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Gavin nodded, eyes still on his phone as his thumbs flew across the screen. Ginny did a quick check in with her staff to make sure everything was going according to plan and then stepped to the side to go over her own checklist.
“Ginny?” She turned to find Gavin watching her. He was smiling nervously, spinning his phone between his fingers and suddenly she wanted him to call herNiajust to remember what it felt like to hear that name in his deep voice.
“What’s up?”
“Thank you for all of this,” he said softly, waving his hands around with a shy smile. “You didn’t have to do this just because you made up a random story for my mom, but you did and I can’t even tell you how grateful I am.”
“You’re paying me the big bucks and you haven’t threatened to kill me in a few weeks, I think that’s a good sign of your gratitude.”
Gavin chuckled and the sound traveled up her spine and lodged itself in her brain. “I’m serious, this is more than I deserve aftereverything.”
Everythingwas such a small word to encompass their history.Everythingdidn’t even cover half of who they were to each other and what they had done to the other.Everythingwas fucking complicated. If she was still going to therapy, this is what they would be talking about—how easily Ginny and Gavin were brushing past theeverythingto focus on the nothing, because it was easier than the alternative. But if she was being honest, their history was exactly why she’d taken on planning the event instead of having someone else at WEW do the job. She didn’t want to upset their balance, but she also wanted answers. She wanted resolution. More than anything, she wanted them to move forward.
Everythingwas also a good reminder of the past week.
They’d always had fantastic chemistry, the ability to set a room on fire when they were together. But what they did in his office and then in her house was so different from what they had done before. When he’d walked out after kissing her, Ginny thought that was it. Sure, she’d been furious that he’d brushed her off with awe shouldn’tand never returned. Not a single part of her thought he’d show up at her front door later that night.
Ginny knew that Gavin came there to apologize, because it was evident in his eyes and the way he couldn’t look at her properly. Something triggered the “just this once to get it all out of our systems” comment and she didn’t even bother fighting him. Ginny wanted that as much as he did. And she got so close to getting him out of her system too. Every swipe of his tongue, the way his cock filled her with every thrust and the desperate way their hands grabbed at each other—it all did the trick of scratching the itch. But when she woke up the next morning naked and alone in her bed, Ginny was annoyed and still very horny.
In a way, she was glad that Gavin was busy and had sent Bronte to help her out with final touches and setting up the venue. Ginny wasn’t sure how she would react if she saw Gavin again. Maybe she’d climb him like a tree, maybe she’d give him a whole lot of shit. Both options still sounded so good. But the four days without seeing him had helped douse that flame of desire. Sort of. Ginny wondered if they were being silly by not confronting what they’d done, silly by not talking about the past, silly by ignoring all of this tension between them.
She did hate him—just a little—because in the twelve years since they’d seen each other, he’d learned a lot of new ways to completely blow her mind. And the only reason she didn’t seek him out the rest of the week was because they agreed it would be just for that one night. But when Gavin was gone, Ginny missed him. They barely exchanged words that night—outside of the few filthy things he mumbled into her ear or against her skin—but they’d connected on a much deeper level than she had with all of her previous sexual partners.
And she missed that.
Which was why when she saw him standing there in all black, rehearsing his speech and looking nervous about going up on stage, Ginny wanted to wrap him up into a hug. But touching him was a bad idea, who knew what would happen if they made contact?
Except, she found herself setting her things down and closing the gap between them to cup his face to bring his attention firmly on her. His eyes searched hers and Ginny realized her mistake too late, breath catching in her throat as she forced herself to speak.
“Everythingis why I wanted to help you,” she said softly, nodding when his eyes widened. “All the shit in our past, Gavin, it’s fucking complicated and messy and I hate that it happened. Ihatethat we keep hurting each other. But this is important to you and your family, and I wanted to help.”
His eyes darted between hers and Ginny held her breath, watching as he processed her words. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. She didn’t knowwhathe was apologizing for, but she nodded in acceptance.
“Me too.” Ginny sighed and pulled her hands back, fingers prickling with memories of everything they’d done four nights ago.
And shewassorry.
In the last few weeks, she’d been able to really think about the way their relationship had turned out all those years ago. How she hadn’t stopped to fully consider what Gavin felt for her. He’d loved her then, back when she was living her ‘best life’ and doing whatever she wanted. She had no care for the broken hearts she left in her wake, because Ginny hadn’t been looking forforever. Now, she could see how she’d hurt him. How by not paying attention to him or talking about it in absolute terms, she’d led him on. Ginny had made Gavin believe that they were more than they had been. That had never been her intention and yet, it’s exactly what happened. Their recent interactions were proof of that. He was angry for a good reason, even if he approached it all wrong. Ginny hated that what had once been something fun between them had become a point of displeasure for Gavin.
His phone buzzed, startling them, and Ginny looked away from Gavin. His scent was invitingly wrapped around her and it was going to distract her all night. Offering him a tight smile, she started to move away, but his hand landed on her hip and Gavin tugged her back towards him. This time, Ginny didn’t meet his eyes, settling for staring at the top two buttons of his shirt.
“Thank you, seriously. For planning this event so fucking beautifully, for adopting Copper, for that incredible night,” he said softly, voice tinged with longing.
Patting his chest, Ginny extracted herself out of Gavin’s touch and smiled. “You’re welcome. Now, finish working on that speech.”
She heard him grunt and kept her head low as she gathered her things and walked out into the main banquet hall. Ginny sucked in a large gulp of air, eyes slipping shut as she forced herself to calm down. She knew what they were doing was ridiculous, but actually talking about it felt daunting.
Guess it’s time to pull up those big girl panties.Ginny moved through the crowd with the intention of getting herself a glass of wine. She was going to allow herselfonedrink just to calm her nerves and then drink water the rest of the evening.
“Ginny!” She heard Frankie’s voice and turned slowly in place until she saw her friend-slash-boss and her two friends. Grinning, she held up a hand and took the wine the bartender slid over before heading in their direction.
“You three lookstunning!” And they really did. Frankie was wearing another pantsuit, this time in pale yellow, nude pumps and a tight updo completing her look. Oleander was in an off-shoulder light pink dress with big flowers that hugged her curves and a slit exposed one leg, giving the demure outfit a little sex appeal. And Everleigh had on a black dress that was made entirely of lace, paired with well-loved Doc Martens, her red hair bright against her dark clothes.
“The real stunning thing is what you’ve done with this event,” Oleander gushed, stretching out to clink her glass against Ginny’s. “It’s incredible.”
“Thank you. Though, I feel like a lot of the credit goes to this one,” Ginny said, tilting her head towards Frankie.
Frankie rolled her eyes and draped an arm around her shoulders. “I just poached you away fromMarigold. You did all of this. Take credit for the fantastic work, Gin.”
