“Oh, no,” Ashley said loudly. Her tone had a twinge of hostility in it. She pulled my arm. “Come on,” she huffed and dragged me over in the direction of Gavin and Amy.
“What are you doing, Ashley?” I yanked my arm away and looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “I’m not going over there!”
Ashley stopped, glaring at me. “No, you’re not. But we’re going over there to get another drink. They’re standing by the bar, and we can hear what that whore is saying to your man.”
Reluctantly, I followed her to the bar and picked up another glass of wine. Ashley leaned against the smooth countertop and stared at Gavin.
I was panicking as I said, “Ashley — what are you doing?”
She tipped her wine glass back and took a gulp. “Oh, just givin’ em a good old stare down.”
“You look crazy.”
“Better me than you,” she snapped back at me.
We watched as Amy continued to circle around Gavin like a vulture, striking up conversation with every opportunity.
Ashley groaned. “Look at her! Just look at her — she’s relentless. My God, he’s not even acting interested. No eye contact, look at that body language!” Ashley shook her head in disgust.
Gavin caught Ashley glaring at him. I glanced over at Ashley just in time to see her eyebrows arch up as she shrugged at him. I thought at any moment she might blow.
He turned toward Amy, gave her a slight smile, exchanged a few more words, and walked toward us.
Approaching the bar, he grabbed a glass of wine. He combed his hand across the top of his head again and cleared his throat to speak. “That was painful.” Gavin took a sip of wine and winced at the bitter taste. He swirled the wine in the glass and then placed it on the countertop. “Couldn’t get her to be quiet and didn’t really feel I could be rude to her in front of so many people.” He paused. “I had to endure two hours with her before we came here.” Gavin looked over at Amy and then back at me. “I’ve had about all I can take of that one for the night.”
I stood there, not exactly sure what to say.
Ashley rested one elbow on the bar, pulled her hand up to her face, inspecting her nails as she bluntly stated, “Amy wants you.”
Gavin ran his fingers across his forehead. “You don’t say?” He grimaced. “Too bad for her, I’m not interested — not to mention I’m already involved with someone else.” He smiled, lighting up as he glanced down at me.
I was overcome with relief when his eyes locked onto mine.
“Lucky girl,” I said, running my hand along the side of my neck.
He raised the wine glass to his full lips. “Damn, that is horrid. You’d think they ’d have decent wine at these things.” He leaned against the bar, crossing one foot over the other. “I’m guessing I can stand here for a moment or two.” He pointed across the room at Nicole, who somehow kept finding her way into whatever circle of people Dr. Knight was in.
Gavin reached over to me, the warmth of his skin brushing against my chest as he picked up the pearl dangling from my necklace. “You like pearls, beach girl?” he asked.
“Yes.” I looked down at the small pearl he was rolling between his fingers. “It’s not real though.”
“I know.” He let it go and it fell between my clavicles. “Still looks lovely on you,” he said. His eyes glanced behind me and his smile slowly faded. “Damn,” he mumbled, lowering his head toward his shoulder to stretch his neck. He promptly turned around to face the opposite direction.
Ashley huffed and crossed her arms in front of her. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she said.
Glancing across the room, I saw Amy approaching us. The closer she got, the more like a bitch she looked. She was beautiful, but it wasn’t a natural beauty, it was more of a cosmetic porn star attractiveness she had about her. It was hard for me to imagine her as a psychiatrist with her large breasts bulging from the strapless top of her bright purple dress. She shook them with each step she took. I knew she had to be doing that on purpose. She had an athletic build and her long, wavy blonde hair streamed behind her as she glided across the floor. Her eyes were a cold blue and framed with thick, false lashes and smokey makeup. Her brown eyebrows were painstakingly arched and her brow bone was accentuated by bone-colored eye shadow. She had to be around Gavin’s age and I was certain she was much more experienced in the bedroom than me; I could tell by the way she carried herself while her unfaltering gaze seared into Gavin.
I glanced over at Ashley and saw the rage building on her face. At that moment I realized she really was a good friend; she was angry because someone else thought they could have the man I was with. I briefly shifted my gaze over toward Constance and Colton. They were talking, clueless to the impending drama I feared was about to occur.
A manipulative sneer adorned Amy’s face as she walked up to Gavin, whose back was to her. She completely ignored that me and Ashley were standing on either side of him. Tapping him on the shoulder twice, she moved her body up against his back.
Shifting my weight on my heels, the blood swiftly pumped through my jugular. I focused at the lack of space between Amy and Gavin’s bodies. I glared at Ashley and tried my damndest to maintain my composure. Tilting the glass of wine back, I finished it within three large gulps. Then I slammed my glass back down on the countertop, the sudden sound of it causing Gavin to look over at me.
Amy encompassed his body with her arms. “Gavin, you left me alone with all those other men,” she whined.
I watched as she rubbed her hand across his chest. I swallowed hard trying to keep myself from screaming. My inability to say anything was unbearable.
Gavin straightened up and slyly slid out from under her. His hip grazed mine as he tried to escape her. “Oh? I didn’t realize I was responsible for keeping up with you. I’m sure you can manage on your own,” he said.
I chewed on the inside of my check as the rage flew all over me. I didn’t understand why Gavin hadn’t just told her to get the hell away from him.
Amy threw her head back and laughed loudly. She raised her drink to her glossy lips, polishing off the remaining cocktail. “Gav, you know damn well I’m not interested in anything those other men have to say.” Her bright blue irises rolled in my direction and a smirk slunk across her face. “Take me home,” she said, reaching up to stroke the side of his face.
Gavin pulled away, placing his hands firmly on her biceps and pushing her away. His tone was harsh when he told her, “Amy, you’ve had too much to drink. You’re not going home with me.”
A slight shade of red rushed across his face. His jaw clenched as he stared at her, his arms held out stiffly in an effort to keep her from falling all over him.
Amy straightened up. Her glare like daggers as she groaned, “I don’t know why you insist on playing hard to get.”
Gavin grabbed her by the wrist. His voice deepened and he narrowed his eyes angrily at her. “Amy, I highly suggest you get the hell away from me before you embarrass yourself.”
A look of surprise washed over Amy’s face. She cut her eyes over at me and then at Ashley. “Oh, I guess you just want to make yourself available for the evening?” She looked back at me and Ashley, rolling her eyes in her head.
Amy turned to face Gavin and let out a frustrated sigh, “Whatever, Gavin Hunter. Any man would fall all over themselves to have me,” she paused, looking at me with disdain before her gaze shot back up at Gavin. “But if you’d rather entertain yourself with one of these,” she laughed snobbishly, “prepubescent girls — help yourself.”
I could see Ashley’s jaw tighten and her fingers curl up into her palm to make a fist.
Gavin lightly pushed Amy away. “That’s enough, Amy,” he growled, lowering his head and gritting his teeth. “Remember where we are… wouldn’t want to cause a scene, aye?”
Amy’s stare bounced back and forth from me to Ashley. “So, which one is it, Gavin?” Pausing, her eyes lock
ed onto Ashley. “This one looks utterly pissed.” She laughed and her gaze cut over to me. “And this one — well — she just looks like she’s hurt, helplessly in love.”
Fixing her eyes on mine, she said, “Don’t let him fool you. No matter what he says to you, you’re nothing more than a hole for him to stick his huge dick in. Obviously….” Amy arched one eyebrow at him and flung her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. “Right, Gav? Just something to get your dick wet?”
Gavin’s face grew crimson red and his nostrils flared. He closed his eyes, placing his arm around my waist. His fingers dug into the thin material of my dress as he pulled me close. “Amy, I suggest you leave,” he said. The building rage was evident in his voice.
My pulsed skipped, partly because I knew that she was insinuating that she’d slept with Gavin, and partly because he had his arm placed possessively around my waist in front of people from the hospital. I searched the crowd in fear that someone from the office would see us.
Amy glared at him. “You really could do a lot better, Gavin.” She spun around and tromped away.
Gavin tightened his grip on my side. I watched as Amy walked across the room and wedged herself into a group of men to the far side of the bar.
“Ugh!” Ashley turned to the bar and ran her hands through her hair. “What a fucking bitch! I can’t stand her. What the hell is her deal?” She stopped and her eyes cut over to Gavin. “What the fuck is your deal?” she asked him.
“What was I supposed to do?” He rubbed his hand across his forehead and leaned his head back. “Not like I could very well tell her to go to hell. She’s no idea Brooke and I are together and this isn’t exactly the place to announce that my research coordinator’s also my girlfriend.” Pulling his arm away from me, he took several steps to the edge of the bar. “Goddamn it!” He glanced in my direction and quickly marched back over to me, grabbing the back of my head and leaning his head against mine. “I’m sorry, love. Please, don’t let her worry you.”
I pulled away when I saw Nicole glaring at us from across the room.
“Damn it.” He ran his hands along the length of his tuxedo jacket. “I don’t really give a damn at this point,” he said. “The rules I’m breaking to be with you… mean nothing to me anymore.”
“Gavin!” I was shocked at how angry he’d become.
“I don’t. This is ridiculous,” he let out a dejected sigh and leaned back against the bar.
The fact that he’d just referred to me as his girlfriend hit me suddenly. Although I wanted to jump up and down and confirm that he’d meant what he’d just said, I controlled my urge to behave like a “prepubescent girl” and, instead, smiled graciously at him.
I looked over at Ashley, who now had a stunned look on her face. I guess the encounter we’d just had with Amy was a little much for her.
“It’s okay,” I said to Gavin.
Directing my gaze across the floor, I saw Amy and Nicole standing in the center of the room talking. Their eyes would wander toward us every so often.
Ashley let out a displeased groan. “Well, now skankarella is onto everything.” She pointed at Nicole and reached for another glass of cheap wine. “You know, you guys are going to cause me premature aging,” Ashley said as she took a large gulp. She swallowed and released a small giggle. “Gav…” She giggled again, this time spitting a small amount of wine back into her glass.
Gavin cut his eyes over to her. “You start referring to me as ‘Gav’ and I must insist that you address me as Dr. Hunter, regardless of whether I’m with your friend or not.”
“Okay. Well, my boyfriend’s probably wondering where the hell I am.” Ashley walked back toward Constance and Colton. “Come on,” she demanded and looked back at me.
I took several steps and Gavin grabbed onto my wrist, stopping me dead in my tracks. “One more hour, love, one more hour.”
His smile melted me to the core. Glancing back at a very angry Dr. Moore, I said, “I don’t like her, Gavin.”
“That makes two of us. I’m sorry she was so rude to you. She’s only jealous,” he said before tipping his glass back.
Dan came meandering in our direction and I immediately turned to walk away.
Ashley marched back across the room to drag me away from Gavin. “Come on, honey, that man’s obviously not goin’ anywhere — except with you,” Ashley said, looking reassuringly at me over her shoulder as she pulled me away.
We made our way back to Constance and Colton and promptly filled them in on the encounter with Amy.
Constance sneered at Amy from across the room. “What a bitch.” She shifted her eyes back to me. “You’re pissed, aren’t you?”
I let out a small huff. “Uh — yeah. I’m livid! I’m pretty sure they’ve slept together,” I said. I could feel a look of disgust crawl across my face.
Colton shook his head as he listened to me. “God, is this really what girls do? So what if he slept with her? I mean, how old is he? You expect that the man hasn’t slept with a number of girls? Hell, the way all of you go on and on about how he looks, he could probably get in any girl’s panties, so I’m guessing he’s been with a pretty large number of women.” Colton stopped his tirade and buried his face in his hands. He ran his hands down his cheeks, pulling the skin beneath his eyes down to reveal the red inside his lids.
Ashley pinched him. “Stop being an ass.”
Constance shot a death glare in his direction.
“Sorry, Brooke.” He rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes shifted from the floor up toward me. “I just — ” He sighed heavily. “Why are girls so crazy? You’ve got to know he’s been with other people. It shouldn’t matter as long as he’s not with anyone while he’s with you, right?”
I peeked over at Gavin, who was now talking with several other young men. I could hear his laugh over the murmur of the crowd. His eyes shifted over in my direction and his smile widened when he caught me staring at him.
I turned back to Colton. “I know he’s been with other people, Colton. I’m not stupid. I just don’t want to see them, especially not trying to get him to take them home.” I skimmed the crowd again and saw Amy standing against the bar by herself, her leering gaze locked in Gavin’s direction. She looked so pissed.
I spoke aloud, although I was saying it more so to myself, “Her comment, I just wonder what he said to her? How serious did she think they were?”
Colton shrugged.
“Well, like I said, he’s never had a girlfriend that I’ve known of, and I only heard Nicole mention a date once. I can almost guarantee you he didn’t refer to Amy as ‘love.’ ” Ashley batted her eyelashes at me and grinned. “Yeah, love, I caught that.”
The music cut off. A man dressed in a tuxedo clutching a microphone walked out into the middle of the room. He pulled the microphone up to his mouth to speak. “Good evening. I hope you all are enjoying yourselves. The silent auction will begin in ten minutes in the room adjacent to this one. We have a lot of unique items that were graciously donated to benefit the research foundation. Please, if you haven’t taken a look at the items up for auction, do so now. Thank you all again for coming out in support of our research.” The man lowered the microphone and walked off.
Constance looked over at me and Ashley. “I’m gonna go look at the things I can’t afford to buy and pretend like I could if I wanted. Want to come?”
“Sure,” Ashley responded and grabbed Colton by the hand.
Colton rolled his eyes as Ashley drug him toward the other room. “Don’t ever make me come to one of these things again, please,” I heard him plead as he followed her.
Walking in the other direction, I called out, “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be over there in a minute.”
Using the weight of my body, I pushed the heavy door to the women’s restroom open. I walked in front of the mirrors to check my makeup, pulling my lipstick from my clutch. I carefully glided the red gloss over my lips, m
aking sure to accentuate the dramatic cupid’s bow in the middle of my upper lip. I’d noticed Gavin’s fascination with my mouth and tried to make it look as enticing as possible.
From the corner of my eye I saw the door swing open. I rubbed my lips together and used my forefinger to remove the stray mark of gloss from the edge of my mouth.
“Want to look pretty for Gavin?” a woman’s voice snidely asked.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Amy was leaned against the corner of the wall next to the sinks. Her arms were crossed delicately in front of her breasts.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins. I put the top back on my lipstick and stuck it into my clutch, twisting around to face her. She was winding the ends of her thick, blonde hair around her forefinger.
“He’s a good fuck, huh?” Her eyes pierced into me as she took a step toward me. Her tone became condescending as she said, “Makes you feel like nothing else in the world exists — the way his voice sounds when he growls at you to fuck him. Pretty amazing, wouldn’t you agree?”
I said nothing to her. I just stared at her as I tried to formulate some smart ass comeback, but failed miserably to do so.
Amy dropped the strand of hair she had twisted around her finger. Her glare became intense and crazed by anger at my silence.
My arms stiffened at my sides and I attempted to push past her to the exit. “I’m not discussing this with you,” I said.
Amy blocked my path. “I’m just trying to help you out, hun. He’s no good. He’ll make you fall for him so quickly, make you feel like there’s something so special between the two of you, and then drop off the face of the earth.” She snapped her fingers. “Like that – done!” She paused and slowly looked me up and down. “He’s gonna get bored with you pretty fast. You’re too timid for that man. You probably blush when he tells you he wants to fuck you.” She imitated his accent and lowered her voice, “When he tells you that you feel so good wrapped around his cock.” Amy paused and a pleased grin pulled her lips up as she asked, “Don’t you?”
Bound to the Fallen (Prophecy #2) Page 26
