Chapter 12
Fabian’s words left everyone baffled. But the moment they heard something big was going on, they snapped to attention and piled into the car.
They spent the whole drive grilling Fabian about where they were going, but he didn’t say a word. The only thing he did was sneak glances at Damon
every now and then
Their destination turned out to be a bar none of them had ever set foot in.
Just before they got out, Fabian shoved Damon to the front and said something odd. “Damon, I’ve been hearing things for a while now. I tried to shake it off, but I just couldn’t anymore. I had to let you know, Whatever you see in there, don’t put it on me. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Damon and his friends had been tight since they were kids, so hearing Fabian sound so serious made his smile slowly fade.
Standing right before the doors, Damon hesitated for a second before pushing them open. The bar’s interior spread out before them
Under the flashing lights and pounding DJ music, the whole place pulsed with energy. A spotlight beamed down, casting a glow on a couple locked in a deep, beated loss on the stage
Even from a distance, Damon spotted Giselle right away. Ellas had her wrapped up in his arms. Her cheeks were unusually flushed, and her hands traced slow, playful lines along his back.
She looked nothing like the bold, free–spirited heiress they all knew. For a moment, the seven or eight people standing by the door were completely stunned into silence.
That brief hush felt almost jarring against the rising cheers inside the bar.
“Damn, she just got out of the hospital and she’s already going all in. They’ve been at it for, what, half an hour? Do they even need to breathe?” “Relax, they’re a couple. What’s wrong with a little make–out session if the mood’s right? Are you jealous or something?”
“Hey, didn’t Gigi and Elias get together like six months ago? And they’re still not sick of each other? Do you think this one’s going to last longer than her thing with Damon?“”
wears ago, but the
“You’ll never figure out what’s going on in Gigi’s head. She’s probably just playing around. Look at Damon. She dumped him three years ago, second she wants his attention again, she yanks him around like a damn puppy.”
Damon’s friends bristled when they heard the way Giselle’s friends ran their mouths. There was no way they were letting that slide. They showed their way through the crowd and stormad in.
One of them cut the music, another flapped on all the lights, and the rest jumped onto the stage, closing in on the couple still tangled up in their heated kiss. The whole vibe of the bar crashed in an instant
Snapping back to reality, Giselle’s face darkened as she took in the group of intruders. She glanced around, not spotting Damon anywhere, and let out a small breath of relief.
Then, her expression turned ley as she fixed a glare on the ones who’d just crashed the party. “How’d you all even find this place? I didn’t invite you What the hell are you doing here?
Already on edge, Damon’s friends fired back, “It’s just a bar. You can be here, but we can’t? Since when do we need an invite?”
“Oh, let me guess you’re hiding out here on some little honeymoon with your new boyfriend because you don’t want us seeing it and running back to spread the word, is that it?
Not about to back down in front of Elias and her friends, Giselle snapped, “Spread what? I’m just dating someone. Am I supposed to be worried about Damon finding out? He’s a married man. Don’t tell me he gets a say in his ex’s love life!”
As soon as she said that, Damon’s friends erupted in cheers and whistles.
Answers
A shiver ran down Giselle’s spine when she saw them grin instead of getting mad. Something felt off, and she was just about to press them for answ when they got ahead of her.
“You’ve been acting like a heartbroken ex this whole time while pretending you still had feelings, but now the truth’s coming out, huh? Giselle, you’ve been dating another guy for six months, so why were you still flirting with Damon and trying to have it both ways?”
Elias picked up on the shift too, and his expression darkened. Giselle never saw this coming.
She could feel things spinning out of control, so she clenched her jaw and fired back, “Wasn’t he the one shamelessly begging me to talor him back? He drives me crazy–like I’d ever chase after him.
te’s like a stray dog that won’t leave me alone. I was done with him three years ago. That’s why I bailed on the wedding. It had nothing to do with going abroad! The only person I care about now is Elias!”
“So that’s how you really feel?”
Faced with their pointed question, Giselle refused to back down. She raised her chin like a proud peacock.
“Obviously. Even if Damon were standing right here, I’d say the same thing word for word.”
silence fell over the room at her bold statement. Damon’s friends all stopped aside in perfect sync, clearing a path.
Watching them move so smoothly made Giselle’s right eyelid twitch. She turned her head and spotted a familiar figure by the door. Her heart, which had
Chapter 17
been pounding just moments ago, went ice cold.
Everyone who had been caught up in the drama followed her gaze.
