“Would you take back what we did if they were?” Gabe studied her eyes, searching them to see the truth. His ego wouldn’t want to hear it if she said yes, but more than that, the rest of his body was held captive awaiting her answer.
Victoria’s eyebrows furrowed. “No. No, I wouldn’t.” Her eyes seemed to dare him to argue, to tell her she wasn’t as important as his friends, but no such words would form on his tongue. From the apartment complex doors, he could see the taxi waiting.
Lightly, he brushed his lips to hers. “Good.”
Gabe intertwined their fingers, only letting go to open the door to the taxi and let her in. Gabe breathed in her scent, leaning his cheek on the top of her head when she rested it against his shoulder, enjoying the comfort of silence.
His nerves were buzzing when they reached the restaurant and got out. The serenity of her scent wasn’t calming him, it was making him crazy. He couldn’t wait to show her off, to let the world see this jewel he was lucky enough to be with. For a moment, Gabe did wish for the band’s future. He wished the paparazzi would show up and snap pictures of them walking hand in hand. He wanted to tell the world about Victoria, but he didn’t ever want to share her.
Summer air breathed hot down his neck as he swatted Victoria’s hand away from the door. She giggled but moved her hand, letting him hold the door for her. She was a strange mix, independent and strong but willing to let Gabe take over some of the “man’s” duties in a relationship. There was a bounce to her step as she walked ahead of him to the host. The host’s focus shifted, roaming her figure. If Gabe had to guess, the guy was trying to figure out what could be hidden under her sweater. Loudly clearing his throat while staring the guy down seemed to do the trick. The host turned his attention immediately to the floor.
“Banshee—” Gabe started to say, but the host cut him off.
“Right this way, sir.”
They were led to a long table filled with laughter. Troy and Burke sat with a petite brunette between them. The way they doted on her could only mean that she was the contest winner. Ti sat next to Troy and Sarah next to Burke. Sarah’s dark bob had pins with feathers attached sticking through the sides, her head on her hand staring at the tablecloth. He hadn’t thought about it, but Sarah may have felt excluded; keeping Tori away might have upset her. But as quickly as the thought occurred to him, he noticed her other hand pressing away at something on the table. A split second later, a spit wad flew across the length of the table and hit her arm.
Gabe flinched, waiting for the shrill scream he was certain would come. Sarah calmly picked the wet paper off of her arm, licked it, and stuck it in her straw without so much as a sideways glance at Ti, who had jumped into the conversation Burke was trying to have with the brunette, trying to look innocent. Victoria pumped Gabe’s hand as they stood unnoticed and nodded toward Sarah. Sarah leaned back in a long stretch, straw in mouth, and spat the wad right back at Ti. Ti jumped as it stuck to his neck.
Victoria walked up to the table, laughing and high-fiving her way across it.
“You didn’t even find yours yet, did you?” Ti smirked at Sarah, who had stood and was moving around the length of the table toward them.
“Honey, that was yours. I gave it back.” Sarah laughed in Ti’s ear as she rubbed his shoulders and pranced the rest of the way around the table to give Victoria a hug.
“Are you making friends?” Victoria asked her, a level of playfulness in her tone.
Sarah shrugged. “When am I not?”
The two girls sat down opposite the rest of the party, and Gabe followed her lead. Guess she’s not too nervous. Troy and Burke nodded to him. The brunette waved a small hand at him, leaving Ti with his trademark smirk.
“Sorry we’re late. Guys, this is Tori. Tori, Troy and Burke, you know Ti. And I’m guessing you’re our contest winner?” Gabe pointed at her. “Amelia, right?” Her smile was small and closed. She nodded but seemed shy. Tori grabbed everyone’s hands, shaking them like she’d met them a million times before. Like she hadn’t just been stressing they wouldn’t like her. Gabe watched in amazement. None of the girls he’d been around before seemed to feel so comfortable around everyone at once. Usually they would bounce, squeal, and make eyes at each member until one of them, commonly Ti, would take them under his arm. Not a figure of speech.
*
The idea of a group outing with the band was exhilarating, but Victoria was beyond glad Gabe had asked her to bring Sarah along. The boys seemed nice enough—though decidedly preoccupied. Troy and Burke were all over the contest winner, Amelia, batting their lashes as if they’d never seen a girl before. Girl, pixie, same thing. It was kind of pathetic the way they had to wipe drool from their chins before speaking as to not slobber on her plate when they answered her or desperately urged the waiter to get her more refills. Victoria shook her head and smiled, pleased that at least half of the boys were behaving—kind of. Ti had parked himself next to Gabe, but she could feel pieces of spit-covered paper flying back and forth between him and Sarah. She leaned forward, trying to avoid getting hit.
“So, Amelia.” Victoria spoke loudly to break through the guys’ voices on both sides of the pixie. Amelia lifted her head and smiled warmly. “Tell me about your singing.”
“Well, it’s kind of something I’ve always liked. I hadn’t entered many contests before, so I didn’t really think I’d win this one.” Blush filled in her cheeks, and she averted her eyes from the table.
“And you sing country music?”
“Mostly, it’s what I grew up with. June Carter when I was younger, Miranda Lambert now.”
Two feisty women artists. Amelia had some spunk to her underneath that layer of innocence and blushing cheeks. Victoria felt completely at peace in the new world she was thrust into. The guys in the band were harmless. Gabe beamed at her as she spoke to Amelia. Everything felt right.
After dinner, the girls huddled around in a fit of whispered giggles. The drinks had kicked in, and they sat with their backs to the boys, oblivious to the restaurant around them until Gabe put his hands on the back of Victoria’s chair, and Amelia’s smile widened to her eyes. She lit up like a real pixie. Victoria glanced behind her, noticing Gabe in Amelia’s direct line of view.
He lowered his head to her ear. “You ready to get out of here?”
Amelia’s face went back to normal, but the image stuck with Victoria, and a creeping jealousy filled her. She didn’t want anyone to look at him like that. So instead of nodding or answering politely, Victoria tilted her head and kissed Gabe hard on the lips. His hands flew to her face as if by instinct, pulling her in for more, regardless that they were in public, until Victoria pulled away. She watched Gabe’s pupils as they shrank, taking in the light around him. Rising from her chair, Victoria hugged Amelia good-bye. If there were any doubts in Amelia’s mind that Gabe was taken, there wouldn’t be now.
Sarah followed suit, walking up to Ti. She reached up, grabbed Ti’s face, and pulled him down to kiss her passionately. It only took a second for Ti’s body to unfreeze, and his hands came up around Sarah’s back, pulling her closer to him. Breaking the kiss, Sarah pushed Ti away playfully, laughing and wiping her mouth.
“Show-off.” She smirked at Victoria, who stood with Gabe, two hanging mouths unable to hinge shut again. Sarah nodded from Amelia to Troy and Burke. “Your turn.”
Amelia giggled and looked down, missing the way Troy put an arm in front of Burke, stopping him from being able to claim dibs of any sort.
“I think I’m good. Thanks, though.” Amelia shook Sarah’s hand in a dainty fashion, like a true lady from the 1800s. When she approached Gabe and Victoria, she paused and then started to reach for Gabe but retracted and waved a small good-bye to the two of them instead.
When Amelia was out of sight, Ti let out a laugh. “Territory successfully marked. Way to go, Tori.”
Heat rushed to Victoria’s face. Amelia had been a nice enough girl. Victoria hadn’t meant to come ac
ross like a mean girl, viciously showing possession of her man. They were all adults, and Gabe hadn’t even shown an interest in Amelia, but damn if she didn’t want to make sure that girl knew where he stood. How did that even happen?
Gabe nudged her with his shoulder. “Feel free to mark your territory at any time.”
Victoria wrapped her arm around Gabe’s, feeling secure and a little silly for the way she’d acted. Troy’s phone beeped. His face lit up like it was Christmas morning.
“Hey, Gabe, when did you want to practice with Amelia? She forgot to ask.”
Victoria’s stomach tightened, but she fought it, forced it to relax; she had nothing to worry about.
“Ugh, uh, Tuesday?” Gabe’s nonchalance helped ease Victoria as he shrugged and didn’t offer to contact Amelia himself. Victoria wound her fingers around Gabe’s, giving them a slight squeeze. His strong jaw tilted to the side, a slow smile moving over his lips and lighting up his eyes.
Troy’s fingers moved nimbly across his phone’s keyboard. “Tuesday is good. Uh, do you want the rest of us there?” Troy didn’t breathe as he waited for Gabe’s response. Victoria bit back a scowl with a smile.
“Well, I kinda wanted Ti to really welcome her to the group…” Troy’s face fell, but the joke caught on quickly with the rest of the group. Ti wiggled his eyebrows at Sarah, who rolled her eyes.
“Please.” Sarah pretended to still be wiping spit off her chin.
“Yes, Troy, come to practice.”
Troy smiled and nodded, replying to his ever-beeping cell phone.
Gabe’s hand tugged on hers. “Come on,” he commanded.
She followed obediently out of the restaurant, letting crowds and the warm summer air merge all around them. Victoria embraced the warmth as eagerly as the feel of Gabe’s strong arm under her hand. His presence was demanded, broad shoulders and hair shining in the sun like a model. His hand rose to hail a taxi. Behind her she could barely pick up Sarah’s voice as she spoke softly to someone, probably playful banter with Ti. Victoria closed her eyes, taking the day in. The peace she’d felt falling away when her ears perked at Sarah’s tone, changing from conversation to hushed argument.
It was Todd on the sidewalk arguing with Sarah, his eyes narrowed at Victoria. She pushed her lips together, forcing a small smile. Todd scoffed, pushing Sarah out of his newly changed direction.
“Leave it alone, Todd!” Sarah called out, but as she got closer, Todd again pushed her lightly away. It was enough for her to stumble and Ti to break in.
“What the fuck’s the problem?” Ti’s voice was more serious than Victoria had ever heard. It must have been a tone reserved for arguments because Gabe whipped around immediately, abandoning the taxi he’d called.
“No problem,” Todd said coolly, not taking his eyes off Victoria. He was still moving toward her, but he couldn’t get close, not with the way Gabe jumped in front of her. Victoria put her hands on the small of Gabe’s back, feeling the indentations under his shirt. Lean muscle she’d felt ripple and quake beneath her touch now stood firm and unflinching. Victoria put her forehead against Gabe’s back, breathing slowly.
“Trust me, she’s not worth it.” Todd’s voice was detached, crueler than she’d ever heard. The words cut deep beneath her skin, opening all of the scars Gabe had started healing so well.
“And that’s why you lost her. You don’t even know who you are without her, do you?” Gabe’s breathing stayed calm. God, her pulse was going a million miles an hour. Deep breaths in and out, holding for a few seconds, trying to match her heart rate to what she imagined Gabe’s was. Just like she’d always done with his music, his songs, now his life, he could help her get through anything.
“I’ve always known who I am. She’s the needy little thing. You’ll see. It won’t be long. Although you look like a smart guy, I bet you’re nailing tons of groupies on the side.” Todd’s laugh was shallow. Victoria heard his footsteps on the sidewalk, retreating. The world moved under her, leaving her stumbling forward. Sarah’s arms jutted out to grab her as Ti flew in front of Gabe, but he was too late. Gabe had already spun Todd around and landed a hard right to his jaw. Todd clutched his face and doubled over. A small crowd began to form around them, but it only took Ti’s hand on Gabe’s chest to get him to back away from her insane ex.
“You stay away from her. You don’t talk to her, you don’t look at her. And if I see you near either of us again, I won’t stop until you’re motionless on the ground.” Gabe growled through his teeth, his muscles bulging through the button-down shirt, his knees bent and ready to pounce. The violence in his stature should have put her on edge. She should have been worried about what kind of man could display such violence so easily and what he would do to her if he got angry with her. But she wasn’t. Victoria grasped for him, and he put his arm around her, tucking her into his side.
“Come on, man.” Ti pushed him around and into the open door of a taxi.
“I’m sorry, Tori. I couldn’t let him stand and spew that crap.” Gabe shook his head.
In Victoria’s mind, she involuntarily saw the way Amelia’s face had lit up all over again. He could have had her. And wasn’t she doing exactly what Todd had accused? She’d instantly started marking Gabe as her own, trying to make sure everyone knew it. She even hated that he was going to have to practice with the girl. Gabe could be out doing everything Todd accused him of, and it wouldn’t be the only thing Todd was right about. She sucked in a ragged breath.
“Tori? You do know, right?”
“Do I know what?” Her thoughts had taken her far away, her heart cut open and bleeding. Worry and doubt invaded her mind.
“You know I would never even look at anyone else. I’d never do that to you.” His eyes were heated, boring into her. She did the only thing she could.
Victoria shook her head and looked out the window, afraid to open her mouth for fear the tears would start. Gabe didn’t say anything else on the ride. But unlike the ride to the restaurant, the silence wasn’t comfortable. Victoria was paralyzed with fear. She was needy. Gabe could leave her. It probably wouldn’t last long. She wanted to reach out and grab Gabe, to beg him not to leave her, but that was the epitome of needy, wasn’t it?
When the taxi stopped in front of her place, Victoria got out and walked to the door of her apartment without looking back. His footsteps running up behind her barely even calculated, only the feel of his hands grabbing her waist made her stop.
“Tori. Look at me.” Gabe grabbed her arms, shaking her lightly. She could see her pain reflected back in his eyes. “He’s an idiot. This isn’t going anywhere. I didn’t scare you, did I?”
Victoria shook her head. “No, you didn’t scare me.” I scare me. Gabe’s eyes searched her face, so she shook her head harder. “I’m okay, really. I’m just sorry he said those things about you.” And about me. All of the miserable nights she’d spent holding onto her relationship with Todd were flooding back. She had been needy. She’d done everything she could think of to make him stay until she couldn’t do it anymore, until she realized how much of herself she was holding back to keep him.
Gabe’s mouth moved on hers, protective and gentle. She kissed him back, her hands on his chest, fingers curling into it. She wanted to crawl under him and cry until her tears were gone. She wanted him to hold her while she grieved for who she had been and how badly she wanted to be better.
“Do you want me to come in?” Gabe asked, his chest rising and falling against hers with each breath, their foreheads touching. His blond curls drooped forward, mingling with the top layers of her hair.
Victoria took a deep breath, nodding without thought, but stopped herself. “No. No, just a kiss, right?” She tried to produce a small laugh, but it came out as more of a hum.
“Just a kiss. Call me if you change your mind. We can talk or I’ll listen, whatever, okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Gabe kissed her again, softer and quicker. She watched him ret
reat back to the waiting taxi. The urge to call him back and beg him to lie with her took almost all the fight she had. She had no choice. She needed to be alone. She needed to pretend she was strong enough not to need.
Chapter 22
“So, did you pick a song to sing with Amelia?” Ti had his feet kicked up on Gabe’s desk while sitting in the rolling computer chair.
“Haven’t thought about it.” Gabe dismissed him, throwing his keys on the desk. “What are you doing here?” he asked on second thought.
“Helping you pick a song with a good rhythm for Amelia.” Gabe perked an eyebrow and looked at Ti again. “And keeping you out of trouble. What the hell happened out there?”
Gabe shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “That douche running his mouth got to me, talking about doing groupies while I’m with Victoria. I can’t even think about anyone else anymore. Why would I be having sex with random chicks?”
“Uh, because as stated, he’s a douche, and that’s what they do?” Ti had a guitar strewn across his lap, plucking the chords aimlessly. Gabe tensed, watching the guitar slide a little too far off Ti’s lap for comfort. “And I know you’re not big on sharing, but you realize Siren’s Song is the only song we have that would actually be cool for her to sing, right?”
Gabe did know. He’d been through their song sets a thousand times. She could probably sing any of the songs if they changed a few of the notes, but to have a girl actually sing part of Siren’s Song would bring it to life in a crazy way. He could whip up some lyrics and have her sing them in between the chorus, like a real siren singing. Amelia wasn’t very siren-like, she was too cutesy to be a siren, but he nodded in agreement. Siren’s Song it was. After the Street Fest, Siren’s Song would have a whole identity. The fans there would remember it for its uniqueness, and the band would remember it as the song they sang with Amelia. The overwhelming sensation he was in some way cheating on Victoria just by having a girl sing it with him sank his gut, but he did his best to ignore the sick feeling. It’s because I left her, and I know she’s upset. But she’s fine. She won’t even care.
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