Reading Online Novel

First Night(3)



“No, you can’t have this dance.”

Gabriel didn’t have to come closer to hear me. My terse expression confirmed my answer. Undaunted he asked, “How about the next one?”

I shook my head.

Frustration tugged at the corner of his kissable mouth. Gabriel ran an unsteady hand through his hair. “Why not?”

“Because I said no.”

He took one step towards me. “Why, Emma?”

I didn’t have to answer him. In fact, it was better if I didn’t. So why were the words rolling off my tongue?

“Because it’s not worth the trouble.”

Pain flashed across his expressive face. I instantly felt guilty before I buried my feelings. Gabriel didn’t really like me, not like he said he did. Why would he?

Everyone knew what he was after. All he wanted was to add another notch on his belt. Apparently, he’d run through all the available debutantes and at least one barely-bachelor-degree-holding teacher. Gabriel was obviously going slumming like a few of his friends had done off and on throughout the years.

I wasn’t going to be just another conquest, mocked and ridiculed for believing pretty words like “You’re different from anyone I’ve ever known,” or “I don’t care about the money. I just care about you.”

Screw that.

Even so, I wanted to believe this strange, one-sided courtship really was different. That he was different. Why did Gabriel have such a strong hold on me? Would I ever be able to break it?

Gabriel looked past me and apparently locked stares with Amy. He narrowed his eyes and sneered. The utter coldness of his expression made me shiver. I never wanted Gabriel to look at me like that, as if I were a bug crawling across his polished shoe.

I feared it. I constantly pushed him away so I’d never see it.

“What are you looking at, Amy? Mind your business!”

Although the music still throbbed loudly, I didn’t doubt the recipient received her message. Especially when she rudely bumped against me as she pulled her date towards another part of the dance floor.

He took a step towards Amy and then shook his head, as if to dismiss her. Gabriel settled his focus back on me. His fierce expression instantly softened as he took in mine. Gabriel reached out and touched my flushed cheek with the back of his fingers.

He came close and spoke urgently in my ear. “People like Amy don’t matter, Emma.”

The familiar scent of his spicy cologne pleased my senses, drawing forth how used I’d become to Gabriel being by my side nearly everyday for the last month. How much I’d come to depend on his presence.

On his scent.

My fingers twitched as I wanted to pull him closer to me just so I could bury my nose by his neck. I hated his effect on me.

“Easy for you to say.”

“You’re right, but it’s still true. You’re…” Gabriel’s voice trailed off.

Standing still in the middle of the crowded floor, feeling the stares crawl over us like insects, I felt a burst of bitterness. “What? I’m what, Gabriel? Different? Special? Don’t make me laugh.”

He pulled far away enough for me to see his frown. I lifted my chin and dared him to try to convince me otherwise.

“Stop doing that.”

“Stop doing what?”

“Stop trying to push me away. You don’t want that.”

I blanched. Vulnerability made me a witch. “You don’t know anything about me, Gabriel, so don’t pretend that you do.” I turned away, ignoring his yell and the assessing gazes following my rapid departure.

I rushed into the near-empty bathroom and threw myself into a stall. My heartbeat was up and my breath was coming out too quickly. I felt like kicking the door with my heel, so great was my anger and frustration.

I didn’t like showing much emotion, learning very early on in school that it would always be used against me. But having Gabriel verbalize my secret truth that I did want him with me, that I didn’t want to push him away…it was too much.

I had flipped out on him and I wished I could take it back.

The sounds of girlish chatter, water, and swishing fabric faded the longer I stood there. Gabriel Gordon tempted me to forget where he came from and who I was. I knew his reputation and knew that tangling my life with his was courting disaster.

So why did I want to go back to the main hall and apologize? Why did I wish I was there with Gabriel instead of hiding in the bathroom?

Crazy. That’s what I am. I always want what I shouldn’t have. It’s my greatest flaw until it’s not.

Taking a deep breath, I exited the stall and approached the line of sinks. Perfunctorily, I washed my hands and checked my face. My cheeks were much too red and my eyes were far too bright.