Page 168 of Gabriel
“Is he—” Wyatt’s eyes dart between us.
“A friend,” I assure him, answering his unspoken question. “A very protective, sometimes hot-headedfriend.” I emphasize the last word, and Gabriel growls behind me.
Lovely.
“Okay, I guess I’ll ...” Wyatt gestures toward his truck.
“Yeah. I’ll see you around.”
“No, she will not,” Gabriel snaps, pulling me away.
“What are you doing?” I hiss.
Looking over my shoulder, I spot Adriana smiling as she goes to her own car.
“You’re not going to help a girl out?” I call out to her.
She shakes her head as I stumble forward, Gabriel’s hand on my hip steadying me.
“You’re in good hands,” she chuckles.
“Are you good?” Gabriel gives me all of a second to catch my bearings before tugging me over to the bleachers.
“Fine, thanks for asking,” I mutter. “Where are you taking me?”
We don’t climb the bleachers like I expect. Instead, Gabriel tugs me behind them, shielding us both from the bright sun.
Dropping my hand, he moves aside, his steps harsh and angry.
“Are you upset with me?” I ask, unsure of where his anger is coming from. I search his face for any hint of what can possibly be bothering him, but I find nothing.
He remains silent, staring ahead.
“Gabriel?”
His jaw ticks.
I approach him cautiously, as if dealing with a wild animal. “What is it?”
He grabs my wrist and spins me around, pressing my front against the cold steel of the bleachers.
“I told you I don’t share,” he snarls, his lips brushing against my ear.
I twist in his arms, but he refuses to allow me to face him. “You’re being ridiculous,” I tell him. “Wyatt just wanted to talk. You know, clear the air.”
His hands grip my waist, pressing me forward. With my hands braced on the metal frame, I crane my neck to look over my shoulder.
“What are you doing?” My heart races in my chest. Is he?—
His eyes don’t look at my face, instead they’re trained somewhere on the small of my back, his gaze unfocused.
“I’m not sharing you,” he repeats.
“I’m not asking you to,” I stammer, trying to get through to him. If he would just let me turn around.
Coming to some sort of decision, Gabriel grits his teeth. His index fingers hook onto both sides of my leggings and he starts to pull down.
“Don’t you dare,” I warn him.
