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“Fuck.” I wasn’t going to survive this.
“Oh crap,” I heard Caroline’s voice. “I forgot my fork.”
Darting to the table, I snatched the first plastic fork I saw and extended it her way. She jerked to a surprised halt when she turned and found me there.
“Oh!” She sucked in a breath and pulled back.
“Here you go,” I offered quietly.
She immediately lowered her gaze. “Thank you.” When she went to reach for it, I refused to immediately let it go. Her face veered up, flaring with panic. “Oren. What’re you doing?” She tugged the fork free.
As she started to turn away, I asked, “Are you not even going to say hello to me?”
She froze before slowly glancing back. “You can’t do this here,” she whispered the warning. But I couldn’t not do it...anywhere. I needed to talk to her; I needed my woman back. I needed to know she was going to forgive me...if not today, then someday.
“It’s been eight days,” was all I could think to say. I couldn’t help the way my gaze pleaded. I’d get down on my knees and beg if that’s what it took.
Understanding filled her expression. “I...” But she didn’t say anything else.
I was on the brink of losing my shit. “Does this mean you’re done then?” I asked.
She shook her head, confused. “Done?”
I jabbed a finger into my chest. “With me?”
“Hey, what’re you two talking about over here by yourselves?” Gamble asked as he strolled toward us. His voice sounded casual and curious enough, but I could still detect the censure.
Caroline jumped at his voice and immediately turned his way, but I couldn’t take my gaze off her, not until she answered me. Still ignoring Gamble, I hissed, “Caroline?”
Nervous and jumpy, her eyes darted my way. “No,” she breathed out so quietly, only I could hear. “Of course, I’m not done with you.” Then she returned her attention to her brother and flashed him a big smile. “Maybe we’re telling secrets about you,” she teased.
“Secrets?” he repeated. When his gaze slid my way, I just stared back, daring him to even start.
The fucker must’ve accepted my challenge because he wrapped an arm around Caroline’s shoulder and smiled. “Oh, I could give you all kinds of secrets...about Ten here.”
“Gam,” I said under my breath. The warning clear. I wouldn’t just stand here and take this shit. Caroline’s face had already drained of color and she looked stiff and upset. “Don’t.”
He shrugged. “Don’t what?”
I glanced around at everyone who’d paused what they were doing to watch us, all of them extra alert. “Don’t tell her about any of your secrets? Not even about Tianna?” After a low whistle, he spoke directly to Caroline. “I don’t know what he did to that poor girl, but I’ve never seen anyone hate a guy as much as she hates him, and Tianna loves all the guys.”
“Noel,” Aspen called, hurrying our way. “Do you think you could help me carry out more potato chips?”
“In a sec,” he answered, not taking his gaze off me. “Oh, and do you remember Faith McCrown? Didn’t you pop her cherry our sophomore year?”
With a quick glance at Caroline, I gritted my teeth. She kept her chin high, though, and that made me proud. But still pissed as hell.
Nodding, I sent my good ol’ buddy ol’ pal a hard smile. “Yeah, you know, I do remember her. I remember how you took her over after I gushed about how flexible she was.”
Gamble’s mocking smirk died cold. I cocked my head to the side. “Wasn’t she the one who got so hooked on you she became damn near suicidal after you dropped her cold for her best friend? Or was it her archenemy you fucked? I can’t recall which.”
Beside him, Aspen started to cough, and I glanced at her, suddenly remembering she was right there.
Shit.
Pressing her hand to her chest, she batted her eyelashes like crazy and stepped in reverse away from us.
“Aspen?” Gamble reached for her, but she darted another step away.
