Page 69
Hey, wait…yeah, he’s right.
Maybe it’s not that he doesn’t do relationships, he just doesn’t do them with me.
My gaze finds him immediately, still standing with his date as he introduces her around. I take in the fancy dress she’s wearing and the pricey-looking jewelry. She seems refined and classy. Confident. Basically, everything my anxious ass isn’t. Is that the type of person he’s looking to spend his life with? Someone he’s proud to have at his side?
“You’re worse than Carpenter, swear to God.” KC wrenches the glass away before I can drain it all, and I toss him a glare that he returns in earnest. “Don’t give me that sass, blue eyes. I’m trying to collude here.”
And I’m trying to get drunk. Other than that night at Kintsugi, I’ve never drank before, and it seems like an excellent way to cope with my problems right now. It’s not healthy, but whatever.
Ducking out of KC’s arms, I slip into the crowd, chasing after another server for more champagne. Whether he lets me go on purpose or loses track of me, I don’t care. I slink into a dark corner behind the stage and start drinking, eyes glued to Ryann like a creep. Only when my glass is empty do I emerge from my hidey hole, grabbing more champagne before retreating again.
The party unfolds around me, everyone participating in a raffle and charity toy drive. By the time it all ends, prizes given out, I’ve probably drank too much.
No, scratch that, I’ve definitely drank too much because everything feels floaty? But I’m also increasingly irritated because Ryann hasn’t turned his attention away from Oli-whatsherface this entire time. Not once has he glanced up to look for me or expressed concern for my whereabouts, unlike Paige and Carpenter, who I had to dodge when I snuck out for another glass.
It’s not fair. I want his eyes on me. I want him to smile at me and touch me in public like he does in private, but what we have will never be public. He’ll never show me off proudly. The woman at his side laughs at something he said, a full-bodied sound that’s probably really sexy. Ryann doesn’t laugh with her, but there’s a small, satisfied tilt to his lips as she gestures animatedly. Like he’s enjoying their conversation. Maybe a little too much…
I want to make him angry. Get him so pissed off that he can’t enjoy his night, that’s what I need to do. But how?
Scanning the room, my eyes land on my sister. She’s standing with Declan, her purse slung over her shoulder. An idea, stupid and impulsive, pops into my head. It’s not like me at all, but I’m going to blame the alcohol for this one, because right now I could not care less.
I weave through the crowd, my heart thumping as I reach Paige. She’s too busy shoveling cake into her mouth to notice me until I’m right in front of her.
“Jesus Christ, Iggy,” she chokes, jolting in surprise. “We’ve been looking for you! Where have you been?”
“Not feeling good,” I lie, clutching my stomach for effect. “Can I grab the Tums from your purse?”
“Told you that you’d make yourself sick,” she sighs, holding out her bag without question before returning to some conversation I don’t care to be a part of.
Reaching inside, I grab what I’m really after before sneaking off like a thief in the night, snickering at the stunt I’m about to pull.
Ryann
Where the fuck is Shilo?
After coming back inside, he’d danced with KC briefly before vanishing completely. I haven’t had the chance to search for him properly—not with Ronin watching my every move around Olivia. But I felt his eyes on me earlier, and it pissed me off that I couldn’t see him.
Then, after what felt like hours, I caught a flash of purple hair near Paige. Just as quickly as I saw him, he was gone again. He’s not with KC or Carpenter, either, because those two have been glued to the dessert table all night.
So where the fuck is he?
Olivia tosses her hair, nibbling delicately on hors d’oeuvres. “Well, I’m officially impressed. You Callahans know how to celebrate. My parties at Sentinel Solutions consist of pizza and soda.”
Most of my smiles tonight have been fake, but this one is genuine as I glance around the room. My employees are laughing, dancing, enjoying themselves. “We like to take care of our own. Happy people make happy customers. Without our workforce, we’d still be the small tech firm my grandfather started.”
“Your grandfather founded the business?” she asks, arching a perfectly shaped brow.
“Him and my father,” I confirm, glancing toward Ronin, who’s schmoozing nearby with his little trophy wife on his arm. “Back in the seventies, they built car radios out of a shed in Ireland. We’ve come a long way.”
“I’ll say.” She winks at me, sipping her drink through a straw in what I’m sure is meant to be sultry. I smirk, playing along, even though this entire charade is exhausting.
The hum of lively conversations and clinking glasses surrounds us, but my focus keeps slipping. I scan the room again, searching for the one person who could make this insufferable evening worth enduring. But he’s nowhere to be seen. And it really fucking bothers me.
“Looking for your boy?” Olivia murmurs, close enough that no one else can hear.
My jaw tightens, and I give her a stiff nod.
“I think I saw him leave about twenty minutes ago,” she says, gesturing casually toward the double doors before running a hand down my arm for show. “He’s upset about us, isn’t he?”
