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We piled into the sleek black stretch limo sitting outside. Bottles of sparkling grape juice and little champagne glasses waited for us. We kicked back and sipped on our drinks, rocking out to the music the driver blared over the speakers for us. Charlotte sat cozied up next to Hunter on the side, Lexi with Zane in the rear. I sat alone, facing the back, unable to escape the lovey dovey looks each couple was sharing. My heart twinged with pain. Gabriel was supposed to be here, sitting next to me. He would’ve told me I looked beautiful in the stunning pink dress with the black tulle at the bottom Lexi had picked out for me. He would’ve grinned at the sight of my black combat boots I’d paired with it. It was totally me.
And I was totally missing him.
“We’re here,” Charlotte announced, looking out the window.
Sure enough, we’d arrived at the high school. We’d spent so much time driving around in the limo that it was getting late and most people were already inside. As I slid out of the open door and onto the sidewalk, I swallowed down the last blips of fear threatening to come back up. There was no more need to feel unsure of myself. I’d accomplished so much today. Maybe I didn’t get everything I wanted, but I’d stood my ground for me and all the other girl gamers like me. That was enough to help me hold my head high tonight.
“Come on.” Lexi took my hand and squeezed it tight. At the same time, she grabbed Zane’s and pulled us toward the gym where we could see colorful lights spilling through the doors and a heavy bass beat pounded out a fast rhythm. “You’re going to love how the decorations turned out.”
She didn’t stop moving until we were well into the darkened room. It was crowded with so many kids from school that it was hard to see where we were going. I had to keep my eye on the darkened floor so I wouldn’t trip over anyone. When Lexi finally let go of my hand, I looked up and gasped.
Lexi was right. The decorations had turned out amazing. Lines of soft white Christmas lights covered the ceiling. White tulle lined the walls. Hundreds of little silver snowflakes hung from the rafters, reflecting the light. It was like we’d stepped into a fancy ballroom. If I hadn’t been in here just a few weeks ago for a basketball game, I wouldn’t have known that it was a gym in the first place.
“This is incredible,” I said, spinning in place to catch all of the decorations. “You guys really made this place look amazing!”
“Thank you,” Charlotte and Lexi chimed at the same time.
Right then, the music changed to something slow. The crowd on the dance floor set up in the middle of the gym dispersed until only couples remained. Zane held out his hand to Lexi beside me and Hunter did the same to Charlotte.
“But Beth...” Charlotte looked over at me.
“Go.” I pointed over at the food table. “I’ll get us some snacks and as soon as they pick up the tempo again, I’ll be out there with you.”
She frowned and hesitated for a moment, but my encouraging smile must’ve encouraged her enough to take Hunter’s hand. He led her out to the dance floor and both of my friends started slow dancing with their boyfriends, looking blissfully happy.
They’d gotten everything they wanted.
Suddenly, I needed a drink of water. It was like I’d spent the last week wandering through the desert with an empty canteen. I grabbed a glass from the drinks table and downed it, but the cool liquid did nothing to wash down this lump of sand stuck in my throat. I reached for another glass, but a hand reached out to pick it up before me.
“Here,” said a deep voice, handing me the glass.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
I paused with the cup halfway to my lips. I knew that voice. Spinning around on my heels, the water sloshed out of my cup. I froze, staring at the guy standing in front of me. He wore a dark suit that fit his athletic body like a glove. His hair was slightly styled with some kind of product. He tilted his head to one side and smiled at me, his hands tucked casually in his pockets. Even in the near dark of the Winter Wonderland Lexi and Charlotte had built, I could still spot that white scar along his jaw.
Gabriel Corrigan.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Gabriel?” I breathed out his name, not daring to move as silver snowflakes danced above our heads.
Was this real? Why was he at the Winter Ball? And more importantly, had he brought a different date? I wasn’t sure my heart could take the answer to that question.
“Hi.” He bit his bottom lip, his gaze trailing down my pink dress to my combat boots and back up again. “You look...really gorgeous. The boots were a nice touch.”
Blood rushed to my cheeks. I set the water glass down on the table beside me. “Thanks. Lexi chose the dress, but I insisted on the boots. I didn’t want to completely lose myself.”
“Good.” He nodded firmly and then took a step closer, causing a jolt to go through my chest. “So, I got a mysterious delivery today while I was coaching hockey. My buddy Joe delivered it onto the ice. He nearly broke his neck trying to skate it out to me.”
“Oh, yeah?” I tried to sound aloof, but as he moved even closer, his eyes never leaving my face, it was getting harder to stay cool.
“Yeah. It was the original Assassin’s Creed game. The collector’s edition, actually.”
“That’s a great game.”
“I know.” An ornery light lit in his gaze. “I used to have the same one. Back before my brother went on a rampage and ruined it during our thirteenth birthday party.”
