Page 4 of Stick Games
“Emilia,” Cassie calls out, and I turn to see her wave us over.
“That’s Cassie,” I tell Gabe. “We don’t have to go say hi if?—”
“Oh, we’re going to say hi.” His hold tightens on me, and I’m shocked at the possessive way he’s holding me. If I didn’t know he was putting on a show for my friends, I’d think he enjoyed touching me, pressing me against his body. But this is all a show, right?
We reach my crowd of friends, and all eyes turn to Gabe, as he stands well above me, exuding hotness and confidence. “Introduce me to your friends, Millie.”
“Right,” I begin and do the introductions. Just then, Jenna Garrity, a frenemy of mine, comes up to us, pushing her way into our circle.
“Gabe,” she coos as she runs her fingers through her long blonde hair. “I thought that was you.” She puts her hand on his chest. “What on earth are you doing here?”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. The man has his arm around my waist. Why is she asking such a ridiculous question when the answer is right in front of her face?
She presses her other hand to her chest, and turns her attention to me, gazing at me with sympathetic eyes. “Oh I get it. You’re taking your friend’s sister to the prom because Braxton…well, we all know what Braxton did.” She blinks at Gabe. “That’s so sweet of you, Gabe, and how lucky for you, Emilia, that your brother’s friend stepped in.”
Ah, okay. I guess now I know why she asked a ridiculous question. It gave her the chance to belittle me. Dammit, why did I ever agree to this? Everything about this does make me look like a charity case. I should go home.
“Are you kidding me?” Gabe shoots back and pulls me impossibly closer. “Braxton did me a favor.” Jenny’s hand falls from his chest as he turns to me and lightly touches my chin with the tip of his finger. He brings my eyes to his as he tips my face up. A second later, his soft lips land on mine. He takes my hand and puts it on his chest, like he needs my touch and I revel in the way his strong heart beats against my palm. He angles his body and pushes his pelvis against me. Holy crap, is this really happening? Collective gasps can be heard around me as he devours me, kissing me like it’s his damn job.
But wait, this is about making Braxton see what he’s missing out on. So yeah, this is his job.
After a long, mind-numbing moment, he breaks the kiss and I’m freaking breathless, when his gaze lingers a moment too long. My God, I’m sure he could beat George Clooney out of an Oscar.
“What the hell,” Jenna murmurs. “You’re with her?”
“Yeah, I am. So, you see, when I found out she wasn’t with Braxton anymore, I made my move.” He pushes my hair back. “Believe me, I’m the lucky one here.”
Jenna huffs out something discernable, and pushes through my friends, disappearing into the crowd.
I catch the way my friends are grinning. “I think I need a smoke after that,” Aislinn announces as she fans her face.
We all laugh. “You don’t smoke,” I remind her.
“I think I might have to start.” She comes to my other side, and slides her arm into mine, tugging me away from Gabe. As we start walking toward the doors, I glance over my shoulder, but Gabe, knowing exactly what to do, is following. He’s no insecure high school boy, that’s for sure.
He moves to my side as we enter the museum and make our way to the room reserved for our prom. The lights are dim, but with the way he stands out, he’s still drawing attention, from students and teachers alike.
“Punch?” he asks me.
“Sure.” I start toward the table and he stops me, dipping his head to whisper in my ear. God, everything in the way he does that sends shivers through my body.
“I’ll get it.”
His hand lingers on my arm, and the way he keeps touching me messes with my brain and body. His gaze holds mine for a second and when my synapses stop firing, leaving me senseless, I can’t help but wonder if he might actually be into me.
Do I dare hope?
I stare at him, unable to tear my gaze away as he weaves his way through the crowd and stops at the drink table. He grabs two cups, and his eyes meet mine as he reaches for the ladle. My heart jumps into my throat as he fills our glasses. Jeremy, one of the guys from the hockey team, stops to talk to him, and Gabe nods his head toward me. Jeremy follows his gaze and his eyes go wide when they land on me.
Gabe comes back, and I work to keep my hands from shaking as I take a drink. I note the way he’s glancing around. “You can’t give Braxton a black eye, Gabe.”
“I mean, I can. I just shouldn’t.” He produces that devilish dimple as he grins at me, and it’s all I can do to fill my lungs. If my brother knew how I felt about his best friend, no way would he have put us together like this. Not that I really think anything is going to happen.
The music changes, and he takes my cup and sets it on a table. He comes back to me, slides his hand around my waist and drags me to him. I inhale his scent and fill my lungs with it. What is it about his smell that makes me weak in the knees?
He dips his head, his mouth near my ear as we dance, and before he shifts his body, I’m pretty damn sure I felt something poke into my stomach.
Okay, maybe something is going to happen.
