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TEN
ADAM
Ava spotsme heading toward their table in the fancy Italian restaurant they chose for dinner and shouts, “Look who decided to leave his sex dungeon!”
I pull at the collar of my button-up shirt and flash her a grin. It’s hotter than Satan’s asshole in Mexico right now, and if I had it my way, I wouldn’t have to wear a shirt for the duration of our stay. But alas, no shoes, no shirt, no service,and I’m starving.
Tyler, Gracie, Oakley, and Ava are seated at a table that looks out at the ocean, an array of candles lit in the centre. The white tablecloth drapes over the sides of the table and brushes their knees.
“I couldn’t deny my hunger any longer, O baby,” I shoot back.
Tyler rolls his eyes and brings his glass of brown—my guess, whiskey—to his mouth while Gracie eyes mine with obvious curiosity.
“Where’s your friend?” she asks when I pull out the empty chair between her and Oakley and sit.
“Were you hoping to make a new friend?” I counter.
“Not really. But you know me, a curious Claudia.”
I snort a laugh. “I think it’s a curious cat, Gray.”
She bumps my shoulder. “Who cares. You obviously knew what I meant. Now tell me, are you going to see her again while we’re here?”
Oakley sputters, “Doubt it.”
“What does that mean?” I gasp.
“It means you didn’t even know her name this morning,” Ava cuts in with a sympathetic smile. “But you know Gray, she’s—”
“A romantic,” Tyler grumbles.
Gracie spins around in her chair until her eyes cut like daggers into the side of Tyler’s head. “And? There’s nothing wrong with wanting some romance. Not everyone can be an empty shell of a person who fears emotion.”
Someone’s breath hitches across the table while I lean my elbows on the table, settling in for a good show. It’s been a long time coming since this fight broke out, and I for one can’t wait.
I love my guy Tyler, but he’s been poking at the wrong bear for too long. Gracie Hutton isn’t one to take shit from anyone, not even the guy she’s been obvious about crushing on. And boy has he ever been poking her. I’m almost certain he enjoys having her attention; he just won’t ever admit it.
Tyler’s eyes narrow to slits. “Romance is for the naïve. You’re a perfect example of that.”
“Has the waitress been around?” I ask and snatch the menu in front of Gracie. “My stomach is grumbling nonstop.”
“Tyler,” Oakley says, his voice thick with warning. “Watch it.”
Gracie doesn’t so much as flinch. She’s far too angry for his insults to truly sink in. I’m sure it’ll hit hard once they do, though.
“I may be naïve, but at least I’m not a walking cliché. The whole emotionally unavailable fuckboy is quite overdone, don’t you think?” she spits.
“Apparently not. It hasn’t stopped you from chasing at my heels.”
I wince, and Gracie sucks in a sharp breath. Ava chooses the break in their arguing to say, “Okay, I think the point has gotten across, guys.”
When I look away from a red-faced Gracie and toward Ava and Oakley, I gulp at the raging anger on Oakley’s face. If he clenches his jaw any tighter, we might be spending the remainder of our night in the hospital. Ava rubs his shoulder in an effort to calm him down.
I rack my brain for something to say to extinguish the blaze, but Oakley beats me to it.
“Tyler. Come with me. Now,” he growls before shoving away from the table and stalking off.
Silently, Tyler gets up and follows. I look at Ava. “Should I go too?”
