Lines Drawn (Drawn to You #2) - Ker Dukey Page 0,62
down my cheek. “I wouldn’t change a thing about you, and if I could let love inside again, I would want it to be just for you.”
She’s killing me. Could she be anymore fucking perfect? Her lips glisten and I want to kiss them every day for the rest of my life. Timing is everything though, and right now, she needs me as a friend. I’m okay with that if it means I get to be in her life.
“Can we just sleep? Hold each other for the night?”
“Sure.”
So we do.
HEAT FLOWS OVER MY back and around my stomach. My eyes flutter from a dreamless sleep. I haven’t slept so peacefully in months.
Gavin’s breath bursts over my cheek as his hand tightens around my waist.
This was nice, just comforting each other without the sex or pressure of having to dissect it.
The front door slamming causes Gavin to jump and sit up in a protective stance.
Gaby’s willowy frame waltzes into the bedroom, a box in her hands. She stops at the end of the bed and barks out a laugh. “That’s just perfect, after the crap you bitched about last night?”
“About that…” I begin.
She holds her hand up. “Don’t. I can’t believe you ranted about us and now you’re fucking his friend who happens to be the indiscretion you informed the room full of Mike’s family about. It’s ironic.”
“I was out of line last night.”
“Beyond over the line. You’re supposed to be on my team. My best friend. My sister.”
I push the covers away and get to my feet. She covers her eyes like she’s going to see something she doesn’t want to.
“I have clothes on, Gaby. We didn’t do what you’re implying.”
She looks through her fingers to see I’m wearing PJs.
“So, you’re saying that he’s in the bed because… what?”
“It’s none of your business and you need to ease the hell up.” Gavin goes on the defensive.
Gaby’s face contorts with rage. “How fucking dare you tell me to ease up? She nearly ruined things between Mike and me.”
“That’s a stretch.” I roll my eyes. She’s ever the drama queen. “I will apologize to Mike and to whoever else you want me to.”
“Mom. She deserves it.”
She tips the box she’s holding upside down over the bed and photos spill out.
“What’s that?”
“The pictures. I don’t know why you put them in there but…”
“Wait, what the hell are you talking about?”
Gavin’s looking through the images.
“The photos of you.”
“I didn’t do that.”
She folds her arms and chews the side of her mouth.
“Gaby, I didn’t do that. Why would I?”
Her hand flails around as she becomes more animated with every word. “Maybe for the same reason you sabotaged the speeches.”
My cell ringing distracts me. When I check the caller and see it’s my art professor, I say, “Gabs, I promise I will make it up to you but the photos must just be a mix up. I need to get this.”
“Well, where did they come from? Because they weren’t in mine or Mom’s.”
I hold a finger up to ask for a second so I can listen to the voicemail that’s just been left.
“Miss McNally, please can you report to my office as soon as possible? There has been an accident on campus that I need to discuss with you.”
“What is it?” Gavin asks, seeing the concern on my face.
“I need to go to campus. Gabs, I’m sorry. Can we pick this up later?”
“Whatever.” She huffs, storming out.
Throwing some clothes on and tugging my out of control hair into a band, I grab the stack of photos and stuff them into my purse.
“Do you want me to take you? I’m going to the club to do some inventory anyway.”
“No, I can drive. But thank you. For everything.”
He smiles and pulls me into a momentary embrace.
They’re ruined. Knife slashes right through the centre of my paintings.
“We’ve called the police. Nothing like this has ever happened before and it’s quite troubling. Do you know who could have done this?”
“No,” I murmur. Julie flashes in my mind, but it’s fleeting. She wouldn’t even know to come here, and why would she? I’m not with Finlay anymore and she’s pregnant with another man’s baby.
“It was a targeted attack. Just your paintings.”
My fingers shake as I pull out the pictures from my purse that Gaby dropped off this morning.
Scanning through the images, the room spins. They’re from my bedroom back home.
“Just pictures and underwear from your room were missing.”
“I need to go.” I hurry away, despite him calling out to me.
The hairs