Page 28 of A Major Puck Up

If it were anyone else’s wedding, I’d be enamored.

I’m not blind. I can see that Lake makes my father happy.

That’s all that should matter to me, but when I look at them swaying on the dance floor, it’s like an anvil has been dropped onto my chest.

I finally spot Daniel, who’s sporting a flirty smile while he talks to Melina. Dammit. I don’t have a shot in hell at getting his attention right now. My brother is a man-whore, and while I now understand the appeal of sex, I’m still annoyed by him.

I head toward the bar but am stopped by a hand on my hip. A shiver works its way through me as Gavin leans in and presses himself so close I can feel his breath against my ear. “Dance with me?”

I turn and gape at him. “Uh—don’t you think my father would kill you?”

The smirk he gives me is far too smug. “He asked me to. Apparently, he’s nervous that one of my brothers will ask you, and he doesn’t think you could possibly be attracted to me.”

The laugh that bubbles out of me feels so damn good, but it’s cut off quickly and replaced by a moan when his fingers tighten on my hips.

He inhales a deep breath, the sound so desperate my body ignites. “Please, Peaches,” he murmurs.

Fuck me.

Ignoring every warning bell going off in my brain, I allow him to lead me to the dance floor. I also ignore the way my father smiles at me and nods at Gavin.

Is he doing this only because my father asked? Is he still mad at me? I don’t blame him if he is, but I can’t stop my brain from working overtime, and I can’t shake the disappointment that swamps me at the idea that he’s only doing it for my father.

It hits me then, that this is probably exactly how Gavin feels, thinking I only slept with him to get back at my father.

“I’m sorry.” I pull back and frown.

Gavin holds me tight and continues to sway. “Hmm?”

“I’m sorry that I made you think I used you. I swear I didn’t.”

With his lips pressed together in a firm line, he nods. “What exactly was your plan, then?”

“I don’t know. I just—I’ve been so angry for the last few months. I wanted to feel something other than anger. I don’t want to be upset with my father. God, he’s been my idol my entire life. He’s always been my best friend, and now—” My voice cracks as I try to explain the unexplainable.

With the hand he has splayed on my lower back, he pulls me closer. There’s barely an inch between us now. It’s not right. I know how it looks, and yet I can’t find it in me to create any distance. I crave his closeness. Crave him.

“I know it’s wrong.” I swallow back the emotion still thick in my throat. “I know I’m an asshole for doing what I did, and I’m sorry for putting you in this position. I swear I won’t tell him what happened.”

Gavin nods, his expression unreadable. “You mentioned the other night that if you could do anything, you’d write music.” His eyes are so damn intense as he watches me. “Does your father know that?”

I look away, wishing he couldn’t read me so well. It seems impossible. We barely know each other, yet he gets me already. I’m not sure anyone in my life has even tried to understand what I’m going through, and Gavin just zeroes in on the issue. No bullshit, no judgment, just understanding.

“No,” I admit.

“Don’t you think that if he knew, he’d have encouraged that?”

“I was going to tell him over Christmas break. We had plans—” I sigh. “We had plans to go to the Bolts game and dinner.”

“Ah.” Gavin nods. “And then he announced to the world that he was with Lake and brought her to the game instead.”

“Yup. Maybe it’s childish to be upset, but I was always his girl. Music was our thing. Daniel had hockey. Paul’s obsessed with himself just like my mother, and Dad and I had music.”

“It’s not one or the other, you know,” Gavin says softly, his gaze searching mine. “He hasn’t replaced you by marrying Lake.”

“Hasn’t he, though? Now that he has her, it feels like there’s no room for me.” God, I’m whiny, but Gavin’s gentleness, his demeanor, makes me think that I’m safe sharing these feelings with him.

“I think if you tell your father how you feel, if you open up about your dreams, you’d be surprised by how much he’d want them right along with you.”

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