Cameron didn’t wait for her to reply. His grip on the bottle tightened. "You don’t understand what it feels like to chase after someone who just enjoys the chase and never wants to be caught."
The truth hurt, more than she wanted to admit. Was that what she had done? Maybe she had wanted his attention, she thought. Maybe she’d even let herself imagine an inkling of a future with him. But that had shattered the moment Gavin pinned her to the hotel bed, his eyes crackling with possessive anger. That moment had done more than stolen her breath, it had infected her until she found herself secretly wanting to burn under that heat, burn under it for the rest of her life.
She could barely find the words under the weight of her guilt. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I-"
"Don't," he snapped. "You used me. I looked like the goddamn fool between you andhim," the word came out as a hiss as if he couldn't bear the thought of him much less refer to him. "The whole fucking town is laughing at me the cuck, as Gavin took you right in fucking front of me."
Took her? Some of the cloud of guilt thinned as her anger flared from that phrase. Ebony willed herself not to focus on that one line and tried to understand his hurt.
Cameron's eyes flicked to her and then focused on something behind her. She knew by the flash of fury in his eyes who he saw.
"Whatever," he grumbled and walked away.
Thewarmth of material draping over her shoulder made her jump and she turned to look at Gavin who was giving her a worried look.
She didn’t need to ask if he had heard what Cameron had said. The sorrowful look in his eyes told her he did. It only made her want to cry.
Sensing her oncoming break, Gavin put his hands on her shoulder and steered her away from the spot. "Come on, let's walk the beach."
"But-"
"Shh Ebbs, don’t think about him. He's hurt, drunk, and his pride is wounded. He's mad he went after the impossible. He ignored every warning and every sign that it would never work, but did it anyway. Let's just let him cool off."
Tears ran down her face. "I feel like I messed up your friendship with him. That I led him on and-"
He turned around and pulled her close. They were far from the light of the fire now. The ocean was not far from them, its dark waves lapping in the dark. The noise of the party was obscured by the cool wind, and only the moonlight lit their way.
"You didn’t do anything. And our friendship isn't over. I understand Cameron; he's a prideful son of a bitch who's just going through it at the moment. In time I know he’ll look back on this and hate it."
Nodding, Ebony wiped her tears and prayed he was right.
Chapter twenty-nine
"Oh nooo," she whined.
Standing practically naked in an open robe Ebony bit her lip in panic. The wax strip with its clear sticky wax was stuck like glue to her bikini area and with each tug it felt as if her skin was going to rip off.
Bouncing on her toes, Ebony threw her head back and stared at the ceiling in regret. Why why why why did she try to do this herself?! She tried to just make herself tug it hard and fast but each time she chickened out at the last second and her pull was halfhearted which only made the pain so much worse.
Her chest heaved and her heart began to race. She tried using oil to just slide the whole strip off, but that did nothing but make a mess. She tried hot water and that did nothing either. Oh God what if she had to go to the hospital or something? Just the thought of having to show a nurse the wax strips stuck to her vagina made her want to die in shame.
She was making a small keening sound of panic when the hard knock came at her bathroom door.
"Ebbs? Are you okay?" Gavin's voice didn’t have a shred of the playfulness he usually reserved for her. It was sharp and serious no doubt reflecting the look on his face.
Her throat felt dry as she tied her robe shut. "I'm…fine," she called out, closing her eyes at the desperate sound in her own voice.
Herheartbeat stuttered mid beat when he said, "You're lying. Open. The. Door."
Knowing he would just kick in her door, Ebony went to it and opened it just a crack. She nearly jumped at the closeness of his face as if he had his face pressed against the door the entire time. Bright arctic blue eyes stared down at her, scanning her person trying to see what was wrong.
"I…I made mistake," she began pathetically.
Losing his battle with patience, Gavin gently yet forcefully pushed his way in. He quickly surveyed the bathroom before turning back to her.
"What mistake?"
Mortified beyond all human belief but also aware that she had no choice but to tell him, Ebony stared down at her feet. "I…tried waxing myself," she admitted in a small voice.
