Page 60 of Gabriel's Album

I’m uncomfortable with her touching me, and it takes everything in me not to shake her hand off my arm. I don’t want to seem like an asshole celebrity who’s too good for his fans, but I can’t take them back to the group.

“We could even just help you carry the drinks back,” Sarah suggests. She giggles while gesturing to the drinks sitting on the bar. “You don’t have enough hands to carry them all at once.”

She’s right, of course. Could it hurt to just let them come and play a game of pool with us?

“Sure. That would be really helpful,” I concede.

Sarah gives a triumphant smile to her friends and walks over to the counter to grab two of the drinks. I grab mine and Ariana’s instinctively, and a wave of guilt floods through me as I begin walking back to the group with the ladies following me.

“Hi, guys,” I say as casually as I can. I avoid Ariana’s gaze as I continue. “These lovely ladies are fans and asked if they could possibly join us for a game or two of pool.”

“We would love to have you join us, ladies,” Sebastian says.

He gives them the kind of grin I’ve seen him give a thousand women before as he openly ogles them. Well, at least one person won’t be pissed at me for this.

“Hi, my name’s Kylie,” she introduces herself. “And this is Lisa, Sarah, and Kaitlin.”

The women all wave as Kylie says their names.

“Well, I’m Sebastian—”

“—Of course,” Sarah interrupts with a giggle.

I see a look of annoyance cross his features for a millisecond before he continues, “—and this is Hayden, Harrison, Heather, and Ariana. You’ve met Gabriel, obviously.”

With the introductions completed, the game resumes so that Sebastian can finish beating Harrison. I still have Ariana’s drink in my hand, so I start to walk over to her, but I catch her gaze, and she glares at me.

I pause and frown at her before diverting to stand over to the side of the pool table instead. I place the drink on a table nearby and inhale deeply as Kylie and Lisa quickly rush to stand next to me.

I don’t want these strangers with me; I want the girlfriend that I love and crave and who is currently looking beautiful, despite her obvious annoyance. I’m frustrated that she won’t even take a drink off me right now.

The fans waste no time in striking up a conversation, and I reply as best I can while not leading them on. I’m acutely aware of both Ariana and Heather watching us and giving me death glares. I catch Heather’s eye, and she narrows her gaze at me, giving me the tiniest shake of her head with her lips pursed. I get the feeling my kneecaps are in jeopardy the next time she gets near them.

“So, do you play a lot of pool?” Lisa asks me.

She’s been friendly to me but hasn't been as flirtatious as her friend, and I smile at her. “Yeah, it’s one of our favorite things to do when we’re hanging out.”

I feel Kylie put her hand on my shoulder, and when I turn to look at her, she drops it but allows it to trail down my arm as she says, “I bet you’re amazing at it.”

“I’m okay,” I shrug, suppressing the urge to shudder instead.

Kylie continues to touch me occasionally while we talk. It’s nothing openly offensive like grabbing my ass, but it’s enough to make me regret bringing them over here. I could be with Ariana, who won’t so much as look in my direction at the moment.

Sebastian beats Harrison, and they decide to play in a team against Kaitlin and Kylie. It feels as though I can breathe again when Kylie finally walks away from me. Sebastian shows Kaitlin how to play pool, putting his arms around her the same way I did when teaching Ariana.

“Can you show me how to play?” Kylie purrs at me from where she’s standing at the pool table when it’s her turn.

No. A million times no.

“It’s pretty straightforward; just do what Sebastian told Kaitlin to do,” I say politely instead, not moving an inch from where I’m standing.

“Yes, but couldn’t you show me?” She bats her eyelashes at me.

“Not really, I’m not the best player. Sebastian probably could,” I say, and give a noncommittal shrug.

“Never mind,” Kylie sulks and finally takes her shot.

My attention is caught when I hear Sarah saying to Hayden, “—but who’s that Ariana chick?”

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