“Can I buy you a drink?”
My stomach soured at his offer, remembering what followed the last time he’d made the request. I took another sip of my mimosa to ease it. “Why? Have another announcement to make? Maybe Emma’s having twins, and you bought her a house?”
He visibly winced at the stab of my words, and I felt a wave of discomfort roll off Ren. I suddenly felt bad for asking her to stay, but I needed her. I needed the buffer, ifonly for feigned strength. Still, I couldn’t stop what came over me. I wanted to be more pleasant, but the champagne went to my head. I was no longer in control of my sharp tongue.
He scoffed, his mouth twisting into a sideways grin. “Just the drink this time.”
I pursed my lips in a cold, bitter smile and held up my glass. “Bottomless mimosas. Thanks, anyway.”
He tucked his lips into his mouth and looked down at his feet to hide his amusement. He saw right through my bitchy little skit. He wasn’t fazed by it in the slightest. Because he knew me. Too well.
“Oh! My girlfriends just walked in.” Ren waved at the door and three beautiful girls waved back excitedly. “I’ll be right back.” Ren looked at me as if to promise she wasn’t going far. I nodded her off as she hopped down from her stool and walked to her friends.
All the while, E’s eyes stayed focused on me. He chewed on his cheek. And he looked sexy as hell doing it. I rolled my eyes before I turned around and gave him my back.
He grabbed the back of Ren’s empty stool and pulled it out. “I’d ask if this seat was taken—”
“It is.”
“But I already know you’ll say ‘yes’ even though we both just watched Ren walk away.”
“She’ll be right back.” I scowled at him as he sat beside me.
“And then I’ll get up.” He flashed a closed-mouth grin that kissed his eyes, then folded his hands on the bar beforehim. I rolled my eyes again and looked away, downing the rest of my mimosa in one gulp.
We were quiet for a while, and I looked around aimlessly with the attitude of a stubborn toddler.
“Are you seriously going to sit here and ignore me like you’re five?”
“I was aiming for three.”
“Three-year-olds are cute. Five-year-olds are annoying.”
“Huh.” I scoffed. “Did you read that in one of your parenting books?” My stomach rolled with nausea, but I stared him dead in the eyes anyway and forced it away.
He took a deep breath as he rolled his lips between his teeth. “Are you done yet?”
“Not even close,” I said with no hint of playfulness on my tongue.
He tongued his cheek and took another deep breath. “Fine,” he said as he turned on his stool. “Have it your way.”
My eyes followed him as he got up and walked away. I scoffed to myself, shocked and annoyed that he’d bail at the slightest pushback, as if he didn’t deserve it.What a brat,I thought. I began to turn back around but was compelled to do a double take when I saw him walk up to Ren and her friends.
He spoke animatedly, his hands moving with his words. They laughed at whatever charming statement he made, and then they all nodded in unison. Even Ren. I rolled my eyes in disbelief, annoyed at the ease with which he could make anyone agree with him. When he turned to make his way back toward me, I eyed him down.
“What was that about—” I asked when he was close enough to hear. He didn’t answer. In the next second, he scooped me up, threw me over his shoulder, and carried me out of the restaurant like a petulant child.
After nearly a whole block of yelling for him to “put me down,” he finally placed me on my feet in a large grassy field with a grin.
“What the hell was that for!” I yelled as I shoved him with all my might.
He barely stumbled back. “You were acting like a baby,” he said, the curve of his lips deepening his smug grin.
“So what!” I yelled. “I get to act however I want because you’re having one.”
“Syd—”
“No! Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I huffed. “You moved on with your life, good for you. Now leave me alone!”
