Ask Me If I Care (SWAT Generation 2.0 4)

“We’re in the back right corner,” I said. “That’s what my ticket stub says anyway.”

Saylor headed that way with me right behind her.

My dad and Lock got sidetracked by a group of men that wanted to talk shop, and when we arrived at our table, I nearly came to a sudden, bone-jarring halt to find not only Ryan and his date there, but also Hayes. The man I just offended to the point where he closed up like a virgin’s legs.

Jesus Christ.

This should prove fun.

I took the seat that was farthest away from Ryan, but also not in his line of sight as long as I didn’t lean forward. Unfortunately, the seating arrangement also put me directly across from Hayes, who watched me move.

I swallowed hard and took my seat, urging Saylor down next to me.

“Talk to me,” I hissed. “Make it better.”

She frowned. “Make what better?”

“Who’s your friend?”

I gritted my teeth and spared Ryan a glance. He was leaning backward so far that he was threatening the integrity of the chair legs.

“This is my brother’s wife, Saylor,” I answered him, going for polite but coming out more ‘constipated.’

“Who is that?” Saylor whispered.

“That’s my ex,” I explained in just as low of a tone.

“And who is the man that’s staring at you like you’re his lunch?” she pushed, her eyes flicking to Hayes and back.

I chanced a glance in his direction to see his eyes on me.

Luckily, before I could answer, a waiter came by and asked what everyone wanted to drink.

When the man got to Hayes, Hayes said one word. “Whiskey.”

I swallowed hard, chancing another look to find his eyes still on me.

“And you, Miss?” the waiter asked me.

I licked my lips. “Ummm, whiskey sounds great!”

Whiskey sounded awful. I hated whiskey. Why did I just say that?

“Excellent choice,” the waiter sounded surprised by my order.

Don’t worry buddy, I was, too.

“When did your brother get married?” Ryan asked, looking confused.

I ignored him, my eyes scanning the room.

Since when did he care about my brother?

In fact, my brother and he did not get along. I was fairly sure he really didn’t care that my brother was now a married man.

“Ares?”

I gritted my teeth and turned to stare at Ryan.

“Yes?” I asked through gritted teeth when he waited for me to acknowledge him.

“I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Brooke.” He gestured to the woman next to him.

I gave her a smile and a wave. “Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Ares. This is my sister-in-law, Saylor. That man right there is Hayes, Ryan’s step-brother.”

Since I hadn’t seen Ryan introduce Hayes once, and I really didn’t want Ryan’s attention focused on me anymore.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

“I know who Hayes is,” Brooke said softly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ares. Saylor.”

I gritted my teeth and looked away, really wishing I’d said no to my father when he’d asked me to join him today.

“So, did you find a job?” Ryan asked.

I would’ve beat my head against the table if I thought it would help.

Ryan would just find it amusing to know that he was annoying me.

“Yep,” I said, then turned to Saylor. “I have to go to the bathroom. Want to come?”

Right when she would’ve answered, Lock arrived. “She just went. Go by yourself.”

I rolled my eyes and did just that, but not before pulling a lock of my brother’s hair as I passed.

“Ow,” he muttered, glaring at me over his shoulder.

I stuck out my tongue and moved swiftly across the large ballroom.

I smiled at people I knew and avoided the eyes of those that I didn’t.

By the time that I arrived at the bathroom, I wished I never would’ve said I needed to go.

I’d been stopped by no less than five people wanting to talk to me.

Making it to the bathroom, I made quick work of going—I mean I was in the bathroom. I didn’t pass up opportunities to go. One never knew when the opportunity would arise again.

By the time I finished, and I was making my way back out the door, I’d been at least ten minutes.

Seeing Ryan waiting for me outside the bathroom didn’t surprise me in the least. I ignored him and rushed forward, taking a hard left and bypassing him completely.

“Why are you here with him?”

The hissed question had me turning to stare into the darkened hallway.

“With who?” I asked, confused.

“My brother. I saw you come in with him. Saw y’all talking. He doesn’t talk to anybody,” Ryan said. “So I know that you have something going on.”

I would’ve rolled my eyes, but I knew that he wouldn’t like it. And it would keep me there even longer than necessary. Nor did I bother to correct him on my status with his brother not being what he assumed. What did I care if he thought we were together or not?