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Some kid across the way was swinging a torch with abandon, and Gabriel could feel the flame’s excitement at the potential for danger. Cloth, paper, whatever. As soon as the fire found fuel, it would flare.
What an idiot.
Despite the music, the air was quiet here by the pool. Gabriel could feel people looking at him, talking about him, but it was easier to ignore them when he wasn’t standing directly in their midst.
And not everyone was talking about him. Some kids by the back door were playing cards. The people in the hot tub had a lively interaction going on the kind that didn’t exactly involve a lot of talking. Hunter was still talking to Calla, following her into the house now. Interesting. And another couple was going at it hot and heavy at the opposite end of the pool deck. Probably drunk, or they’d never be out here in the open.
He wondered what Layne would do if he walked to her house and started throwing stones at her window.
Gabriel polished off his food and set the plate below his chair, dropping back to stare up at the stars.
A breeze caught the flames and made them flicker.
Play?
He shook his head. Not now.
Then a stronger gust of wind whipped across the pool to sprinkle him with water and blow out the three torches surrounding him.
Nick.
Gabriel flung a surge of power into the torch by his twin, making flames shoot high and spray sparks. Girls shrieked and scattered, including Quinn.
Gabriel smiled.
“That wasn’t very nice.”
He craned his head back. Becca stood there in the darkness.
He couldn’t make out her expression, but the displeasure in her voice said enough.
Gabriel looked back at the pool. “Maybe I’m not very nice.”
“Can I sit down?”
He shrugged. “Go ahead. I already lost my wingman.”
She moved forward between the lounges, and he expected her to drop onto the one next to him, but she sat on his. She faced him, her hip against his, the warmth in her body carrying through the gauzy skirt she wore.
His eyes flicked up to hers. “Trying to make Chris jealous?”
“No. I’m trying to figure out what’s up with you.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Nick doesn’t know what he did wrong. You know, he’s beating himself up trying to figure it ”
“Becca, stop.” He glared out at the pool. “Nick did nothing wrong.”
That was the whole problem. Nick never did anything wrong.
“He misses you.”
Gabriel snorted and gestured to the dark tiki torches. “Yeah, he’s got a funny way of showing it.” He fished the lighter out of his pocket and stood to relight them.
Really, he couldn’t take her closeness right now.
He pulled down the first torch and flicked his lighter. Becca stood next to him, and he watched the firelight dance across her cheeks. She looked worried.
