Before I could protest, he continued. “I know the kitchen staff pretty well. I could make sure you could spit on his food. Or get some ex-lax shaved onto his dessert. Hmm?”
I couldn’t stop my smile. Leaning up, I kissed his cheek. “Thanks, Aiden, but no. I just want to ignore him.”
Liam chuckled. “Good ideas, though, Dad. Who is giving the speech tonight?”
“I am.”
“It’s a pretty special night, right? I’m here with my girl. My business is doing well. BAM is huge… ABC is totally rocking it…” He trailed off.
Aiden grinned. “Such a special night.” He clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Words are so much better at times.”
I glanced between them, not understanding.
“I’ll head back to the table. Your mother will be worried by now.” Aiden touched my shoulder. “You come when you’re ready.”
“Thank you.”
He brushed a kiss to my forehead. “We got you, Paige.”
I watched him weave his way through the crowded hall and enter the ballroom.
“Your family is so amazing,” I murmured.
Liam squeezed my hand. “They consider you family now too, you know. My dad meant what he said. We’ve got you, and you don’t have to face this alone. Alan won’t get a chance to upset you again tonight. Ignore him. Don’t let him win.”
“He thinks I don’t belong here.”
“He’s wrong. You’re with me, with my family. You belong by my side, and I won’t let him near you. I promise.”
I smiled at him, fighting back the emotional tears that threatened. “I know.”
“Remember that. You’re with us and you’re safe. You belong. You ready to do this?”
“Yes.”
We headed into the room, the noise level rising tenfold. I kept my head up, refusing to cower. Alan had no control over me anymore. I wasn’t going to allow him to ruin the night. I had Liam beside me, and I knew without a doubt he wouldn’t leave my side again tonight. I was safe.
At the table, I slid into my seat beside Cami. It was obvious Aiden had already filled everyone in, and they regarded me with kind smiles. Cami slipped her arm around my shoulders and hugged me. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Aiden leaned over. “Asshole eleven o’clock. Don’t be obvious when you look—he’s been staring since you walked in.”
Beside me, Liam draped his napkin over his lap and leaned his arm on the back of my chair. He muttered under his breath, and I knew he’d spotted Alan. My hand trembled a little as I picked up my wine and took a sip, daring to glance up. Four tables across from ours, directly in my line of vision, I was met with Alan’s flat, frosty glare. Sitting beside him was, I assumed, his wife. She sat, her spine straight, her shoulders perfectly squared, and had a bored, discontented look on her face. She wasn’t paying any attention to Alan, and he seemed to be ignoring her. They sat apart from each other, as if being close were unthinkable. As if he knew what I was thinking, Liam’s hand tightened on my shoulder, and he drew me closer, dropping a kiss to my head. I tilted my head toward him with a smile, and he lowered his head and dropped a fast kiss to my mouth. As I glanced back, I saw Alan’s gaze had narrowed, focusing intently on our table, and unable to help myself, I lifted my glass in a silent toast and smirked at him.
Instantly, he dropped his gaze and half turned in his seat. Beside me, Cami chuckled.
“Good move, sweetheart. Don’t let him make you uncomfortable. He can go fuck himself.”
I widened my eyes at her words, but she shrugged. “Katy’s favorite saying. It comes in handy.”
Aiden burst out laughing and kissed her. “That’s my woman. Blunt and direct.”
Bentley rose and left the table, and I made a concerted effort to join in on the conversation. There was lots of talk about family, upcoming plans for the summer, and a pending visit from Richard VanRyan and his wife, Katy. I had heard a lot about them, especially from their daughter Grace, and I was looking forward to meeting them. It was obvious that he and Maddox were especially close, and I had a feeling lots of shenanigans ensued when they were all together. Many people stopped by the table, shaking hands with the BAM members, talking for a moment or two, then drifting away. On occasion, I stole a glance Alan’s direction, trying not to laugh at his not-so-subtle way of spying on our group. I knew he was curious who was at the table and why it was such an attraction. No one stopped by his table or spoke to him or his wife—even the other people seated with him. They seemed to make no attempt to interact either, and I wondered if Alan thought the people around him were beneath him. He often did.