Page 14 of Eat Your Heart Out
6
Gerard
On the trek back, my eyes strayed to her ass on the bicycle. It had me wondering what she would be like in bed, riding me. I winced at the inappropriate thought and refused to follow through on the image.
We made it home, and I let her go ahead to get ready for the party, feeling slightly stiffer than I normally did. Honestly, I’d not felt so turned on since high school, so I hoped a cold shower helped.
As I dressed for the party, night was falling, and guests were already arriving. I was sure Cyrus and Rachel were down and greeting people, so I hurried to be a good brother and help out if they needed.
I noticed Arman and Maddie, Joel and Kendal, and Warren and Kerry were all in different corners of the ballroom, but the smiles and laughter from each couple were obvious. Elon, Kir, Charles, Jeff, Roman, Xerxes, and Adrien were also helping out, but they somehow felt lonelier. I glanced at my parents, who hugged each other after a small argument, and my heart wondered if they made it through everything because they had each other.
My gaze went to the top of the stairs, and for a second, when Ali appeared, I couldn’t breathe. I left the couple I was ensuring had what they wanted and waited for her. As she joined me on the bottom step in her deep-purple dress, adrenaline rushed through me.
I lifted my chin. “You look amazing.”
She tugged at the waist. “Your mom picked this out for me. I feel prettier than I did at junior prom.”
We walked through the party together so she could get whatever she wanted, but my chest puffed more as I said, “I bet you were gorgeous that night.”
She ignored the food and hugged my arm. “You’re sweet.”
My skin buzzed with awareness. She was clearly pained by her past, and I wanted to make her laugh and trust. Having her work as a waitress was going to create a distance I didn’t want, but I wasn’t sure what to do, as I wanted her to come with me. I wasn’t sure she would cope with whatever she’d experienced when we were all alone, but that question was for later.
We said hello to my family, then I asked her, “Where was this junior prom of yours?”
“Chicago.”
Couples danced, but she edged away from them.
“I enjoy the time I spend there,” I said.
She gazed out the window for a second. “Not much oil in Chicago, is there? I never really left my little corner of the world until I followed the wrong guy.”
I winked and hoped to have her full attention. “You already admitted to your bad taste in men, except me.”
Her lips widened, showing her teeth in a cute half smile. “You’re my exception?”
I pressed my hand to my heart. “Of course. Now, let’s wish the soon-to-be bride and groom well and take a walk in the garden.”
She let out a giggle, and I took that as a victory.
“You always get what you want, huh?” she asked.
In that instant, I knew I needed to try. I wanted to earn a kiss from her, one that she gave freely. I could throw her against a wall right then, but that wasn’t good enough. I shrugged. “Usually life goes the way I want.”
She patted my shoulder. “It must be nice to have that luck.”
If I won her heart, then maybe I would be happy. I led her to the door. “I think it’s more an attitude.”
We passed more of my family and said hellos, but once we finished circling the room, I leaned in toward her ear, goosebumps raising on my body from her nearness.
“Now, let’s get out of here,” I whispered.
She nodded, and I knew taking her with me was my only option. Hopefully, she would agree easily to the change of job descriptions. Talking to her made me happy. Maybe I would earn her trust, because honestly, she was sweet and sexy all mixed together, and I wanted more.
