Page 63 of Gabriel's Salvation

Opening my wardrobe, I pull out the new top I brought for tonight. It's a red corset style top that makes my tits look amazing, and I'm pairing it with my ripped black jeans. The ones that make my legs look like they go on forever. I’m determined to look sexy as fuck tonight. It's Tucker's 18th birthday and he's having a huge house party. But that's not the reason I'm dressing up so much. No, I'm dressing up because I know he’s going to be there. Tucker told me he was going to be there. At least I hope he's going to be there.

Does he want to see me too? My heart pounds harder in my chest as I think about seeing him again. I know I said that I wasn't willing to be his dirty little secret anymore, but now, after realizing how lost I've felt without him, I'm almost willing to accept anything. Almost. I'm not quite ready to give up the last bit of self-respect I have. But damn do I miss him. Even if he is a stubborn and infuriating bastard at times.

It's been almost six months since Gabe turned up at my house and we got into a huge argument. Since then, we've texted occasionally and smiled politely at each other when I’ve been with Ava to pick Tucker up from work, or when we’ve passed each other in general.

Gabe’s been trying. I know he's been trying. He’s started going to therapy with Nate to deal with whatever childhood trauma shit he has. And he’s started hanging out with the guys a little more; hence, why I'm hoping he’ll take Tucker up on his offer when he invited a few of the guys from work to celebrate with him tonight. But overall, we’ve tried our best not to be in the same room for too long.

Nate and Izzy are doing great, so I don't wanna cause drama for them if we don't work out. Plus, Harper made me promise not to go back to him. So, I've done my best to keep my feelings bottled up. Not to let it show how my knees go weak and my mouth becomes dry whenever I see him. Or how desperate I am to kiss him or pull him aside whenever I see him hot and sweaty with his top off whenever he's working outdoors and we pass by.

But I'm hoping tonight will be different. Tonight there's gonna be over fifty people there, and everyone is going to be drinking, so hopefully no one will notice if we talk to each other.

“Need some help?” Harper asks as she sees me rummaging around under my bed.

“I'm looking for my other shoe.” I hold up one of my red pumps.

“Here.” Harper replies as she instantly finds the other one. I swear this woman secretly has fairy magic or something.

“What would I do without you, huh?” I laugh.

“Constantly lose everything and be forced to roam the streets with one shoe on and one shoe off probably,” she shrugs as she teases me.

“You're so weird,” I tell her as I shake my head.

“Girls, are you ready to go?” my father calls out.

“Almost,” we both reply at the same time and then giggle.

Harper hands me my shoe and picks my bag up from the bed while I apply one last coat of lipstick before leaving.

“You both look beautiful, girls. Did you remember to bring your stick?” my dad asks as he opens the car door for us to climb in.

“My stick?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah, to beat all the boys off with,” he laughs.

“Oh my God, Dad, you're so cringey,” Harper replies and I roll my eyes.

“I love your dad jokes,” I laugh back. My dad is the biggest dork in the world and he tells the worst dad jokes, the kind that are so bad you can't help but laugh.

“So will you be spending the night or do I need to pick you up later?” my father asks as he drives us to the party.

“Not sure yet, either way, we'll get our own way back. There’s no point waiting up for us,” Harper offers.

“Yeah, you know what it's like when we all get together,” I laugh, but the side eye my father gives me lets me know he’d rather pretend he didn't.

“By that, I mean, it's getting crazy with us all sitting in a big circle studying and drinking tea,” I say in my most sickly sweet and innocent voice. Now it’s my father’s turn to roll his eyes.

“Of course,” my father winks at me. “But if those books get a little too scary, you know I'm only a call away.”

“Yes, Dad,” both me and Harper sing-song in unison.

“Have fun,” our father calls as we both get out of the car and make our way towards the gate to the garden.

There's only a handful of people here when we arrive. Tucker, Danny, and Nate are all chatting with a couple of other guys. But I don’t see Ava or Izzy anywhere.

Walking over to the boys, I ask, “Where's Ava?”

“Her and Bella are inside making sure we have enough cups or something,” Nate informs us.

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