My mind had been swirling in worry about my father, but it was hard to think about that when Gabi wore a little black dress that hugged her curves so well. I wasn’t blind. Besides beautiful, she was hot. My fingers itched to touch her, to feel her. Not just pretending, but for real.
I bet she was delicious.
No, I couldn’t think about that.
Priscila led us through a wide foyer to a big, open living room and dining room where some other people our age were hanging around. They all had drinks in their hands, and there was plenty of finger food on the low tables in the center and corners of the room.
I was introduced to Adriana, Lucia, Natalia, Rodrigo, and Diego. From what they told me, most of them had gone to high school together and tried to stay in touch now, even though they all went to separate colleges.
“Can I get you anything to drink?” Priscila asked.
“A beer is fine,” I said.
“Okay.” Then, she looked at Gabi. “The usual?”
“Sim, por favor.”
Priscila disappearing into a hallway I guessed led to the kitchen.
I turned to Gabi. “Everyone in Brazil speaks English?”
“No, but more and more do.” She looked down at her feet and then said, “Especially wealthier people. Almost every rich kid takes English lessons at private English schools these days.”
Of course. Rich people. She was one of them. Sometimes it was so easy to forget that she had had a gilded crib and more money in her bank account that I could even imagine.
“Here you go.” Priscila handed me my beer and a glass with what I thought was Coke and whiskey to Gabi. “You get a free pass with the first drink, but if you guys want more, please, feel at home and go get it yourself.” She winked at Gabi. “Especially you.”
I didn’t know what I was expecting, but the party flowed in a normal way. Music played from speakers somewhere, drinks and finger food were spread on the low table in the middle of the living room, and people gathered in small groups chatting.
At some point, Gabi turned to Priscila and the two of them whispered. Suddenly, Gabi said something to Priscila that made the girl gasp. Shushing her, Gabi pulled Pri away from the group, and the two of them continue talking in hushed tones.
What the hell was that about?
Just then, Rodrigo and Diego asked me about what I did in the United States, and a conversation started. I told them the usual stuff—I went to vet school, but didn’t finish yet, and I was working at a vet clinic. When they asked how I met Gabi, I told them what we had been telling others, that we had met through Garrett, which wasn’t really a lie.
When the topic shifted to something else, some gossip about someone I didn’t know, I excused myself and went looking for a restroom. I found one in a hallway leading to several doors. After I was done, I took my time coming back to the living room.
I started looking at the paintings on the hallway walls—beautiful landscapes, most of them of green pastures. Some depicted horses. The hallway abruptly opened to a large room, a mix of an office and library. I didn’t intend to enter it but something caught my attention. A giant horse painting behind the desk. It was impressive and lifelike. Then, I noticed the entire place was horse-themed. There were little horseshoe and horses statuettes all over the office—on the desk, the side table, the shelves. Even four bookends atop the shelves were of horses.
The bookshelf was divided into five large sections that ran along the entire wall and the middle shelf was sans books. It had portraits though, and to my surprise, there were several picturing Gabi with Priscila. In one, they were probably twelve years old, smiling, in front of a big pool. In another, they were inside a stall, embracing the same horse. In a third one, they were dressed in graduation gowns and caps, probably their high school graduation. And in a fourth one, they were atop beautiful horses, wearing helmets and high boots and mallets, ready to play polo.
“There you are.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Gabi under the big archway.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to snoop, but the place sort of called me.”
Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor as she approached me. She halted before me and smiled at the pictures. “She was always there for me when it came to polo.”
“I thought your family supported that idea.”
“They do, but they don’t.” She shrugged. “I guess they never thought I would leave the country and they knew there was no future in it here. I had thought about dedicating my life to it, being some kind of pioneer, but then, who would I get to play? I would probably fight for it all my life and die old without having played. But the few times I tried to get a team together, Priscila was always there. If it had worked, I know she would have been on my team no matter what.”
That was cool. I hadn’t had a friend like that in … I didn’t even know how long. Since pre-vet school? It had been years.
Gabi seemed to have it all, though. Good friends, great family—on both sides. She was beautiful, and she was rich. And still, she didn’t seem happy. How did that happen?
Before I could formulate something to say, she crouched down and picked up a portrait on a lower part of the shelf. “Look at this.” She chuckled. “Damn, I was so awkward.”
In the picture, two little girls around seven or eight held a pony’s reins. If she hadn’t told me it was her, with her hair a little darker and somehow curlier, I wouldn’t have known. The other girl I was guessing was Priscila.
Despite the long, thin limbs, she didn’t look awkward. She looked pretty for a little girl. Pretty and happy with a big smile and some crooked teeth.
I opened my mouth—to say what, I wasn’t sure—when Priscila showed up at the door. “Hey, lovebirds, we are almost ready to go.”
“Oh, good,” Gabi said, turning to her friend. She quickly slid her hand in mine, as if that was the most natural thing in the world, then tugged on my arm. “Let’s go.”
“Sure,” I said, letting her pull me out of the office.
Priscila smiled at me as we walked past her. “Get ready for the best night ever.”
Her statement instilled me with both curiosity and apprehension.
35
Gabi
The drive to the club took about twenty minutes. We all left our cars at a parking garage across the street and went together to the club.
On the way, Priscila kept stealing glances at Tyler and me—because I had told her the truth. I tried keeping it from her, but I couldn’t. She was my best friend, and I had never kept anything from her before. I couldn’t start now. She had gasped, startling everyone, so I pulled her to a corner and told her. At first, she was shocked, but then she thought it was an adventure and told me I was about to fall in love. I laughed in her face. If only …
The club was a simple dark blue building with a big neon sign. Nothing more. There was a short line in front of the main doors, but the line was moving, as if everyone was getting in.
“You know how at American clubs the bouncer is told to let in a certain number of people and sometimes they are picky about appearances?” I asked and Tyler nodded. “Bom, here that’s not a thing. While the club still has space inside and they are over eighteen, the bouncer will allow them to enter, regardless.”
“Interesting,” was all he said.
Priscila presented our VIP tickets to the bouncer and we slipped inside.
The place wasn’t anything out of the extraordinary. Other than having three different rooms playing three different types of music—pop, rock, and electro—the place was like most clubs anywhere. Large dance floor, a few tables and chairs and sofas, bar along an entire wall, and upstairs VIP rooms.
We took the stairs and went to our designated VIP room over the pop music area. A black suede sofa marked the perimeter of the room with low tables in the corners and an empty space in the middle so people could dance. Right away, a waiter showed up and took our orders.
“Can you order a beer for me, please?” Tyl
er asked, probably guessing the waiter didn’t speak English. He sat down on one of the couches with a table right beside it.
“Sure.” I also ordered a Jack with Coke for me and loaded fries, then sat beside him.
Priscila plopped down beside me, caught my elbow, leaned into me, and whispered in my ear, “Mateus is here.”
“O quê?”
“I just saw him at the bar. He waved at Adriana and I think he’s coming this way.”
My eyes bulged. “Não.”
“Sim. Sorry. Do you want me to stop him? Tell him something …”
Droga, this wasn’t good. “What can you possibly say to make him turn around and go away?”
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to help.”
“I know, sorry.” I sighed. “There’s nothing we can do, I think. Just … let him come.”
She nodded. “Okay, but if you need anything, let me know.”
I showed her a small smile. “Obrigada.”
“Anything for my best friend.” She winked me and returned to her drink.
I turned to Tyler, and holding my breath, slid my arm around his and leaned into him. He stiffened for a brief second, before taking my hand in his and looking at me.
“Everything all right?” he asked in a low voice.
I smiled at him. “Yup.”
He cocked an eyebrow at me, as if noticing my lie, but he didn’t call me on it. Instead, he kissed my forehead—tingles spread through my face—and then he raised both our hands and planted a soft kiss on top of mine. The shiver that ran up my arm was—
“Gabi, oi.”
His voice twisted my gut, but I forced myself to keep smiling as I turned to him. “Oi, Mateus. Tudo bem?”
I couldn’t lie—Mateus was handsome. I wouldn’t have dated him if I didn’t think that, but for some reason seeing him now didn’t bring the tingles I had always felt when I was younger. No. Right now, he felt like a regular guy I had no interest in.
“I’m … doing okay, I guess.” His eyes shifted to the man by my side. “Hi, I’m Mateus.” He extended his hand to Tyler.
Tyler took Mateus hand and shook it firmly. “Hey. Tyler.”
Mateus’s smile lost one watt of its brightness as his gaze settled on the ring on my finger. When he looked back at me, his eyes were wide. “So, it really is true.”
“What is true?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
“You’re engaged to this guy.” His voice gained a darker tone.
Tyler’s body went rigid.
I squeezed his hand. “You knew that.”
“I thought it was a sick joke.” He leaned over the table and hissed, “You don’t think I see what’s happening here? I know you want to move there. I know you would do almost anything to live there.” He turned to Tyler. “How much is she paying you, pal?”
Tyler rose but I held his arm. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m her boyfriend!”
I gasped. “Ex-boyfriend, Mateus. We ended everything over eighteen months ago."
He stared at me. “I came back. I looked for you. You know I don’t want it to be over.”
I rolled my eyes. “And I made it clear I’m not getting back together with you.” I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers at him, showing off the ring. “Besides, I have someone now and I’m happy.”
“Mentira,” Mateus hissed. “I know you’re only marrying him for the green card.” He turned to Tyler again. “And you’re getting what? Money? Someone in your bed every night?”
This time when Tyler stood, I couldn’t hold him back. He slipped from my hold as if I was holding an ocean wave—strong and unrelenting.
As Tyler rose to his full height, towering over Mateus by at least four inches and a lot of muscle, Mateus gulped but held his ground.
Afraid he would lunge at Mateus and end up killing him, I stood and held Tyler’s arm back, as if I could hold him.
“Think or say whatever shit you want. Your opinion doesn’t matter to me or to Gabi,” I heard him say, his voice a low growl almost lost among the loud music, but with enough bite to carry through. “Now if you’ll excuse me …” He reached for me and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into him. “I have to take my fiancée to the dance floor.”
Tyler emphasized the word fiancée and Mateus sneered.
Then, he stared Mateus down for another five tense seconds before pulling me to the dance floor. He halted right at the edge, where we could be easily seen from the table, and turned to me. Looking into my eyes, he put his hand on my hips and tugged me closer.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a low voice, though there was no one near to hear us.
“Pretending,” he said, his tone still harsh and cold.
A pop song blasted through the dance floor with loud beats that, in any other situation, would have me dancing in no time. But right now, I was frozen in place. I swallowed hard as I took in Tyler’s big hands on my hips, the warmth radiating from them, his long, hard body a few inches from mine, and his handsome face, his big hazel eyes fixed on mine. I knew the place was packed and dancing people surrounded us, even bumped into us every few seconds, but it was like Tyler and I were in a bubble—just him and me.
He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, “Dance.” His hot breath on my neck was enough to make me shiver from head to toe. Slowly, he pulled back and started moving his hips. I swallowed hard again. Meu Deus …
His woodsy and manly scent filled my nostrils, more intoxicating than any alcohol I could drink. I felt incredibly tipsy.
His big hands squeezed my hips. “Right. Dance,” I said, snapping out of the daze.
I started swaying side to side with the beat, utterly aware of our brushing legs and the little space between our bodies. The place had been warm before, but it was nothing compared to what it was now. It was so hot in here, it was hard to breathe. At least, that was what I told myself, because the other option … it wasn’t an option.
After two songs, I finally relaxed and was able to convince myself I was just dancing with a friend. Sim, a friend, even if Tyler wasn’t really a friend.
Then, he had to shatter that image.
Without warning, Tyler stepped right to me, his chest glued to mine. One of his arms snaked around my waist, while his other hand cupped my nape. And then his mouth was on mine. I gasped in surprise, but there was only so much I could do. My lips parted and his tongue didn’t waste time. It teased mine, eliciting more gasps from my throat. His lips were soft and demanding and simply delicious. Maybe it was all the alcohol I had consumed, but I simply melted. I melted into the kiss; I melted into him. I wound my arms around his neck and held him tight, making sure my body was pressed against his everywhere.
His hand curled on my back, digging into my skin, and I gasped into the kiss.
Tyler pulled back and relaxed his arms. “Sorry,” he said, a different gleam in his eyes. He kept his arms by my side, but he barely touched me. “Everyone was looking. All your friends. And that …” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Mateus was watching too. I thought we should give them something.”
My hand rose of its own accord, but I stopped it before it could reach my swollen lips. Credo, that had been one hell of a kiss. And his body? So hard and long and—
“Gabi?”
“Hm, sim. Yeah.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts. So … he hadn’t done that in the spur of the moment. No, he had calculated it. Had he calculated how affected I would be? I filled my lungs with the stuffy club air and almost coughed. “Good thinking.”
He glanced over my head, toward the general direction of our table. “They are still watching.”
“Maybe we should give them something else to talk about,” I suggested, eager to leave this place.
“What do you mean?”
Leaning into him, I rose on my tiptoes, as much as my already high heels allowed, and put my mouth on his ear. “Let them think we’re leaving early for certain reasons.” I stayed with my mou
th hovering over his neck, so my friends would think I was whispering indecent things in his ear. Or that I was licking his neck. It didn’t matter.
Tyler inhaled a sharp breath and I could swear he fought against a shiver, but that was probably my super active imagination. Or the alcohol in my veins seeing things that weren’t there.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.”
“All right. Let’s go home.”
“And sleep.”
I pulled back and looked up at him. “Of course and sleep.”
What? Did he think I was really making a move on him? Not that it hadn’t crossed my mind, but I wasn’t like that. I wouldn’t expose myself like that.
Hand in hand, we went back to the table. As we approached, Mateus scoffed and walked away. Good riddance.
I halted beside Pri and she immediately leaned into me. “Are you sure you guys are just pretending?”
“I’m sure.”
“And how can you kiss him like that and just pretend?”
I shrugged. “Eyes on the prize. He’s just a means to an end. And that end is polo.”
“Can’t you have fun on the way?”
I gaped. “Pri!”
“I’m just saying. You two will be married for the next two years. Why the hell not enjoy it? Who knows? Maybe you guys will realize you are meant for each other anyway.”
I snorted. “One, find a random guy and then realize he’s the one. That’s a fairy tale. And two, you know me. I’m not that kind of girl.”
“I know, I know, but, come on. He’s hot. And you’re married.”
“It’s a fake marriage, remember?”
She sighed, eyeing Tyler. “If it were me, I would have a hard time remembering it.”
I chuckled. “Only you could make me laugh about this situation.”
She shot me one of her dazzling smiles. “That’s what best friends are for.”
I embraced her. “I’ll miss you so damn much.”
“I’ll miss you too. But I’ll come visit you. Now I’ll have an excuse to go to California all the time.”
Chuckling, I pulled back and looked at her. “Come visit me before I go back.”
Breaking Down (The Breaking Series Book 4) Page 19