The night is done. I need to say my goodbyes and go home.
Although I wasn’t due home for a bit, I saw no more reason to stay. Making my way to one of the tables dotting the room, I said my goodbyes to Jessa, Bryan, and the few other people seated about.
Jessa protested, trying to convince me to stay longer. I smiled at the sweet blond and said, “You know I’m only here to have the experience. I’ve had it and now I’m ready to go home.”
“Are you going to call your mom to pick you up?” Bryan asked.
I’d come to prom with the group, sharing the limo along with ten other people. I wished I hadn’t done that so I could simply drive home. “Yeah, I’ll give her a call.”
Jessa tried one more time. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with us, Emma? We’re planning on going over to Avery’s afterwards. You should come with us.”
“I’m too tired,” I lied convincingly. “Thanks anyways. I’ll see you guys Monday.”
With a last wave, I left my friends behind and walked out. I wasn’t going to call my mom. She and a few of her co-workers were having a “Second Prom” party at a club one town over. My mom already had to miss her first prom because of being pregnant with me. I wasn’t going to be responsible for interrupting her second.
What I was going to do was walk down to CVS and then call a cab. Then I’d take a bubble bath, curl up with a book and some hot chocolate, and maybe watch some TV before bed.
I’d only made it partway down the steps when I heard Gabriel call my name.
THREE
“Emma! Where are you going?”
I didn’t want to acknowledge the thrill that shot through me at the sound of his deep voice. Instead, I turned back around and kept walking. I’d just made it off the last step when the sharp scrape of running footsteps overtook me.
The urge to flee pulsed through my veins. It was primal and almost impossible to resist. I looked over my shoulder. The skin was drawn tight over Gabriel’s cheekbones, giving him the look of determined predator.
My stomach clenched. Longing for this beautiful creature rocked me. With quickened breath, I forced my legs to move faster, to move away from the young man who would make me feel the impossible.
He makes me want to forget about everything that matters to me and just be with him.
I had to run. Gabriel Gordon was too dangerous.
Gabriel’s hand closed around my arm and he pulled us both to the empty side of the building. I noticed his chest heaved in time with mine. His eyes were brighter than usual, layered with a sheen that didn’t seem natural.
I leaned in and took a whiff of his breath. I smelled alcohol.
“Are you fucking drunk?”
“Maybe.” Now that we were standing still, he swayed in time to a beat only he could hear.
Gabriel had been sober the last time I saw him. “How’d you get a hold of alcohol?”
His lips curled into a kissable pout. “I’m sorry, m’dear. I didn’t think you’d want any. I really would’ve shared if I suspected my pure untouchable Emma wanted a bit of the drink.” Gabriel opened his jacket and halfway removed the silver flask from the interior pocket. “It’s all gone, my dear.”
I wanted to smack him for drinking. At prom. “What would you have done if you’d gotten caught? You know they can suspend you and keep you from walking at graduation!”
“You sound as if you care. Do you?”
My mouth snapped shut. I did care but it wasn’t my place. Gabriel and I didn’t even really qualify as friends, much less anything more. Discomfited by the reminder of how my walls were eroding, I lashed out.
“What am I talking about? You don’t have to abide by the rules. Even if you did get caught, I’m sure Daddy would bail you out and smooth over any feathers, right?”
Rage flashed in Gabriel’s expressive gaze. “You don’t know half of what you think you do, Emma.”
Mount Gabriel was getting closer to erupting. My mouth lifted into a half-smirk. “I know enough.”
Gabriel shook his head. “You can be such a…”
“What? Bitch?”
His gaze burned me. “A sadist.”
I didn’t expect that. “W-What? No, I’m not.”
This time it was Gabriel’s mouth that curled into a half-smirk. “Trust me. I know.” Before I could question him further, Gabriel closed the gap between us by one step. “Why wouldn’t you dance with me, Emma?”
I crossed my arms, feeling more vulnerable than I liked. “Because I didn’t want to.”
“Why?”
“I already answered your question.”