That was odd. Nathan didn't want Gael to know we'd met at the hospital. I examined Nathan out of the corner of my eye. He gave me a pleading look. I didn't understand why he cared, but I went along with it.
I nodded at Gael. "Yeah, I helped him pick toys out for his cat."
Gael nodded with a knowing look on his face, satisfied with the answer. He no doubt thought Nathan had picked up a random shop girl with his natural charm.
"She's never been to a rager like this before, and she's sort of disappointed," Nathan said. "I promised her a crazy time, but the chandelier is still attached to the ceiling."
An almost wicked glee sparked in Gael's eyes. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together like an evil movie villain.
"Are you daring me to destroy Cameron's house?" he asked.
"I don't really—" I began.
"Because I'd be more than happy to," he continued.
"Gael has this sort of love-hate thing going on with Cameron Thorne," Nathan explained. I recognized the name as being a member of another rock band similar to Cherry Lips. Cameron Thorne was the bassist of Darkest Days, and apparently the owner of the house. "Gael takes any opportunity to piss the guy off."
"I don't want you getting into trouble," I said.
"Gorgeous, this wouldn't even count among his top ten," Nathan said.
Gael wasn't listening to us because he was busy moving a side table near the front entrance until it was directly underneath the chandelier. He climbed on top and reached over his head.
"What the hell!" a woman's voice called. "Are you trying to get kicked out of another party?"
Gael turned to face a pretty, fresh-faced young woman with her hair in a low, messy bun. She didn't have that rocker chick look I would have expected from someone who, I assumed, was Gael's girlfriend.
"I wasn't going to do anything," Gael said. "I was just going to grab onto this thing and maybe swing a few times and then pull it to the floor."
"Is this because Cameron forgot your name again?" Jessie asked.
A disgruntled look crossed her boyfriend's face.
"Stupid dickface pretending he doesn't know who I am…" Gael muttered. He raised his hands again. "Just a few swings back and forth. I won't even pull it from the ceiling. I'll just break a few pieces, that's all."
Jessie pressed her lips together and shook her head, as if ready to scold him.
"If you're so determined to make an ass of yourself, at least make sure you shatter a couple of those crystals," she said.
I stifled a laugh as they both grinned at each other.
"I thought you weren't supposed to encourage him," Nathan said.
"Cam's been a pain in my ass lately," was her explanation.
We all heard Gael whoop in delight as he finally grabbed hold of a brass pipe and began to swing. The ceiling creaked dangerously.
"I don't think I want to be here when that thing finally comes down," I told Nathan. "We might end up sharing the blame."
"Good thinking," he said. "Let's go find us some drinks."
We left the front hall to the sounds of Gael and Jessie laughing. We'd just turned a corner when I heard a loud crash and pained cursing. Nathan and I flinched, but didn't look back.
The further we moved into the house, the rowdier the crowd became. The chatting guests on the front lawn gave way to shouts, cheers, and hysterical laughter. We interrupted two couples blatantly sucking face, not even bothering to find a dark corner for privacy.
"Wasn't that one of your goals for the night?" Nathan said with a sly grin, pointing at one of the couples.
"I just got here," I said. "I've got to leave something for the rest of the evening."
