My jaw drops to the floor. “Aaron!”
I have never heard Aaron talk to anyone like that.
Aaron’s words catch Via off guard, and she’s clearly taken aback. But within seconds, she regains her composure, rounding her shoulders and tilting her chin up toward my brother like a boss.
“If you call me that one more time, or even look in my direction, I’ll cut your tiny little balls off and feed them to you.”
Internally, I’m screaming because no one has ever talked to my brother like this. Am I cheering on Via? A thousand percent, yes.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Aaron stands, towering above her.
“Do you need your ears checked too?” Via crosses her arms, leaning back in her seat.
My eyes might pop out of my face.
I should probably do something.
When Aaron takes a step toward her, I stand and block his view. He’s on the verge of exploding, his face turning a vicious shade of red.
“I think you should take a walk,” I say to my brother.
His gray eyes cut to mine, nostrils flaring. “Me? What the fuck did I do?”
“I don’t care, but you’re ending it.” I give him a disapproving look and silently plead with my lips, mouthing the wordplease. He clenches his hands into tight fists, grabs his coat, and storms off without saying another word.
Something definitely happened between Via and Aaron, and I need to find out exactly what if I’m going to resolve this feud between them before it gets any worse.
21
ZOE
“Wait, where the hell are you going?”
Via gulps down the remaining beer and deliberately avoids looking at me. “I’ll be right back.”
“The game is about to start!”
She grabs her purse and turns to face me. “I’ll be right back, I promise.” This is completely unlike her. She seems panicked, looking around like she’s not sure what to do with herself. “Via, are you okay? Do you want me to come with you?”
She snaps out of it, shaking her head and smiling a bit too big to convince anyone. “No. I’m fine. Thank you though.”
Via runs away before I get the chance to argue with her.
The clatter of hockey sticks and the cheers of the crowd all fade into the background as I play every detail back like a detective, but I’m drawing a blank. One or both of them better talk when they get back.
Was it just my imagination, or did it seem like she was going after him?
I’ll have better luck getting Via to talk than my brother. He could win awards for his tight lips, but if he hurt my friend, I’m going to raise hell.
I should go after her, right?
Just then, I turn my head, locking eyes with Dom and losing my breath. He’s staring at me as if I’m the only person in this entire arena. He smiles bright, so sincere and welcoming that it releases a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. The rush of it all engulfs me, like a wave crashing over me, while a sense of uncertainty fills my lungs, pulling me underwater.
How does he do that with just one glance?
I still hate him.
Ineedto hate him.
