Unbreakable (4 page)

My body begins to shake from being this close to him. His scent, the feel of his lips on my neck, and his tight chest pressed up against mine cause a low moan to escape me. My right hand finds his muscular shoulder and he presses himself into me further as my left hand rests on his hip.

“Gabe,” I whisper as my head falls back further giving him better access to my neck.

“Mmm hmm.” He mumbles against my neck as he runs his tongue softly up and down my neck, followed by light kisses.

“I…”

“Shh…” he says stopping me. “Don’t say anything, just feel it.”

Pulling his lips from my neck, he pushes himself off the wall and steps into the open bathroom door. Turning back, he shifts his eyes up and down my body much like he did last night. My stomach flips as he closes the bathroom door, and I slide down the wall and sit on the floor. Dropping my head forward, my hair falls into my face, and a light sweat breaks out all over my skin. My heart is beating wildly and my hands are shaking.

“What the hell are you doing on the floor?” Ava asks as she bounds up the stairs and stops at my feet.

“Just a little light-headed,” I lie, pushing myself off the floor.

“Are you sick?”

“No, just needed to rest for a minute,” I swipe at the small beads of sweat on my forehead.

“Good, because I need your help today.”

“Can’t wait,” I lie again.

Following Ava into our room I get dressed, throw my hair up into a messy bun.

“Up for a party tonight?” Ava asks quietly, looking around me and out into the hallway. Glancing at her, I raise my eyebrow in a non-spoken gesture to hear more. “Max and Adrian invited us to go to Xavier’s party,” she whispers. Xavier is our friend Adrien’s older brother who graduated from high school the same year as Gabe. Gabe has a real problem with Xavier, and he’s warned Ava and I numerous times to stay away from him.

“Sure. Sounds like fun.”

Stumbling down the stairs and into the kitchen with Ava, I pour some coffee into a travel mug and stir in some vanilla creamer. Mom is sitting at the table with Dad drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I catch Gabe in my peripheral vision sliding into the chair next to Mom, grabbing a piece of banana bread from the platter in the middle of the table.

“Morning girls,” he says, breaking off a piece of the banana bread and tossing it into his mouth. He shifts his eyes back and forth between Ava and me, but I notice he holds his gaze a bit longer on me.

Finally Ava responds. “Morning. How are you this morning?” she asks, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Gabe is smiling, picking at his bread, but keeps his gaze honed in on me.

“Fine. Glad that I get to spend the day relaxing while you little ones are setting up the gym,” he laughs before asking, “Any big plans for the weekend?”

“Us ‘little ones’ going to a party tonight—with older boys,” Ava says, engaging him for a fight. Mom sets down the paper and focuses on the conversation that is about to ignite in front of all of us.

“Pssh, where at and with who?” He asks, his tone more serious. His brown eyes dance back and forth between Ava and me, while he waits for an answer. I sip my coffee and raise my eyebrows to him, in a gesture of my loyalty to Ava. He’s looking for me to be the voice of reason here, but I’m not interjecting myself into this fight. I’m always responsible. I make good decisions. I’ve got a good head on my shoulders and I can go to a party and not get myself into trouble. That’s my logic.

“Xavier Garza’s. Adrian and Max are going with us,” she spouts off. I elbow her in the side, and she shoots her eyes to me and mouths
Ow
, while rubbing her ribs. Gabe face turns sour and I can see the muscles in his jaw clenching. I’m positive that sound is him grinding his teeth.

“Not a good idea girls. Xavier is a douche bag, you know this,” he says, shaking his head at us.

“Just mind your own business. We’re both adults and can make our own decisions. I don’t need my ‘big brother,’” she says making air quotes as she continues, “telling us what we can and can’t do. So don’t be an asshole.” I gasp quietly when I hear her curse. I mean we all curse but just not in front of Mom or Dad.

“What the hell has gotten into you two?” Dad’s voice booms. “The language around here is unacceptable.”

“Sorry Dad, but he’s a douche bag,” Gabe mumbles, shoving the last piece of banana bread into his mouth.

“It’s Adrian’s brother,” Ava’s voice lightens and is almost laced with sympathy. “And we’re going with Max and Adrian, so we have protection from all the old pervs,” she says laughing now, implying that the guys from Gabe’s graduating class are old. “Plus, you’re friends with Xavier, that’s why you don’t want us to go. You don’t want us hanging out with your friends, right?”

“The last thing I am is a friend with that piece of…”

“Gabriel,” Dad warns.

Gabe rolls his eyes at us as Ava grabs her bag and reaches her hand out as I drop my car keys into her palm. Glancing back at Gabe, I shoot him a small apologetic smile. He just stares at me, never breaking eye contact with me while shaking his head ‘no’ at me. I just shrug my shoulders and head to the front door.

“Whatever. We’re out of here,” I hear Ava announce behind me as I walk outside. Settling into the front passenger seat of my car, my phone buzzes. Picking it up, the alert tells me I have new text messages, both from Gabe.

The first text message was received last night at 10:30 p.m.

Thanks for taking me on your run this afternoon. Don’t be embarrassed about tonight, you’re gorgeous. I mean it.

My pulse quickens and a smile crosses my face. But when I see his second message, the smile wipes off my face.

You are not going to Xavier’s tonight. That guy is bad news. Not up for discussion.

Huh. I don’t liked being told what I can and cannot do, but there is something sweet in the protective nature of Gabe’s response, so I calmly type my response.

You can run with me anytime, I had a great time. We’re going to Xavier’s party. Max and Adrian will be there, we’ll be fine.

Before I even have a chance to put my phone down another message comes through.

Dammit Jess, you’re not going.

We’re going.

I will tie you to my fucking bed. You. Are. NOT. Going

Tie me to his bed? I actually laugh at the thought, and then blush.

“What the fuck is wrong with your brother?” I bark at Ava. She just glances over at me then turns her eyes back to the road.

“Is that him texting you?” she asks. “Just ignore him, we’re going,” she says, pulling into the student parking at the high school. I don’t bother texting him back, I just shove the phone in my bag, and grab my coffee as she parks.

Walking toward the front doors of the school, Ava squeezes my arm. “Thanks for coming to help me. I know this is the last thing you really want to be doing today.”

Yeah, she’s right I’d rather be doing Gabe
. Did I really just think that?

“Of course, I’d help you with anything, you know that.” I smile while taking a drink of my coffee.

“I’m excited you agreed to come to the party tonight. It’s going to be so much fun. Kind of a pre-graduation party,” she bounces and claps her hands together excitedly. All of the back and forth with Gabe regarding this party this morning has me a little unsettled.

“Hey, why does Gabe hate Xavier so much?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve heard some rumors about Xavier, but I don’t know what to believe. Plus, I’m kind of hot for his little brother if you haven’t noticed, so I’m not looking to dig up anything that I might not want to know,” she laughs.

“Yeah, Gabe’s going to have a fucking field day when he finds out your screwing Adrian.” I say raising my eyebrows and taking another sip of coffee.

“We’re not screwing.” She smacks my arms causing me to almost spill my coffee.

“Yet.” I mumble and laugh.

The gym looks like a war-zone. There are folding chairs strewn everywhere, a small stage with a podium, and papers everywhere. Ava gasps at the scene, and her obsessive-compulsive disorder and type-A personality kick-in.

“Who made this mess? Who did this?” she asks as two custodians continue to unload folding chairs from a rolling cart.

“Stop right there!” she shouts as she heads off in their direction. I laugh and continue to sip on my coffee that will hopefully motivate me to help Ava get this place in order. Max sidles up next to me and bumps me with his shoulder.

“Morning.” His voice is groggy.

“Hey Max. She talked you into helping her with this shit too?” I ask.

“Yeah, she’s hard to say ‘no’ to ya’ know?”

“Tell me about it. So tell me about the party tonight.”

“It’s at Xavier’s apartment. That’s all I know,” Max says quietly, rubbing his hands over his face.

“What time are you coming to get us?” I ask, keeping my eyes trained on Ava and the hell she’s giving those two poor custodians.

“Six o’clock sound okay?”

“Sounds good, we’ll be ready.”

The rest of the day flies by, even though the gym is nowhere near being complete. Ava agrees to stay and finish up the decorations with two teachers and the two custodians, who at this point, all but hate her.

“I’m outta here,” I announce to Ava. It’s after four o’clock, and I need to shower and get ready for the party. I decided I’m going with or without Ava. I’ve planned my outfit in my head—deciding to wear my black strapless shirt with faded-blue skinny jeans. Pair that with my turquoise jewelry and my cute black ballet flats since I’m so damn tall. The outfit is comfortable and cute. It’s all set.

Ava walks over to me as I grab the car keys from her purse.

“I’m sorry I’m ditching the party. I just want this to be perfect.” She sighs, looking around the gym at all the work we’ve done, and all the work she still has to do. Max left hours ago, leaving Ava and I to finish decorating with the school staff.

“Shit. Did you let Adrian know you’re not going? They’re coming by at six to get us.”

“No. You’re going to tell them I’m not going when they come to get
you
. They’ll try to convince me that this is fine, and I want perfect, not fine,” she says, swinging her arm through the air at the gym around us.

“I know, I get it.” It’s not her personality to settle for fine, she wants perfect and perfect is what she’ll get.

“Have fun tonight.” She says with a wink.

“I will. Don’t stay here too late. It’s going to be perfect, Ava.”

“I know, I know. See you at home later, ok?” She wraps her arms around me for a quick hug.

“How are you getting home?” I ask forgetting that I am taking the car that we arrived together in.

“Mom and Dad. Don’t worry about me. Go. Have fun.” She waves me off.

Spending time with my older brother Luke has always been one of my favorite things. Being so close in age he really has been my best friend. We’re shooting hoops at the park by his apartment and this is the first time I’ve seen him since I got home from college last week. Aiming for a three-point shot, I toss the ball.
Swoosh.

“Nice shot!” Luke says as he grabs the basketball, dribbling it back to the free throw line to take one last shot for himself.

“Thanks, pretty sure I just kicked your ass with that last game,” I laugh as we walk toward the park bench to grab our waters.

“It’s good to have you home,” Luke says taking a long pull from his water bottle.

“It’s good to be home,” I say pausing as I use my t-shirt to wipe the sweat off of my forehead. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” I take a quick sip of water. “I’m not going back to Arizona in the fall.”

“Oh yeah. Why not?” he asks rather abruptly, taking another drink of water.

“Honestly, football isn’t going to be my career. I’ve given this a lot of thought—meaningful thought.” I pause for a moment before I tell him, “I want to apply to the fire academy.”

“Seriously?”

“Dead serious. I’m not going back to Arizona.”

“Told Mom and Dad yet?” he asks with a chuckle and a raised eyebrow.

“Nah, soon. I wanted to talk to you and tell you first.”

“So you’re just going to walk away from the scholarship?”

“I am. I just know this is what I want to do,” I respond. I know he thinks I’m stupid to walk away from the scholarship with only one year left, but I have my mind made up.

“You know I’ll support whatever it is you want to do, and I’d love to work with you little brother.”

“Thanks man, I appreciate that. I’m going to head home and take a shower. Catch up with ya’ this weekend?”

“Sounds good,” he says, as we grab our keys and head toward our trucks. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that I have Luke’s support, now it’s telling Mom and Dad.