Ian
When I go to sit down after the official presentation, the group photos, and going through a receiving line shaking hands and patting backs, I find Riley talking animatedly with Ryan.
I stop for a minute to watch them, and hope it might be the first step for him to stop hating the world, for him to maybe start trusting people again – especially the female half of the population.
Riley notices me standing over Ryan’s shoulder, so I join them taking my place next to her on the opposite side.
“Everything okay?” I ask her, touching her hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug. “It wasn’t such a big deal.”
“What? You’re kidding!”
I take a sip of champagne.
“Ian, it’s amazing,” she says, touching my arm. “I’m so proud of you.”
And I don’t know why, but after hearing it from her lips, I start to feel the same way.
* * *
The night is long,full of good food, alcohol, conversation and some frustration, seeing as I now have Nick sitting next to me and Ryan three seats down.
They’ve barely exchanged two words all night, and when they did it was to threaten one another. It’s giving me a headache. I wonder if they’ll ever give it a rest.
“So, you’re the oldest,” Riley says to Nick curiously. “Do you play, too?”
“He used to play,” Ryan interrupts, chugging the rest of his drink.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re in a better position than I am.”
“It’s better to be on the bench than not to play at all.”
“Look, I’m still on the team.”
“Sure Nick, let’s go with that.”
Nick gets to his feet, but I gesture for him to stay calm. He sighs and sits back down, throwing back another glass of wine.
My bow tie is starting to choke me, so much that I want to just take it off altogether – along with this bloody tux – because I’ve had just about enough of this dinner, my brothers, people hounding me and not being able to get my hands under Riley’s dress.
The background music starts up, inviting people to dance, taking advantage of a pause between courses. Riley places a hand on mine, waiting for me to lead her to the floor.
“You know I don’t dance.”
In her eyes I see the reflection of the night we met and my stomach starts burning.
“I’ll dance with you, Riley,” Nick interrupts.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“I just asked her to dance, Ian,” Nick replies seriously. “I’m not what you think I am. I’m much more than that.”
Feeling guilty for how I attacked him, I nod as he stands up and offers Riley his hand.
“May I?”
