Page 43 of Those Heartbreak Scars

I was twenty-one. Drinking the spiked eggnog Uncle Oz makes every year, but until that Christmas I hadn’t been allowed to drink. Which was for the best, considering halfway through the first glass I was feeling the effects.

Gray walked into the kitchen, his arms full of presents for Indy’s family. He was wearing this forest green sweater with snowflakes on it and hadn’t shaved in a few days. God, he was so sexy I hadn’t been able to avert my gaze.

The present on top was wrapped in glittery silver paper, and it had no intention of staying in place. It skittered closer to falling with every step he took.

So I raced over to help secure it. Only to have Indy shout that we were under the mistletoe.

It was the eggnog that made my cheeks hot. Not Gray’s full bottom lip or how those blue eyes flew to mine. And then he leaned down and kissed my cheek. I fought every instinct to turn my head and seal my lips to his.

As soon as he straightened I got the hell out from under that crazy plant. That naughty present turned out to be these heels, which I had been eyeing for weeks.

EJ got a baseball bat signed by his favorite player. Aunt Sharon and Uncle Oz received floor seat tickets to a Bulls game. And Indy got New Year’s in New York with Gray. And his entire heart.

But maybe that’s changing. These heels feel fateful tonight. Like we were meant to end up here. It just wasn’t time before. Of course that thought brings guilt. It wasn’t time because he had Indy. I never wanted to mess with that. I never wanted to cause a rift.

But the rift is there now, and there is nothing I can do about it.

Loud music escapes the club as I approach a bouncer with short cropped hair and a black on black suit. He smiles as his eyes drift past my face to the showstopper dress that I’m wearing.

My fingers itch to tug on the neckline when his gaze settles on the round swells of my breasts and does not budge. Ugh, I hate that a sleazy look from some creep can ruin my confidence so easily.

When I left the apartment, I felt sensual and bold. I loved the way I looked. The deep V that almost hits my belly button showcased my curves in a sophisticated and sexy way. I knew people would look.

But there is a difference between getting noticed because I look good and some jerk’s tongue practically hanging in my cleavage.

The bouncer barely glances at the list in his hand when I give him Everett’s name. He lifts the rope and lets me and my breasts glide on past. “Have a nice night.”

It’s classy inside. Loud and busy and full of strangers with familiar faces. Celebs mingle with billion dollar athletes.They lounge around tables loaded with glasses and bottles of champagne and top shelf spirits. There’s a throng of them on the dance floor under the lights.

I take a moment to put in my earbuds while I locate Gray. The booth where he waits is engulfed by shadows so I don’t notice him straight away. When I do my heart beats harder and seems to grow in my chest. He looks up as I approach, and that suckable bottom lip hangs lower than usual as he takes me in.

“Rica.” He stands and moves toward me, his gaze dropping to the deep V of the halter neckline with appreciation. He swallows hard before bringing his focus back to my face. “That dress… are you trying to kill every man in here? Because wars have been fought over less.”

The thought of having someone want to fight for me like that… after he handled my jerk of a professor earlier… It has an appeal.

He’s always protected me. Like a friend or like EJ would for Indy. But now it feels like that protectiveness has a territorial edge to it that is so sexy. “You’d go to war for me?”

“I just might.” He frowns, glancing over my head to look for Everett.

He gives me butterflies. Touching his arm, I draw his attention back. “Everett’s not with me. His pops ended up in the hospital this afternoon.”

“Is he—”

“His pops is fine. Stubborn though. They released him and an hour later he was climbing up on the roof to clean the gutters again.”

“I’m happy to hear he’s okay,” Gray says.

“Everett didn’t want to leave his mom to handle his pops on her own. He said he’ll message me when his pops is settled, but he doesn’t think he’s going to make it.”

“Just us then?” Gray’s gaze wanders my face.

I nod. “Is that…”

“Will he have a problem with you being here with me?”

“I… haven’t told him. I’m going to. I wanted to. But then his pops…” I dip my chin as my hands tighten on my clutch. “It didn’t seem like the time to tell him I can’t see him anymore when he already had so much to deal with.”

“You’re not going to see him anymore?” He sounds surprised.

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