Page 97 of Ravaged By Lust

My girl looks up at me, hesitant. “I’ve got a little song I’ve written for Bishop. It’s brand new, even Bishop hasn’t heard it yet.”

Well. This is news to me.

45

CHLOE

I have been so damn reluctant about this party. The last thing I want is to ambush my poor mother, but when everything is in full swing and the party is underway, my worries start to dissolve.

It’s a good party. Mom isn’t going to feel ambushed.

I hope.

Maddie has invited a few people here. Around twenty or so friends she’s made in Los Angeles since dating Axel. There’s even a short bubbly girl from her old work called Marie, who first introduced Maddie to Ravaged before she even met Axel. All Marie wants to do is swoon over the Ravaged boys; following them around like a lovesick puppy. Hey, I don’t blame her.

When Mom finally arrives, she heads over to Bishop and me with a warm smile.

“You two are looking very cute,” she says, her eyes flickering over the rockstar and me.

I blush. “Stop it, Mom.”

“Always knew you two were good together.”

“Thank you, Miss Stoll.” Gee, Bishop knows how to sweet-talk my mother. She likes him, I can tell.

“Okay, knock it off,” I say to Mom. “Have a drink. Go and enjoy yourself.”

She heads off to speak with Caspian, and I grimace at Bishop.

“It’s good, right?” I ask him. “We’re not bad people to ambush her?”

“It’s a good party,” Bishop replies, practically reading my mind. “Everyone is having a good time. She’ll be fine.”

“We’ll see when Winston gets here. If he does.”

“Well, hello, Chloe.”

I recognize that loud voice anywhere.

I spin around. “Gary! You made it.”

And there he is, my former roommate. He bounces over with his jolly face.

“I wouldn’t miss seeing you for the world,” he says in his booming voice.

His boisterous energy can’t help but make me grin from ear to ear. “Have a drink,” I say. “Make yourself at home.”

“Oh, I am certainly planning to.”

My former roommate glances at Bishop. They both stare each other down.

Oh, right. I forgot the weird animosity they have with each other. How Bishop is so possessive of me that he was actually suspicious of a gay man as my roommate.

“Gary.” Bishop nods.

“Mr. Hayes,” Gary replies in an equally serious tone.

“I don’t think I thanked you for looking after Chloe when she moved here,” my boyfriend says, offering out his hand. “So, thank you.”