“If you want my trust, you can’t use my best friend’s wellbeing to threaten me. That’ll make me trust you less not more.”
“If you agreed, I wouldn’t have used this method. Stay away from Jonathan and I’ll stay away from Reed. It’s an easy bargain.”
The fact that he insists on that makes me more curious about King Enterprises’ tycoon. However, I’m not curious to the point of risking Kim’s wellbeing.
Aiden knows he got me where it hurts.
“Fine!” I slam my shoulder against his arm as I go back inside, seething with pent-up anger.
I clutch Kim’s elbow, halting her drinking competition with Ronan. “We’re leaving.”
“Naww,” she whines. “Look, Ron is teaching me how to take shots.”
“Ron?” Xander scoffs, his shoulders crowding with tension.
“Come on, Kim.” I drag her, but she might as well have turned into stone.
“I’m staying.” She squirms free and goes back to Ronan as if he’s holding baby Jesus instead of a bottle of beer.
My attempts are futile no matter how much I try. It’s impossible to control Kim when she’s drunk.
Aiden smirks at me from his sitting position beside Cole.
Dickhead.
During the second half, Kim is cheering with Ronan non-stop.
“Why do you say Gunners?” she asks him.
“Because it’s Arsenal, babe!”
That earns him a smack at the nape from Xander.
Ignoring Aiden’s attempts to get me to sit between his legs, I join Kim, Ronan, and Xander. After two beers, I loosen enough to cheer for the team. The game is too exciting and fast-paced not to enjoy it.
When Arsenal scores, the four of us pull each other in a group hug. Cole cheers from the background, and a strong hand grabs me by the collar of my shirt. I wiggle Aiden off and continue celebrating.
I’m so mad at him right now. The least he can do is to not ruin the game for me.
There are still fifteen minutes in the game when Kim collapses on one of the chairs, snoring softly. I move her to a comfortable position and return to watch the rest of the game.
Ronan, Xander and I argue about the substitute players that came in the second half.
The game ends one to nil. We could’ve done better but we’re on the way to the championship.
I celebrate with Ronan and Xan and even Cole who joined us near the end by singing ‘We are the champions’.
A phone rings. Kim’s.
I fish into her pocket. Her mum.
Shit.
She’ll ground Kim if she returns home in this state. I dig my teeth in my bottom lip as I contemplate a solution.
“Spend the night.” Aiden quips from behind me. I startle and that only makes him push into my back more.
“What? No.” It comes out more surprised rather than cold.