Page 23

Entering the bar, we fell into a crowd of people who congratulated Ares when the guys in front of us noticed him—it was hard not to.

He was a head and shoulders above most of the people there, not to mention stacked with muscle.

His roommates were, too, and I thought maybe a good portion of the other starters were as well.

He pulled me against his side as he chatted with the crowd.

As soon as we were inside, he steered me toward a back corner, where Kylian, Aurora, and Liam stood with their teammates and some girls.

Ares leaned down so I could hear him better. “What do you want to drink?”

“Cabernet.” I’d had it there before, and their house brand was pretty good.

Ares leaned between Liam and another guy I didn’t recognize to place the order, and Aurora gave me a little wave, moving closer.

“Hey, Brielle. I’m glad you came out tonight. I wasn’t sure you would because Ares hasn’t been out after the games all that much.”

I grinned back at her. “I thought it was Kylian who didn’t like going.”

“True. This isn’t his scene anymore, but I wanted to go when Ares and Liam said they were. We don’t have a lot of these nights left.”

“I get that. It’s going so fast. I can’t believe it’s already the end of September.”

“So”—Aurora shifted closer—“see that girl trying to close in on Ares?”

“Hmm.” Jealousy ripped through me when I saw Denise Williams’s hand rest on Ares’s bicep. “Yep, I see her, and I know her from a class we’re in together. I don’t think she’s passing it, though. She spends most of her time chatting.”

I’d had a project with her, and it’d been a nightmare.

I’d ended up doing the whole thing myself, as she’d been worthless with a hangover from the night before.

It had been the only day I could get her to commit to.

I didn’t give her a good review when I had to turn in the peer evaluation to the teacher.

“She’s looking for more than a hookup. She wants an NFL-bound athlete, if you catch my drift.”

“That’s a big problem for the guys?” My gaze slid to Liam, who leaned an elbow against the bar and chatted with a pretty brunette and her friend.

Aurora shrugged. “Most of them are good with the opportunities their godlike status on campus provides, just not everyone. I’m told it gets old fast.”

“Is it old for Ares?” The words were out before I could take them back, and Aurora’s smile was completely understanding.

“Yeah—last spring break aside. He doesn’t let many people get too close, and he’s had a lot on his plate.” In other words, she wouldn’t go into personal details about her fiancé’s best friend with a girl who’d only been around for a couple of weeks.

Like a magnet, I sought Ares out with my eyes once more. Relief slid through me when he turned his back on Denise, and her hand fell away.

Kylian’s arm wrapped around Aurora’s shoulders, and he pulled her close. “Hey, Brielle.”

“Kylian.” I flashed a small smile, not wanting to step on Aurora’s toes.

I wasn’t like Denise or the girls trying to hang on the players.

Not that it was wrong for those girls to want to date them.

Ugh, I sounded crazy in my own head. I needed to stop analyzing everything to death.

“Thanks.” I accepted the glass Ares handed me with a grateful sigh, taking a long sip to steady my nerves.

“Aurora, I had some of that chicken fiesta you made the other day. It was fabulous.”

“I’m so glad you liked it.” Pink dusted her cheeks, and her eyes lit like the Fourth of July. “I tweaked the recipe a little.”

“It’s seriously the best I’ve ever tasted.” And I’d frequented Michelin- and James Beard-awarded restaurants with my family before everything had gone to hell. She was seriously talented.

Kylian bent and murmured something in Aurora’s ear, and her pretty pink cheeks flamed. She reached out and squeezed my wrist. “We’re going to head out. ”

“Later, Ares.” Kylian waved at Liam, who rolled his eyes at their departure.

I’d already heard Liam badgering his roommates to hang out with him. He struck me as a consummate party guy who loved the perks of his status on campus.

“Let’s grab a table outside.” Ares linked my hand in his and led me to where the atmosphere was less chaotic.

I loved the twinkling lights strung across the large patio.

While the music inside the bar leaned toward the latest crazes, out in the open space, it was chill, more of a beachy vibe.

It made me crave a trip to the Caribbean where we could listen to Jimmy Buffett and stroll along the shore as waves broke and froth teased our bare toes—one of my favorite things.

Two empty tables remained, and we claimed one off to the side.

I set my half-empty glass on the high table and scaled the chair.

A few were scattered throughout the seating options, and it made sense why—they weren’t the best option for drinking.

I could see myself face-planting while trying to get down after a few glasses.

Good thing I planned to stick to the one glass, and I knew from experience that Ares didn’t drink more than one beer a week because of training.

We stayed mainly in the shadows, something I was grateful for because a lot of people wanted to talk to Ares, Kylian, and Liam. Maybe that was why he’d wanted to come out to the patio.

“This brings me back,” I said.

The deep rumble of Ares’s laugh coaxed an answering smile from me.

“Our second disastrous encounter.” He clinked his beer to my glass. “Funny how things work out.”

“At least this time, we don’t have to deal with the same crowd.”

He glanced over my shoulder. “You may have spoken too soon. Mean girls incoming. ”

My stomach dropped as I looked over my shoulder to find Samantha and Tiffany heading our way with determination. Why do they have to like going to this bar? I get that it’s in a convenient location, but couldn’t they have gone to some upscale establishment in Chicago that was more their scene?

“Brielle.” Samantha’s hand landed on my shoulder. “It’s so good to see you. We were going to call and check if you wanted to meet us here…”

Sure they were. “Where’s Dan?” Samantha’s fiancé.

“He’s at a dinner with a client.” Her gaze slid appreciatively to Ares. “Good to see you again. I hope I can count on you being Brielle’s plus one at my wedding.”

Ares murmured a response to Samantha as Tiffany leaned close to me, her cold eyes flashing as she readied for the kill.

“It’s smart that you hooked up with someone noteworthy to avoid a dismally broke future.

” She shrugged, a flash of triumph lighting her eyes as she verbally plunged in the knife.

“Eventually, you’ll return to moving in the right circles.

And I’m sure you’ll get back there on his coattails after the sex-tape scandal gets overlooked once he’s in the NFL. ”

Of fucking course, she didn’t keep her voice low to deliver that load of crap. “I’m not surprised you think that way.”

Samantha grabbed Tiffany’s arm. “It was great seeing you guys. We’re going to head inside now.” With a wave of her hand, she swept Tiffany along with her. “Talk soon!”

Ares folded his arms on the table, eyes narrowing on me. I felt like prey caught in a predator’s sight. Tension spiked between us, and I wasn’t going to be the one to break it, as he gave me powder keg vibes.

“Interesting conversation you just had with that chick. I hadn’t pegged you for a jersey chaser, but maybe I was wrong.”

“Excuse me?” I gripped the edge of the table as if that would stop me from launching myself at him like a rabid dog.

He’d heard Tiffany call me a gold digger, but his reaction hurt more than I cared to admit.

“How do you figure? Because I’m under the impression that we’re fake dating.

So how could I possibly be a jersey chaser in this situation?

What’s going on between us isn’t real—that’s what fake means.

And that includes our future as a couple—it doesn’t exist.” I stood from the table, barely managing to remain long enough to deliver my parting shot before I left him in the dust. “Let me know when your common sense returns and you pull your head out of your ass. Until then, I don’t want anything to do with you. ”

I was done with people turning on me. Instead of leaving through the patio gate, I marched inside. Music and conversation filled every inch of space, and I pushed my way between groups of people until I spotted Samantha and Tiffany.

Anger fueled me as I tapped Samantha on the shoulder. I knew she wasn’t as bad as Tiffany, but not once had she defended me. “Hey, Sam.”

Her eyes narrowed. She hated that nickname.

“I wanted to rescind my RSVP to your wedding. While I wish you the best in life, I know neither of you do the same for me. So this is me parting ways with you for good.”

Samantha’s mouth fell open, and Tiffany, for once, had nothing to say.

I felt sorry for her next victim because I refused to take her abuse one second longer.

I pivoted and pushed through more people until I reached the door.

I wanted to turn and scan the crowd to see if Ares had followed, but I didn’t.

I squashed the way my heart ached as I fled.