Chapter 17 Ice Breaking
“Well, that was hot,” Summer muttered, bringing her glass to her lips while staring at me.
I coughed slightly, avoiding her gaze.
“When will you tell me the truth, Bree? It’s so funny you hiding things like this from me,” She sighed. “Do you really think I would judge you?”
“Summer, please not now,” I hushed, looking around hoping no one was listening. “We will talk about this later.”
Her lips parted slightly but the sound of her phone vibrating in her hand diverted her attention. A small smile spread on her lips as she saw the caller ID and my brows shot up with curiosity.
“Who’s calling?” I asked, nudging her on the arm as I watched her blushed.
“You aren’t the one with sexual escapades you know,” She said with a chuckle, shrugging as she walked away from me to take her call.
“What the hell!? It’s not like that.”
But she was already gone.
Standing alone, I felt out of place. I rubbed my arms steadily while staring around me waiting for Summer. Everyone here was either a business associate of Aurick’s or a hockey player with their families. I didn’t know anyone here.
So much for having a social life.
I sighed deeply, smiling at the waiter as I took another glass of wine from the tray.
“Oh girls, look who we have here. Someone didn’t run away like a scared chicken this time around.”
I rolled my eyes at the familiar voice.
“Tan, what do you want?” I asked, my jaw tighten.
Her face turned into a scowl as she glared at me, sizing me up. “You know, you should have just stayed upstairs in your room. You don’t really belong here though. And where is that your little friend? I don’t see her around or maybe she has learnt her place more quicker than you.”
The two girls beside her laughed softly at her jab.
“You keep making that clear that I’m not meant to be here and I get it,” I snapped. “But look who is here in my own house and drinking my own wine. If I wanted, I could order the servants to throw you out of here and no one will bat an eyelid because instead of celebrating Christmas and act like a docile daughter that you should be, you are making trouble with your little munchkins beside you.”
The two girls seemed offended by my words as their face turned red as they exchanged glances. Tan was even worse. Her fists were clenched as teeth gritted against each other, her face almost exploding with fury.
I couldn’t bother with them. I turned to walk away but I didn’t look clearly as Tan set her foot in my way, making me trip. My gown too made it hard to keep my balance.
I closed my eyes waiting for the impact but a hand held my waist, dragging me back up and my head landed against a hard surface.
I slowly looked up and swallowed slightly. Barth’s eyes darkened as he stared down at Tan. I could feel the deadly aura emitting from him that the hairs on my skin stood upright.
“Making trouble with my sister, Tan?” His words were reduced to a deep growl.
Tan bit on her lower lip as her eyes were fixed to the floor probably wondering what to say. “It’s not like that. She wasn’t looking clearly and almost tripped. How is that my fault?”
“Tripped?” His brows furrowed. This time his voice as he spoke was deadly than earlier. “Are you sure she tripped or you set the trap for her? I saw and heard everything you said Tan. I have warned you to stay away from Yvonne but you have stubbornly refused to adhere to my warning.”
He snapped his fingers and two bodyguards I haven’t noticed before appeared beside him.
“Throw them out!”
Tan’s eyes widened in shock as they advanced towards her. She took a step back as she shook her head fanatically.
“No… no… you can’t… you can’t possibly order them to throw me out!”
“Watch me…” He responded with a blank expression.
Tan looked to her left where her dad was standing close to Aurick while they watched the drama unfold. “Dad, do something. You can’t let Barth throw me out! That’s not fair. If any one should be thrown out, it should be her!” She pointed at me, the malice in her eyes was thick and I wondered what I had done to deserve such.
Was there more to her being Barth’s ex?
“Tan, I won’t let you bully my step daughter under my own roof!” Aurick chimed in. “If you can’t respect my family then I have no choice but to let them escort you out.”
Tan’s dad ignored her pleas as the bodyguards escorted them out.
There was a brief silence in the hall until the music began playing again and Aurick ushered everyone to keep enjoying the party and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Slowly, I disengaged myself from Barth’s hold as he stared at me affectionately.
“Thank you. I wasn’t expecting you to stand up for me though,” I said, looking everywhere but him.
“Summer isn’t with you,” He said. “Would you like to get out of here?”
“Huh?” I finally met his eyes. “Can we? No… wait, we can’t leave the party. It’s not finished yet. What if they need us?”
Barth chuckled slightly, giving me those butterfly feelings again. “Yes we can. And besides you need to loosen up a bit and I can help you with that.”
He stretched out his hand towards me and I pursed my lips. Many thoughts running through my mind. Do I trust myself to be alone with him?
“What of Summer?”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s busy,” He said, looking over at the stairs and I followed his line of sight.
Summer was silently sneaking upstairs with a blonde boy behind her, the little white lights casting a glow on his face.
Miller?!
What the hell?!
I shot my look back at Barth. A not so amused smile playing on his lips. “You knew about this?”
He shrugged. “Well, just did.”
I sighed. My best friend was seeing a boy and I didn’t even know about it. I’m such a bad friend!
“C’mon, don’t beat yourself up too much and come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“You will see,” He said with a wink as he dragged me out of the house.