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Not Red Hots. An entire pack of cinnamon gum. I wrestle out of my chair so we’re on even ground. As even as we can be. He’d have to shrink significantly for us to be eye-to-eye.
He’s put on a dress shirt. But it’s untucked, the cuffs are undone, and the buttons down the front are misaligned. He runs both hands through hair that won’t lay flat, making me wonder how long he’s been doing that.
“How did you get in here? It’s a badge event only.”
“The lady checking badges? Huuuge fan.” His hands span wide. “I did have to sign her back.” He takes a step toward me. “Her actual back.” Reaching around, he slips his hand under my sweater and tank, tapping my tramp-stamp zone with fingers that instantly heat my skin. “I don’t sign people anymore, Escalator Girl.” His hand slides to my hip. “But I did it for you.” His pupils are a little glazed. The pitch of his low laugh is all wrong. Too unguarded. Too not Gabe.
Everything in me feels sick. I shove his hand off my hip. I’m so stupid. It shouldn’t have taken me this long to piece together the puzzle. “You’re drunk.”
chapter 26
Gabe
“Every life experience adds layers to your acting toolbox.”
~ Meredith Morgan
(played by the award-winning Meredith Wade)
Raising Ryder: Episode16
AmI drunk? My hip check into the table isn’t exactly walk-the-line sober, and my head is humming. But in a good way. “Let’s call it a healthy buzz.”
Vi stands with a WTH look. Donna joins her.
“Buzz my butt.” Jess stabs a pretty purple fingernail straight into the middle of my chest. “You couldn’t even button your shirt.”
“I was in a hurry.” I bend her finger down and lean in to whisper in her ear. “You’re so cute, Angry Jess. Did you know your bottom lip is slightly fuller than the top—”
“People are staring.” She pushes me away, her green eyes flashing with gold fireworks.
I pull up what feels like a sappy grin, but I go with it. I’m feeling sappy. And philosophical. And a little too ready to spill my guts about how much I like this girltothis girl.
Damn. I am drunk.
I glance around the ballroom. Nothing’s spinning. A welcome confirmation that at least I’m nowhere near wasted. Most of the room has emptied, but there’s a handful of people left holding their phones. “You’re right,” I stage whisper. “Peoplearestaring.”
Vi grips my arm, claws out. “When I gifted you that Fireball, you weren’t supposed to hit an entire bottle in one sitting.”
I pat her hand where her nails dig through my shirt. Soooo gonna feel that later. “It wasn’t all me.” Coley’s clothes drank some.
Donna whirls toward Vi. “You bought him a bottle of Fireball? He’s underage.” She makes it sound like Vi prepaid the porn channel in my room.
“Two bottles.” I hold up the index fingers on both hands, wishing I could tangle all ten fingers in Jess’s hair, but it’s braided into something so fancy she might as well have planted a sign that says—Hands Off. Ha. “Your hair is off-limits just like you, Jess.” I shake my head.
The only thing about Jess that isn’t ice is her scorching glare.
Vi sheathes her claws. “Walk Gabriel back to his room.”
Jess looks like she’d rather lick the inside of a sewer. “He stumbled here. I’m sure he can stumble back.”
“Hecouldstumble back.” I summon my dimples. “But he’d be lonely.”
“You weren’t lonely earlier.” She clenches her teeth. “What? She didn’t want to stick around long enough to drink with you?”
My girl is pissed. And beautiful. And pissed. And maybe never speaking to me again. Ambushing her here to explain might not have been the best play. Why can’t I stop screwing everything up? I’m ruining things with all my girls. Jess. Coley. My mom. Jess. Guilt builds an alter in my chest, slicing my buzz in half.
The rubberneckers move closer.
