One More Time (Ruby Falls #2) - Aurora Rose Reynolds Page 0,54

get into the backyard, I do a quick scan, noticing her mom standing with a man who seems to be hanging on her every word and her father is standing with a group of men on the opposite side of the yard.

“I say we all get drinks,” Aria suggests, so I let her lead the way to the bar that is placed in the middle of the yard under an arch of lights. The girls both order vodka soda’s while Colton and I order beers, which the bartender has to run inside to get, because it’s not something they have stocked. Once we have our drinks, we make our way to one of the many standing tables that are placed around the yard, and I can tell by the fake smile Aria is wearing that she’s uncomfortable and more than a little nervous being here.

“Is it just me or are people looking at us?” Gia asks quietly, and I wrap my arm around Aria’s back and pull her into my side.

“It’s not just you,” Aria says, her body against mine getting tight, and I look up, finding her mom and the man she was with when we came outside coming our way.

“Aria, you made it,” her mom greets as her eyes scan our table. “And you’ve brought your friends.”

“Mom,” Aria returns, sounding cold, and I give her hip a squeeze. “I’d like you to meet Gia, Colton, and my boyfriend Tide.”

“Are you going to greet Josh?” her mom asks, ignoring the introduction while wrapping her arm around Josh’s bicep. My jaw clenches as I realize the man at her side is Aria’s ex-husband, the man who wasn’t man enough to keep her, the man she is still to this day giving money to, because instead of getting a job, he’s feeding off my woman. Sizing him up I can see why Aria got with him, he’s an attractive man even if he does look like a slime ball.

“Josh,” Aria clips, and I watch a look in his eyes turn calculated before he quickly replaces the look with a charming smile.

“You look fantastic, Aria.” His eyes wander over her face and cleavage, and my hands ball into fists. “And it’s nice to meet some of Aria’s friends.”

“So nice,” her mother agrees, then her nose scrunches, and I know why a second later.

“Honey.” Aria’s dad, who’s obviously been drinking, moves around the table so he can give Aria a kiss on her cheek and me a hard pat on my back. “I’m so glad you two could make it.” He focuses on Aria. “You look beautiful tonight, honey.”

“Thanks, Dad,” Aria says quietly before she motions to Colton and Gia. “You remember my friends, don’t you?”

“Of course.” He grins, giving Gia a kiss to her cheek and Colton a pat on his back. “I’m glad you could all make it.”

“Thanks for having us,” Colton says, and her dad nods before moving around the table to his wife and tossing his arm around her shoulders, causing her to stumble slightly to the side.

“Really, George? You’re already drunk?” Beatrice removes his arm and takes a step away from him.

“I’m not drunk. I’ve had a few drinks.” He shrugs, then adds, “I have some clients I want you to meet.” In an instant, her expression changes, and she wraps her hand around his bicep.

“Of course.” She looks at Josh and holds out her hand. “You should come with us.”

“I’ll be with you in just a moment,” Josh says, and Beatrice nods before her husband leads her across the yard to the group of men he was talking to earlier. With them out of earshot, Josh turns his attention to Aria. “Can we talk?” He glances through our group. “Someplace private?”

“No,” I answer for her, not giving a fuck, and he transfers his gaze to me.

“Sorry, friend, but this has nothing to do with you.”

“If it has to do with Aria, friend, it most definitely has something to fucking do with me.”

“I beg to differ,” he dismisses me to focus on Aria—the pompous dick. “We need to talk, if not now, before I leave town on Tuesday.”

“Like I said, that’s not happening.” I hold his glare when his eyes come to me and curl Aria deeper into my side.

“Josh, we really have nothing to talk about.” Aria rests her hand against my stomach, and his jaw twitches. “Just go enjoy the party.”

He opens his mouth like he’s going to say something more but stops when Beatrice calls