AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Right, you expect me to believe you started dating a professional athlete and didn’t look him up online? Please.”
“I didn’t,” she snapped. Although now she really wished she had. “I didn’t think I had to.”
“Sure.” He laughed. “Sell that one to someone else, sweetheart.”
“Are you calling me a liar?” She glared at the man in front of her. What an arrogant prick. How dare he stand there judging her when his friends were the kind of guys who behaved like this?
“Just calling it like I see it, sweetheart.”
“Screw you,” she seethed.
“Not really interested. Thanks.”
Peyton’s jaw clenched. This guy was unbelievable. “I’m going to need you to move out of my way.”
“What, so you can join the party? I’m not having you go down there and embarrass Carmella in front of everyone.”
“Embarrass Carmella? Right.” She took a deep breath. “You have no reason to believe me, but I have no intention of hurting Carmella. Simon might be a jerk, but his wife did nothing to me. I need to get out of here. Can you help me do that? Please?”
He stared at her for several minutes before finally nodding in agreement. “Sure come on.” At the top of the stairs, he paused and glanced back at her. “What was your name again?”
“Peyton.”
“Peyton. Got it.” He looked down the stairs and sighed. “Alright Peyton, let’s do this.”
Why did he have to make it feel like they were facing a firing squad instead of his teammates? This didn’t bode well for her getting out of here unscathed.
The moment they stepped into the kitchen, the women descended on her like a pack of hyenas. “So, Simon said you run the sports program for kids that he volunteers at. Is that how you met Ryan?” Carmella asked.
“Uh… how… uh… Ryan and I met?” she stammered.
“Yes, how did you two meet?” Carmella prodded.
“Umm…” She looked around the room at all the people staring at her expectantly, waiting for her response. She didn’t want to lie. God, she didn’t want to be here at all.
A hand brushed across her shoulder and she glanced back at Ryan. “Peyton isn’t feeling very good, so I’m going to run her home and come back. So maybe we can save the inquisition for another time, hey, Carm?” He smiled at Simon’s wife.
Carmella wrinkled her nose at him. “It wasn’t an inquisition. I’m just curious about how you met.” Carmella’s eyes warmed as she smiled at Ryan. “You never bring women to these things, so of course when you do we know she must be special. I want to make sure she deserves you.”
“Thanks, Carm, I appreciate it. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Of course I do. You’re the sweetest guy I know.” Carmella turned to Peyton. “You better be good to him.”
“Jesus, Carm, he’s a grown man, not a puppy dog. Maybe he brought her because she’s hot and he wants to fuck her,” Simon said.
Peyton sucked in a breath. Did he really just say that?
Carmella elbowed Simon in the gut and he let out anoomphsound.
“You’re such a dick,” Ryan growled. His entire body was tense against Peyton’s side, like it was taking everything in him to stay in place. This stranger was more protective of her than the man she was supposed to be dating.
“What?” Simon asked.
It was official, if they hadn’t been done before she found out about his wife, seeing what a douche he was around his friends would have solidified the deal for her. Peyton stared at the man in front of her. What had she been thinking dating him?
“Carm, I will never understand what you see in this guy. But it’s always a pleasure to see you,” Ryan said then turned back to Peyton. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah, definitely,” she replied.
