Page 23 of Gabriel's Album

“Gabriel told us that you’re a recent college grad; what are you up to now?” Hayden asks her.

“I’m kind of floating, for now, applying for jobs, the usual. Probably going to try and get an internship somewhere.”

“I hope you find something soon,” Harrison says.

While they’re talking, I turn to Sebastian and say quietly, “Thanks, dude.”

“What for?” he asks me with a cheeky grin.

“Being nice to Ariana.” I roll my eyes at him.

“Yeah, well, do you think I want Heather to bust my balls for being mean to your new girlfriend?” he asks me, looking amused.

“She threatened you with physical violence, huh?” I smirk at him.

“I told her what I remembered about the charity event, and, yeah, physical violence was heavily implied if I don’t behave tonight.” Sebastian laughs.

I laugh as well, because Heather can be scary when she wants to be. Sebastian might be tough, but I know he wouldn’t want to cross her.

Hayden’s looking at me, and he gets my attention when I hear him say, “—won’t you, Gabriel?”

“I’ll be able to do what?” I ask him.

“Get Ariana into our Chicago gig.”

“Oh, of course.” I smile at her. “I was planning on making it a surprise for you, but trust Hayden to let the cat out of the bag inadvertently,” I say as I punch Hayden on the shoulder in jest.

“Thank you,” Ariana says and kisses me on the cheek.

I smile, even though Hayden ruined my surprise, because it doesn’t matter. It’ll be good to have her there for our first concert of the tour.

“No, thankyou, because, in payment for the ticket, you have to come and dance with me!” I grin at her.

“Hey, you didn’t have to bribe me,” she tells me as I stand, and we start to leave the booth. “I love dancing!”

“Shall we dance too, honey?” Heather asks Harrison, and when he nods, they follow us as we make our way toward the undulating masses.

Ariana begins moving with me in time to the beat of the song that’s playing. I move my body sinuously against hers. She turns around so that she’s facing away from me, and I put my arms around her, then pull her close to me.

I have to hold back a groan as she grinds her butt against my crotch. We sway side to side in time with the music, and I slowly lower my hands down her body, brushing the sides of her breasts until I cross them across her stomach, holding her close.

We dance this way for a long time, and I see people on the dance floor that I know, nodding at a few of them when they catch my eye. Harrison and Heather are dancing across the room from us, on the other side of the DJ booth, and I focus on how good Ariana feels dancing in my arms.

She turns to face me and places her arms around my neck. I put my arms around her waist and pull her roughly against me. My erection is pressing against her, and I want nothing more than to take her somewhere we can be alone.

We stop dancing and begin to kiss. My hands move down to her ass, and I pull her even closer to me. My mouth is moving against hers, and when she reaches her hands up and curls her fingers into my hair, it drives me wild.

We both come crashing down to Earth as a bright light flashes behind Ariana. Of course there’s a camera; I should’ve known better. Because, of course, no celebrity party would be complete without the paparazzi sneaking in to try and get pictures of the festivities. Nothing is sacred.

I think quickly and hold Ariana’s head against my chest as I warn her, “Don’t look up, sweetheart. Keep your face hidden, and they won’t get your picture; they can’t find out your name.”

“Okay,” she mumbles into my shirt.

I look around to try and find any of my friends while ignoring the photographer standing directly in front of us. Harrison and Heather have disappeared, but the other two are still sitting in the booth where we left them.

“Sebastian! Hayden!” I call as loudly as I can over the sound of the pounding music.

They must have heard the panic in my voice because they both look over at us, clock the situation immediately, and are at my side in an instant. They move in front of me, to stand side by side with their arms crossed in front of the man with the camera, a human barrier, shielding us from his view.

---