Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77718 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I must look like a toddler, standing here with these two gorgeous skyscrapers.
She’s wearing cutoff jean shorts, showing off her long, tan legs—I’m not jealous at all—and a T-shirt that says, I’m Not Smart for A Girl. I’m Just Smart.
I like her immediately. Any woman who wears a shirt saying that has my admiration.
She’s looking between us.
She must be wondering who the hell I am and why he’s looking at me like he would like to strangle me with his bare hands.
“A, are you going to introduce me?” she says with curiosity in her voice.
She called him A. She’s clearly familiar with him.
I wonder if she’s his girlfriend.
My stomach fills with battery acid.
I choose not to think about why.
But, if she is his girlfriend, then she deserves a medal for putting up with him. Although I imagine he’s nice to her.
She pushes her sunglasses up to the top of her head, revealing her eyes. Bright blue. Exactly like his.
Maybe she’s not his girlfriend after all. Maybe they’re related.
Ares lets out an aggravated-sounding sigh and folds his arms over his mammoth chest. The fabric of his shirt stretches over his huge biceps. “She’s Coach Petrelli’s daughter.”
Coach Petrelli’s daughter.
Wow, don’t go overboard there with the introduction, Mr. Perfect.
Seems I don’t even deem worthy enough to have a name. Actually, come to think of it, I can’t remember him ever calling me by my name. He’s called me Jailbird, but that’s it.
I get that he has a strong aversion to alcoholics, but his hatred for me is something else altogether.
“Well, hey there, Coach Petrelli’s daughter,” she says in a teasing voice, which is aimed at Ares and his lame introduction. “I’m Missy. This grumpy ass’s sister.” She thumbs in his direction.
Ares frowns in her direction.
And I smile. My smile has nothing to do with the fact that she’s his sister and everything to do with her calling him a grumpy ass and the fact that her expression hasn’t dropped at the introduction of who I am. I can’t imagine he’s talked about me to her. Either that, or she’s not a hater of ex-alcoholics.
And my stomach most definitely has not emptied of the battery acid it is filled with.
“I’m Arianna,” I tell her.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Arianna,” she says, sounding like she actually means it. “Guess I don’t need to ask how you know my brother. Coach Petrelli being your dad and all.”
“We actually only met recently,” I tell her, avoiding his hard stare. And he hates my guts. “I just started working for my dad.”
“Cool. And how’s that going?”
Um…
You know, aside from my dad, she’s the only other person who’s asked me that question.
“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.