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Chapter 15
Harper
As I stand in front of Gabriel’s door, I contemplate knocking or turning away, partly because of the noise that is deafening and also because of my racing heart.
I shouldn’t be this nervous, as it’s not my first time in his apartment. It is not the first time we’ve met at a party either.
Yet, I am, and I know why.
Because he came to my door two hours ago, caught me off-guard with the kiss that swept me off my feet, and whispered in my ear that he was hosting a party and wanted me to come.
“If you don’t want to, then I’ll cancel it. I don’t want to disturb you.”
My heart fluttered at that, and I smiled so hard I thought my lips would get stuck to my teeth. Thirty minutes before the party, I decided to pick out an outfit. I told myself it was just a party on the floor above mine, so I didn’t have to overthink.
“Yet my bedroom is overrun with clothes,” I mutter, reaching out to knock.
Why does he not have a doorbell like everyone else?
Then it occurs to me that if he did, I would have thought about the fact that everyone would hear it and all eyes would be on me as soon as the door opened.
I don’t scare easily, but I would wither a bit.
The door opens, and I see none other than the blonde, Victoria. With her loud chewing gum. She takes in my appearance and sucks her teeth.
“Baby girl, are you here for Gabe, or are you here for the—”
“I invited her,” Gabriel interrupts her. “You should keep an eye on your boy thing, Victoria. Make sure I don’t have to throw him out.”
I roll my eyes when she turns to him, batting her lashes and pouting. “What boy thing? You know I only have eyes for you.”
Gabriel brushes her hand aside before it touches his chest. “Go check on him. I have more important things to attend to.”
She gives him a nonchalant hand wave and strolls away.
“Come in,” Gabriel says, stretching his hand to take mine. “The party is in full swing. I was getting worried you wouldn’t show up.”
He was? Really?
It’s probably because he came down and offered a personal invite. I decide not to read too much into it, but when I take his hand, it feels too intimate for my thoughts to remain causal.
I have never been to one of Gabriel’s house parties before, so I didn’t know what to expect, but everyone seemed to be doing their own thing in pairs or groups. Gabriel takes me to a corner where I sit on the comfiest chair ever and he brings me a martini minutes later.
“Go easy on it,” he admonishes. “I don’t want you passed out before the night gets started.”
I scoff. “Passed out? You think one glass is enough to make me drunk? I have stronger tolerance than that.”
“Are you sure, or will you prove it to me tonight?”
“I’ll prove it,” I respond defiantly. “Wait, you were there. At the club, when I was drinking by the bar. That was more than one glass, and I didn’t fall on my face.”
His fingers cover mine, and his eyes stare intensely. I don’t know if the air conditioning stopped working at some point, but the moment he touches me I begin to feel flush.
“You drank that much and held up because you hated my guts and wanted to prove a point.”
I shrug. “I’m trying to prove a point here too, aren’t I? That I can drink more than one martini and I won’t fall on my face.”
Gabriel gently brings the glass down before it touches my lips.
