"It's … " I risk a glance at Ares, and his eyes are staring off into the distance, his jaw clenched so tightly, it looks like it might shatter. I look back at Missy, and her eyes are sparkling with something that looks a lot like mischief. "It's okay, I guess." I shrug.
"Mmhmm. I can imagine, being surrounded by all those big, strapping football players-barring my brother, of course-must be a real hardship."
She gives a teasing roll of her eyes, and I laugh.
"I'm just not a big fan of football," I say.
"You're not?" That's Ares, and the sound of his voice surprises me. I thought he was done with his participation in this conversation.
"Oh Christ, don't say that." Missy laughs. "Not if you don't want to endure a lecture on how football is the greatest game in the world."
I've had enough of Ares Kincaid's lectures to last me a lifetime, so I'll pass on that one.
"Got it," I say. "Well, I should head off. It was nice meeting you, Missy-"
"Hey, we were just about to go for some gelato, if you want to join us?"
My eyes dart to Ares.
He shakes his head ever so subtly, ensuring his sister doesn't see.
My face goes hot with embarrassment.
I knew he wouldn't want me to go, but I never thought he'd be so cold and actually tell me to say no.
That feeling of being disliked and my complete and utter loneliness hits me at a whole new level.
"I, um … " I'm stumbling over my words. "I can't. I have to … " I can't think of anything to say; my mind has gone blank. "Cheese," I suddenly blurt out. "I need to buy cheese."
Missy chuckles. "So, we'll get your cheese on the way to the gelato place. We're not taking no for an answer, are we, A?" She nudges him with her elbow.
He frowns at me. "Apparently not."
And this is how I find myself sitting on a stool in a gelato shop across from a scowling Ares with his smiling sister, Missy, next to him.
Aside from the pissed off football player there, throwing daggers at me, it's actually nice, talking to his sister. I can't remember the last time I did this … just hung out and ate ice cream.
Probably before my mom died.
"So, you guys have another brother?" I say to Missy. "The boxer. Zeus, right?"
"Yep. Zeus is our big brother. And there's also my twin brother, Lo," Missy tells me.
"Wow. You have a twin. So cool."
"Not as cool as you'd think. He's like a menstrual cycle-"
"For fuck's sake!" Ares groans.
She rolls her eyes at him, and I laugh.
"A menstrual cycle?" I cough out.
"Yep. He's like this thing I have, and I wouldn't function right without him, but he gives me serious cramps."
My eyes are watering with laughter by this point. I can't think of the last time I laughed this hard. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I laughed for real.
I wipe at my eyes, my laughter dying down.
"What about you, Arianna? Any brothers or sisters?" Missy asks me.
"No. No brothers or sisters. And call me Ari. Everybody does," I say. Well, people who actually call me by my given name.
"An only child. I've always thought that would be incredibly lonely," she says, sounding genuinely concerned for me.
You have no idea.
"It was okay." I shrug. "It meant I didn't have to share any of my stuff."
"Well, I was reading this article the other day, and it said that only children are overachievers, and they tend to be leaders."
"Yeah, and they're also selfish and spoiled."
"Ares Kincaid!" Missy cries out. "Ari is not spoiled."
My cheeks are hot with embarrassment.
"I never said she was. But you don't even know her to make that assumption," he tosses back at her before his eyes shift to mine. And those judging eyes of his are saying, But I know you. I know who you are. A worthless drunk.
I want to tell him that he doesn't know a thing about me, but what would be the point? He's already made his mind up about me.
"I've seen enough to know that she's a sweet person," Missy says, smiling kindly at me.
I try to return her smile, but it feels off.
Ares stares at her, his eyes softening in that way only a sibling's can. Then, he wraps an arm around her neck, pulling her to him, and presses an affectionate kiss to her forehead.
She pushes him away, feigning irritation, but I can tell she secretly loves it.
I know I would if I had a brother who cared for me like he clearly does her.
"Ignore my brother. He's being a butthead today." She turns back to me. Elbow on the table, she rests her chin in her hand. "Tell me about you," she says to me.
"Uh … there's not really much to tell," I say around a spoonful of salted caramel gelato, trying to cool my heated face down.
She is so bright and positive, like a ray of sun, and her positivity is infectious, unlike her asshole brother.
I'm sitting here, trying to soak up as much of her zeal as I can. I really don't want to bring down the mood with tales of my miserable existence.
"Sure there is!" She rings out a laugh. "Okay, I'll ask questions. Are you from New York?"
"Nope." I shake my head.
"Didn't think so. You don't sound like a native."
"I'm from Atlanta originally," I tell her. "But we moved around a bit with my dad's job, so I've lived in quite a few places. My accent is a bit of a mixed bag."
"Best place you've lived?" she asks.
"Here." I smile.
I jolt when I hear Ares's voice talk in my direction. "Makes sense. There are a lot of bars in New York. Plenty of places to party." The dig is blatant and cruel.
My eyes flash up to his. His are on me. Steady and hard and judgmental.
My face burns with humiliation. I dig my spoon into my gelato, staring down at it.
"Speaking of bars," Missy says, obviously unaware of the tension between us, "we're going to check out this new club tonight. Ares got VIP tickets. You should come with us."
Shit.
"Oh. Um … "
"If you don't have plans already, that is."
I could say I have plans. I should say that. But I don't want to lie to Missy. She's being so nice to me. And it's not like Ares won't tell her anyway after we've left here.
Honestly, I'm half-expecting him to say it now and beat me to it.
But I won't give him the satisfaction.
I am who I am, and I shouldn't be ashamed of that.
I'm sober now, and that's what matters.
I look up at Missy and try to smile, but I'm not sure that I pull it off. "Bars aren't my scene anymore. I'm in recovery. Six months sober. But I really do appreciate you inviting me."
"Oh," she says, her bright eyes dimming a little as they move to Ares, who's surprisingly staring at me.
When she looks back to me, the expression on her brow … it's like she's just figured something out.
That I'm a mess. A loser. And definitely not the kind of person she wants to befriend.
Oh well. It was nice while it lasted.
"That's amazing, Ari. Not the drinking problem, of course." She slaps a hand to her head. "Sorry. That came out sounding wrong. I meant, you being sober. That's a big deal. You should be really proud of yourself."
Warmth glows in my chest. The only other person who's said that to me is Luke.
"I am." I smile.
I don't look at Ares, but I can practically feel him burning holes into my head with his fire eyes.
"Have you celebrated the milestone?" she asks me.
"Um … no. Well, Luke, my sponsor, brought in a cupcake for me when I received my six-month chip, so there was that."
"Okay, so we're totally doing something. Oh, I know! We should go to the movies. Have you seen The Greatest Showman?"
I shake my head.
"Me either, but I've heard it's amazing."
"Honestly, you don't have to change your plans on my account."
"She's right. Listen to her," Ares says low.
Missy gives him a dirty look. "It's just a club. It's not going anywhere. You can use the tickets anytime, right?"
He folds his arms. "It's not the point."
"It's totally the point. But, if it bothers you so much, you still go. Ari and I will go to the movies together."
His eyes flash to me, a look of distrust in them. Then, he heaves out a sigh. "Fine. We'll go to the movies."
He doesn't trust me with his sister.
That cuts me to the core.
What does he think I'm going to do? Turn her into an alcoholic?
"Really, it's fine," I say quietly. "You should totally go to the club."
"I'm not really in the mood to go clubbing tonight anyway. A date with Zac Efron sounds so much more appealing."
"For fuck's sake," Ares grumbles.