The Matchmaker's Replacement - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,47
with your boyfriend on your own time!”
“He’s not—”
“Now!” he yelled.
“Sorry.” I fumbled for my shoes while Lex stared at me. I could have sworn his eyes were burning holes through my body.
“Thanks for the, um . . .” I couldn’t look at him. “For that.”
“Gabi.” Lex said my name, my real name. “I’ll be here.”
That was it.
No snide remark.
No rude comment.
My shoulders relaxed, and with a nod in his direction, I grabbed my tray and walked off.
Chapter Nineteen
Lex
I went to work with Gabs for the next three consecutive days. And when I say I went to work with her . . .
I literally followed her like the pathetic loser I was, and even brought some of my work along. I probably looked like a freak, all set up with a laptop at a strip club.
The boss man came by twice to make sure I wasn’t taking pictures. Like I’d record any of the dancing that went down on his stage? It was too depressing to even acknowledge.
Gabi’s attitude changed drastically, almost as if when she saw me she was able to hand over whatever weight she was carrying and just . . . work, without being afraid.
I was planning on meeting Ian for a business dinner, so I couldn’t stay for her entire shift.
And I hated admitting that I was a bit . . . reluctant to go. Ever since the foot-rubbing scenario, I hadn’t been able to get her face out of my mind. Closing my eyes just made the erotic daydream all the more real.
She hadn’t shied away. If anything, she needed little encouragement. Damn it, we couldn’t keep playing the same game; it was destroying my sanity.
I waved Gabs over.
She bounced in my direction. “More beer?”
“Nah.” I started packing up, knowing that it was probably for the best that I was giving us some space. “I’ve gotta meet up with Ian.”
“Oh.” Her face fell, but she quickly recovered. “Can you talk to him about me taking on more clients?” She made a face. “I sort of hate it here.”
“It’s already on our agenda.” I grabbed one of my books and gave her a swift nod. “Try not to fall onto any poles in my absence.”
A few girls started dancing on stage.
Gabs’s shoulders slumped.
“Hey.” I nudged her arm. “You know you can quit, right? It’s not like Ian and I are going to fire you or anything. I mean, how much do you really make here?”
She gulped. “Seven hundred dollars a week.”
“What?” I roared. “But your bank account—”
Her eyes narrowed. “I knew it! Stop hacking into my personal life, you ass!”
Offended, I blasted back, “Who else is going to look after you?”
“NORMAL people!” She threw her hands into the air, nearly hitting me in the face. “Ones who don’t hack my bank account to check up on me!”
I took a protective step toward her. “I was worried!”
“Worried, my ass. You were just curious!” she spat. “Ugh, just go, I don’t want to fight. I knew these three days of peace wouldn’t last.”
Okay, that pissed me off. “And it’s my fault?” I smirked, anger dripping off every word. “Right? Like everything else between us? All my fault.” Damn it, Ian!
“Yes!” She shoved my chest, and I tried reaching for her hands, but she was too quick pulling away. “Just stop . . .” Tears pooled in her eyes, giving them a bright sheen. “Stop being nice, stop hanging out here. I can’t take it! It’s like being told you’re safe, only to have the net ripped out from underneath you. The net is always going to rip when it comes to you!”
“Is that really how you see us?”
“There is no us.”
Four words. One sentence. Amazing how something so small could hold such power. I felt each and every one of those words slam through me, stealing the breath right out of me and inflaming my anger all the more.
“I’m so glad we’ve had this conversation,” I said with a bitter edge to my voice. “You know, the last thing you need to worry about is someone like me falling for someone like you.” I shrugged. “See? No harm done, safety net gone.”
“Lex—”
“Whatever.” Why the hell did it hurt to breathe? “I’m going to be late.”
I stomped off to Gabs calling my name.
The logical side of my brain told me that she had a point, that I was just as hot as I was cold, but there was a reason! It’s not like I wanted