watch in Drew’s hands. Ari had left it behind last night, so he’d brought it with him to return toher. But something about the look she and Harrison exchanged made it clear that it was more than just an accessory.
“Drew, let’s go before the line gets too long,” she said, reaching for his hand. But Harrison wasn’t done.
“Ari, I knew you were strategic, but I didn’t think you’d go this far,” said Harrison, right as they were about to leave.
Drew’s first impulse was to tell Harrison to keep his fake girlfriend’s name out of his mouth. But then he noticed the way Ari paused midstep. He scanned her expression, but she was wearing a poker face.
“What are you talking about?” she asked with an indifferent tone that masked the fact that she was holding Drew’s hand tighter than before.
“Keep your enemies close… but keep yourenemies’ familiescloser, I guess?” Harrison said, looking between the two of them.
Drew’s heart sank. He glanced over at Ari. Her poker face had dropped and in its place was confusion. It was all happening so quickly that Drew didn’t have time to reroute the conversation.
Harrison looked at Ari, then at Drew. He must have sensed the fact that the two of them were still on completely different pages, because he smiled, raised his eyebrow, and nodded in thinly veiled glee.
“You’re dating your rival’s brother, right? I didn’t think you’d sinkthatlow to try and win a game,” said Harrison, clearly delighted at the opportunity to drag out the reveal.
“What?” said Ari, whose confused glance moved from Harrison to Drew. Drew opened his mouth to start explaining. But Harrison had other plans.
“Ari, yourboyfriendis Andrew Dlamini, right? Thandie Dlamini’s brother. Wait, he didn’t tell you?” said Harrison, tilting his head in mock confusion and then shooting Drew agotchaglare.
Drew could feel his chest tightening and his whole body flooding with dread. But it wasn’t Harrison’s reveal that he cared about, it was how Ari would react. He looked over at her face, searching for the anger and betrayal he was expecting. But she’d reprised her poker face. Her expression so unreadable that it terrified him. The three of them were silent for a moment, and then she nodded.
“Of course I knew,” said Ari with a calm, collected voice. She shrugged and then squeezed Drew’s hand so tightly that he wondered if she had the strength to cut off his blood flow. Still, her face revealed nothing. “Right, I need that cup of coffee. Let’s go, Drew,” she said, turning around and practically dragging him through the snow and over to the café.
As soon as the door shut behind them, Ari dropped his hand and turned around to face him. The light had left her eyes. Drew knew he was in trouble. Big trouble. He’d dug himself a hole and was falling straight into it.
35Ari
