Page 19 of Beautifully Used
“She hates me.”
“What’d you do, stick your tongue down her throat without asking?”
I shrugged.
Chapter 14
Gabrielle
* * *
I sat in the middle of the bed, laptop open, finishing the last paragraph of the second chapter of the new story when I heard a soft knock on the door. “Come in,” I said, half expecting it to be Brodie again, a little disappointed when it wasn’t. The more I got to know him, the more I was beginning to like him. His concerned reaction to my bizarre behavior earlier was … well, sort of gallant. He could have just shrugged it off and left me alone, which is what I’d expected from him, but he’d acted like he genuinely cared. I wasn’t very good at lying, and I have a pretty good feeling he caught on.
“Hey.” Lena bounded into the room, bouncing on the bed beside me. “What are you writing?”
“The beginnings of a new book.”
“Cool. Very cool indeed. Can you take a break?”
“Sure.”
She stood and put her hand out for me to take. “Come with me.”
“Okay.” I giggled.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
She went to the closet and opened the door. The few clothes I had hung in the middle looking pathetic, but then Lena slipped open the other door, revealing some men’s clothes. “Jackson put some of his things in here when he made room for mine in his closet. Here we go,” she said, turning around and holding a blue and gold striped tie. “Let’s put this on.”
“What for?”
She laughed. “Because. There’s a surprise, and I think you should be blindfolded for it.”
“I really don’t think…” I began, but my protests were shushed, and I found myself letting her secure the tie around my head.
“There. Can you see anything?”
“No.” My voice sounded every bit as timid as I felt. She giggled as she took my hand and led me out of the bedroom. I could tell by which way we turned that we were heading toward the living room. When we stopped walking, I heard mumbling from across the room. Then another shush.
“Okay. You can lower the blindfold now.”
I did and opened my eyes to see Jackson, Brodie, and Rufus. Rufus wore one of those pointy little party hats decorated with balloons and streamers with the elastic under his big jowls. He looked absolutely adorable. Brodie held a bottle of champagne in his hand, a ridiculous grin plastered on his handsome face.
“Congratulations!” Brodie said.
I’m positive my eyes revealed the bewilderment I felt as I stood staring at the four of them.
“The book, silly. Congratulations on becoming a published author,” Lena informed, rushing to me and wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
“That’s a very notable accomplishment, Gabby. You should be very proud, and we’re all proud of you. Congrats.” Jackson added, also giving me a hug.
“Well, I’m not published yet, just in contract,” I corrected.
“You will be,” Lena said with great confidence.
A vase overflowing with bright yellow daffodils and pink gladiolus sitting on the table caught my eye. “The flowers were Brodie’s idea,” Lena said.
