He arches a brow, clearly amused.
“Oh, sweetheart… the gloss for those pretty lips comes from the front of my pants, behind azipper,” he says with a smirk.
Aaaand… my cheeks burn like an inferno.
I take my cup of fun punch just as Gabriel lifts his own.
“To new beginnings,” he toasts, eyes soft. “Thank you for giving me another chance, sweetheart. I promise?—”
The sudden blare of music cuts him off—loud, and completely obnoxious, blasting from my phone like a dying trumpet.
“Oh my god! I am so sorry.” I fumble, handing Gabriel my drink as I pry the phone from the tight grip of my pocket. My fingers scramble across the screen as I silence the ringer.
“I forgot to turn the volume off,” I mutter, mortified.
Gabriel chuckles, completely unfazed. “You can answer it,” he says, that easy smile still on his lips. “The no-phone policy doesn’t apply to the chaperones.”
My heart plummets when I see my sister’s name flash across the screen.
“It’s not important,” I murmur, switching the phone to vibrate and shoving it back into my pocket like it’s radioactive.
Gabriel draws me in for a hug—but then, of course, the damn phone starts vibrating against his thigh.
“Yessss,”he hisses, delighted, eyebrows wiggling as the vibration intensifies. “I happen to like things that vibrate,” he teases, clearly trying to cut through my panic.
“It’s my sister,” I admit quietly, all the playfulness draining out of my voice.
And just like that, I feel the walls start to rise again. I’m not used to letting people in—especiallywhen it comes to my family.
“Your sister? Does she live in New York?” Gabriel asks, his expression open and genuinely curious. “Go ahead and answer. I’d love to meet her.”
Yeah… that’s definitelynotgoing to happen.
Erica’s a lovely person—on her good days. Depends on what version you get.
She’s different in a way most people could never understand. I love her fiercely, but she’s complicated.
“She lives in France,” I say carefully, offering a version of the truth that won’t open too many doors.
But instead of backing off, Gabriel’s smile widens.
“I happen to love France!”
The DJ cranks the music up, bass vibrating through the floor, so he leans in, his lips brushing close to my ear. “Let me take you to France, chulo?”
“Someday,” I lie gently, eager to steer the conversation away from my life. I shift closer, my lips brushing the edge of his jaw. “If you really want to take me somewhere… why don’t you take me to bed?”
That does the trick.
Gabriel lights up like I just handed him a Christmas present wrapped in lace.
“Girls!”he suddenly calls out, startling even me. Ana and Emilee pause mid-step and glance our way.
“You’ve been on your best behavior tonight…”—he flashes a proud smile—“as have I. But it’s time we make our way home before I turn into a?—”
“Pumpkin!” Emilee chimes in without missing a beat.
A devilish grin crawls across his lips. “Nope… I was actually going to say before I turn into abad boy.”
