Yes, the girls had all gotten close but not the guys. Ian figured they all harbored their own resentments, but they’d agreed to come today.
“Hey, good call on the burgers,” Tyler said, walking into the kitchen. “These are my favorite.” He eyed the Kobe beef burgers piled on a chafing dish, French fries in a second tray. He reached out one hand.
“Hey!” Olivia swatted Ty before he could lift one and snag it for himself. “Wait for the company to arrive,” she said, sounding a lot like their mother.
“Spoilsport,” Ty grumbled. “I’m going back to watch some baseball with Scott.”
“Grab a beer,” Ian called out as Ty left the room.
Olivia laughed. “Men and their stomachs. You’re so easily led around.”
“Meanwhile, Avery’s in with them, and that’s where the chips are,” Ian said.
“She always could keep up with the boys.”
“You’re no slouch yourself,” he reminded her.
She grinned. “I have to tell you, this is quite a spread you’ve got here.”
“I’m just doing my best to be a decent host.”
“Or trying to impress a certain woman?” Olivia glanced around and grabbed a burger for herself, taking a bite before Ian could stop her.
He rolled his eyes at her audacity, though he shouldn’t be shock
ed. He also wasn’t about to touch the comment about Riley.
He’d had her in his bed, he’d been inside her body, and he wanted to go there again. Hell yes, he wanted to impress her.
And to do that, he needed her here.
He glanced at his watch. Not only were his half siblings late, so was Riley. His stomach churned, and he didn’t think it was hunger.
He joined his siblings in front of the television, but as the next half hour passed with no company and no phone call or explanation, anger burned in his gut.
He walked into the living room and looked over the city, seeing the view of Miami that usually brought him peace. Not today.
“Hey.”
He turned to see Avery coming up beside him. “Hi,” she said, pulling him in for a hug.
“Hi, yourself.” He kissed her forehead.
“I’m sure they’ll be here soon,” she said.
She’d always been the most naïve of them all, and he loved her for her innate goodness.
“I don’t know. Maybe they wanted to make a point, and they did. They want nothing to do with me.” How better to be obvious than to stand him up in front of his siblings?
She shook her head. “It’s not like Sienna to just not show.”
“Did you talk to her?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I was so excited she’d said yes when Olivia invited her, I called to talk. But she didn’t get back to me. Which isn’t like her.”
“Alex,” he muttered.
“What about him?” Avery asked.