“Well, I am, but we can still talk on the phone. Get to know each other so when I come back into town we can go out.”
“Get to know each other?” Ari asked, her eyebrows arched.
“Yeah, you know.” His brows wiggled, and Ari nearly choked on her own spit.
The anger building inside of me was insane. I knew exactly what he was hinting around to.
Who hints around for phone sex with a girl he just met?
Dick.
I wanted to walk over to Ari, pull her into my arms, and kiss the living shit out of her right in front of this little prick. Tell him there was so fucking way he’d ever hear her moaning or even have his hands on her.
I didn’t have to, though, because this was Ari. She was capable of handling herself.
When she let out a chuckle, I knew what was coming next.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, champ. I’m not interested in a relationship with anyone, especially a telephone one. Not my kind of kinky fun, but hey, if that’s the only way you can get a girl to come is over the phone, then more power to you.”
When she gave him a wink, I nearly lost it laughing. The guy was standing there staring at her like he couldn’t believe what she had just said. I had to admit, he was okay-looking. Older than Ryan by a few years.
“That’s not what I meant,” he replied, backtracking his words.
“Really? Are you sure about that?” Ari asked.
Ryan cleared his throat. He knew Ari well enough to know he needed to get his cousin out of harm’s way before she lost her shit.
“Listen, we’re going to take off. Enjoy dinner and a movie with your brother. I’ll call you later tonight.”
Ryan walked up to Ellie and thought twice about kissing her in front of me. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Bye, Ellie.”
“See ya later,” Ellie replied.
Ryan and Thomas didn’t say goodbye to me or Ari.
I turned and watched them walk to a car I was guessing was Ryan’s. I knew it was intimidating for me to be staring them down, but I didn’t give a shit.
They pulled out, and I faced Ellie. “I don’t like him, Ellie.”
“So you’ve told me, Jefferson. A million and one times.”
“For once, I agree with dickhead here,” Ari said.
“Why thanks, Squirt.”
She trembled in anger. “Do. Not. Call. Me. That!”
“I thought you liked it,” I replied with an innocent shrug.
“Fuck you, Jeff. You’re an ass.”
Spinning on her heels, she headed to her front door.
“Wait! I thought you were going to dinner with us,” I shouted.
Ari turned and narrowed her eyes at me. “I thought you just said that to make them leave. I didn’t know you were being serious.”
My stomach did a weird dip. Did she really honestly think I didn’t want her going? Damn, I’ve been acting like such a dick to her. I hated doing it, but it was the only way to keep her pissed off at me and at arm’s length.