CHAPTER NINETEEN
Gavin
“What’s going on, Gav?” Rhys asked, ever the inquisitive fucker, thinking he could fix everything.
I watched Karen go in front and she went back inside, then once the door was shut, I turned to him and grinned, “Nothing.” I patted his shoulder as I passed him, “Nothing you need to worry about anyway.”
I reached the door just as Rhys spoke up, “Everything you do worries me, mate.” My hand paused on the door as I turned to look him in the eye.
“Well don’t. Because luckily for you, you’re not my dad.”
“Yeah, well it’s lucky for you that I do give a shit, because that fucker doesn’t.” He came around me, pushed the door but paused with his hand on it and held it steady, “and he hasn’t for a fucking long time.”
My brows dropped in a scowl as he disappeared through the door, it slammed shut and my hand fell to my side. I huffed and shook my head.Fucker!Everything about that statement was true and it fucking hurt. My father didn’t give a fucking shit about me, neither of them did. The bastards couldn’t wait for me to come here just to get out of their hair, and then they could fucking forget I ever existed. It was hard being the fuck up at times, and the only child. All those fucking expectations, I got sick of them all. It was why I turned out the way I did. I totally blame them.But course I would. It’s what I do, even I knew that about myself.
Fuck, I needed a drink.
I slammed my palm against the door and shoved it open. As I fought my way back through the crowd, the music had changed to nineties pop. I grabbed my beer up from the table and drained the contents. I stared into the empty glass as I slammed it down on the table, lost in thought for a moment. My breath shuddered in my chest as Karen appeared in my eyeline. “Is everything okay?”She asked as she moved closer.
I nodded. I wasn’t, not in any shape or form. Nikki had wound me up earlier, and Rhys’s words had cut me more than I wanted to admit. “You up for a shot, little miss innocent?” I lifted my chin in a challenge.
“Bring it.” Her wide grin had me smiling at her enthusiasm, I was playing a dangerous game with Nikki a stone’s throw away, but did I care? Did I fuck.I lifted my arm and called over a waitress then ordered more beer and shots. This could get interesting.
The waitress came back with my beer and a tray full of shots. She winked and placed it down on the table. Karen got hers and clinked it with mine before she necked it. Girl after my own heart. I followed suit, then placed it back on the table.
Over the next couple of hours, the group had got smaller. Rhys had taken Roman and Paisley home since she was yawning her head off. Roman made me promise no casino. My eyes rolled at his order, but I promised anyway. Holly, Karen’s friend, brought a couple of the guys over that she knew, apparently, she felt sorry for me because I was the only male in the group now Roman and Rhys weren't here. Rhys made it back, though, and was playing catch up while Holly got talking to Nikki, which left me to eye Karen up. Fucking hell, man, she looked hot in her black dress, it was like a second skin as it clung to her soft curves. I wanted to peel it from her body to see what was beneath it. Her blonde hair sat straight as it hung just past her shoulders, her makeup was light and her red glossy lips had me wanting to kiss them, again, but harder this time. I wanted her at my mercy and begging for more. My tongue darted out and moved across my lips as my eyes travelled down her hot little body, I would never have taken her for a heels kinda girl, but it seems she’s a walking contradiction. She smiled wide at something Holly said. My hand went to my dick as I tried to hide the mammoth erection I was sporting in my jeans.
With a tray full of shots, we all took one. Another shot of Patrón slid down my throat, but I barely tasted it anymore, my mouth and throat began to feel numb. I had a good buzz going on. Nikki was pissed though, she clung to Rhys like glue, holding onto him like he was her lifeline. I was good with that, but I could see it in his face that he felt something for her. And the last person I wanted her to hurt was him. He may have been busting my balls lately but still. This wasn’t new either, he’d always looked at her like that.
As my eyes strayed away from them, I found Karen. I matched her soft smile, and in just a few steps she was standing in front of me. We both turned to Nikki as she laughed loudly. “She’s pretty drunk.” Karen noted.
“Yeah,” I agreed as I casted my gaze on Karen. I turned my back to them and gave Karen my attention instead. “Nikki does that a lot, yet I’m the screw up.” Was I feeling bitter? Yep. I glanced back to see Rhys trying his hardest to keep her upright, her arms flew around his neck and his wound around her middle. “Don’t worry about them.” But as I said it, I knew she did. She was only just getting to know everyone, and I found Karen to be a people pleaser. I needed to help her see that pleasing people wasn’t always the way to go.
“Maybe I should go and help her?” I softly rubbed my palm up and down her arm and brought her attention back to me.
“Leave her to Rhys.” My hand brushed down her arm and I grasped her hand. “It’s what he does.” My fingers wrapped around hers discreetly as I kept her hand between us, “Do you want to get out of here?”
She nodded, but her gaze held mine. I knew she wanted this as much as I did, and I was ready to lose myself in her, all fucking night.
“How do we get out of here unseen?” She asked as she chewed her lip nervously. “It’s not that I don’t want people to know, but with the Nikki situation, I’d rather hide it for now.”
And just like my prayers were answered, Rhys sidled up to us. Karen dropped my fingers and stayed quiet. But Rhys never missed anything, he saw her hand in mine. He looked between us. “I’m taking Nikki back to hers. She’s had way too much.”
“Cool.”
“What’re you doing, how you going to get back?”
“Well, the last time I looked I was an adult, and I didn’t have a curfew.”
“Gav, don’t be a dick.” Rhys piped up. “But I am glad you said adult, and not a grown up…okay” he sighed heavily, “Karen, see you soon.” She pushed onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.
“I’m staying for another few drinks and who knows after that. I’ll make sure Karen gets home safe.”
“I’m sure you will.” he patted the back of my shoulder. “Later.”
I watched him walk away with his arm around Nikki, keeping her tucked into his side and helping her walk. Right now, I believed there was a God.
Taking Karen’s face in my hands, I leaned down and covered her pretty lips and kissed her. “Jesus. I’ve waited hours to do that.” She smirked and quickly looked around her. I saw Holly’s lips twitch from the beyond the bar. I gave her a quick nod. “Let’s get out of here.”
