“A bunch of crap?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “I have to be here.”
“I’ve never been to anything close to this, Ian. I feel so uncomfortable.”
Ian pulls me to him.
“This is exactly your place, okay? Trust me.”
He slides his hand down my bare back and my body responds to his touch. “I want you with me.”
“Hey! There’s the star of the moment! You’re keeping us waiting,” says a familiar voice from behind us.
Ian sighs and breaks away from me.
“Hi dickhead,” he greets his brother Nick. “Who invited you?”
“Good one…” he says, letting his gaze fall on me. “Holy shit,” he exclaims, running a hand through his hair. “Everyone will have something interesting to talk about tonight.”
“Shut your mouth,” Ian growls menacingly.
“Riley, you’re—”
“Knock it off!”
“I just wanted to give her a compliment.”
“Don’t.”
“I see we’re already at the cuddling and hugging stage,” Ryan says joining us. “Riley…” he says by way of greeting, bowing to me.
“Do both of you really need to be here?” he asks with fake harshness.
Ryan shrugs. “Are you kidding me? We’re family. We had to be here.”
“Are they all here?” I ask, looking around.
Nick and Ryan look at me as Ian replies: “My parents couldn’t be here tonight. My dad’s not in great shape.”
“Oh,” I say bringing my hand to my mouth. “I hope he’ll be better soon,” I continue, sincerely sorry about it.
Ian nods without replying to me and his mood changes a bit.
“O’Connor!”
We all turn around.
“Jesus, mate. It was about time! I was starting to lose hope.”
“Fuck off, Jamie.”
“Hey! Not in front of my sister.”
Jamie comes over to me, takes me in his arms and lifts me up.
“I’m happy to see you here, even if it took Ian O’Connor to convince you.”
“Don’t be jealous,” I tell him as he sets me down.
