“Gavin, I don’t know what I would’ve done had you not come to my rescue. I know I have a terrible way of showing it,” I argue sweetly, patting his hand that’s on the table. I hope he understands that I’m trying to apologize for my immaturity earlier. “You’ve been my Knight in Shining Armor. And, on top of all that, you’ve agreed to be my tour guide tomorrow.”
Luca’s caterpillar eyebrows quirk up in interest. “Dove?”
Gavin gives a half shrug. “Yeah, figured since we have two more days between games, I’d take Kady down to Rome. Or up to Switzerland. Don’t know yet. Show her around. Make sure she’ssafe.”
He takes a swallow of his beer, his eyes shifting to the side like he’s guilty of something. Of what, I’m not sure. When he realizes that his mug is empty, Gavin stands briskly and asks us if we want anything from the bar. I seriously consider ordering another wine, but decide against it. My buzz is strong enough.
“Just a Coke for me, please.”
Luca gives him the sign for another with a hoist of his glass in the air.
“Be right back,” Gavin says, and quickly amends his statement as he speaks pointedly to Luca. “Keep your hands off.”
I laugh when Luca’s eyes widen with feigned innocence as Gavin strides off toward the bar.
My gaze doesn’t leave him as I watch him weave through cloisters of people all chattering and dancing. A few people recognize him and stop to give him a pat on the back or their telephone number. Because of my brother’s celebrity when he was in college, I’m used to fans forgetting about personal boundaries when they meet a celeb.
Luca taps his chin with his finger. “Are you certain he’s not into you,amica?”
I draw my eyes back to him, his smooth, olive skin shining underneath the lights of the club. “Your guess is as good as mine,” I muse, lifting my hands in befuddlement. “I have no idea what’s going on with him right now. He’s so hot and cold.”
Luca and I continue our conversation while we wait for Gavin to return.
All the while, I wonder about Gavin. He’s so different than any other guy I’ve been with. I’ve never been such a failure at reading a guy’s intentions. I’m worried I’ve pushed him away for good. I decide to taper things back, just as I’ve done with my alcohol intake, to see if it offers him room to make a move. Which I hope he does.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, as they say. Then again, maybe another tactic is needed altogether. Maybe Gavin needs a little nudge by witnessing how in demand I am. Get him interested by getting others interested in me. I’ve seen his possessive stares. Saw it a bit ago when he stared wildly at me from afar, his eyes dark with intensity.
If I can capitalize on those possessive urges, maybe he’ll drag me out of here by the end of the night like a caveman and have his way with me.
I can only hope.
