The Matchmaker's Replacement - Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,53
sexual duties in order to stay in the doghouse. Sometimes, Gabs, a word is just a word.”
With a rough exhale, she crawled off me. “Only you could make something so asinine sound somewhat sweet. Okay, point me to the Fortress of Solitude, and I’ll try not to sweat estrogen everywhere.”
“Upstairs. And Gabs, I really mean it when I say . . . If you ever leave a tampon in my room, I will cut you.”
“Aw . . .” Gabs placed her hands against her heart. “That’s just so”—she wiped a fake tear—“thoughtful.”
“I’m a thoughtful guy.”
“Room?”
“Up.”
“No . . .” Her word dripped with sarcasm.
“Gabs, my patience? Kinda thin right now, and even though you did just get attacked, I’ve tasted you—three times. I want to taste you again. Actually, I want to slam you against the nearest sturdy object and make you scream. So either get your cute ass upstairs or take me up on my offer and start stripping.”
She ran.
Smart girl.
I, however, apologized to the lower half of my body . . . because it was going to be a long, cold, blue night.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Gabi
I almost went back downstairs to ask which room was Lex’s, but then I remembered that Ian had a label maker and on one drunken night had labeled everything he could, including their rooms.
Sure enough, once I was at the top of the stairs I was able to locate Lex’s room in no time. It also had a giant L on it while Ian’s had a Superman symbol, proving yet again that boys never truly grew out of those Spider-Man sheets.
I pushed open his door and gasped.
What the hell kind of tech psycho was he?
Computer equipment filled the entire right half of the room. Three screens formed a little cave around one giant keyboard. Stickers covered most of the desk. His leather chair was more throne than anything, and I had to wonder, would this be where Lex sat when he finally overthrew the government?
A bathroom was attached to his room. I quickly went in and tossed some water on my face and stared at my reflection.
My normally honeyed skin appeared pale and lifeless, while my lips were swollen and pink. The memory of his kiss was enough to have me gripping the sink like a lifeline.
What the heck was I doing?
I was in his sanctum!
And I knew how nerdy that sounded, but I was in his most private secret place, and he had invited me there, and what did that mean?
I needed Ian.
I needed my best friend.
Hah, I’m sure that conversation would go just great: “Um, Ian, I’m totally in Lex’s bedroom, he kissed me twice! Eeek! I know, right? So should I crawl into his bed naked? Short-sheet the bed and say ‘gotcha’? You know, start off with a prank?” Ian would laugh, and then I’d hear a gunshot, and no more Lex.
“Get a grip.” I pointed a finger at myself. “Stop being a girl.”
“Damn it,” Lex said from somewhere in the room. “Has the transformation already taken place? Am I too late?”
I slammed the bathroom door to his laughter.
While at the same time appreciating the fact that he was treating me like he always did.
Which meant . . .
My shoulders slumped. Nothing. It meant nothing. It meant he was extending an olive branch.
It meant he felt sorry for me.
And he was sharing his bed.
With his friend.
My replacement Ian. That’s what Lex was turning into, and I hated him for it. I’d rather he treat me like crap again.
Than give me hope that sharing his room actually meant something.
“Ga-a-absssss.” Lex strung out my name. “Hurry up. I’m exhausted, and I want to do a body-cavity check before you get in bed. I don’t wanna get shanked.”
I rolled my eyes and jerked open the door just in time for Lex to toss a large black T-shirt in my direction. “Cover yourself.”
Normally I’d argue, but I was disgusting and I wanted to burn my uniform. The longer I stared at the short black dress with the club’s insignia on it, the sicker I felt, until I thought I was going to puke.
With jerky movements I pulled the dress over my head and threw it on the floor, then, in a fit of anger, stomped on it. Unsatisfied, I started jumping up and down on top of it, until warm arms scooped me up into the air and carried me to the bed.