42 Hours (Time for Love 3)

At this, Craig threw back his head and laughed again, causing his brother and I to join him. It felt good to laugh. Great, even. And I knew that things were going to be just fine. I had my boys, and the girls that we’d been friends with since junior year, and although I still felt bad about the way things had ended with Victoria, I was excited about this new stage of my life. And the possibilities … They were endless.

Chapter 6 – Gaby

I was sitting down at one of the tables in front of the window of Bee Sweet with my chamomile tea and a honey croissant filled with Nutella and strawberries, when I saw Scott standing on the sidewalk. He was next to his shiny new car, talking to an older gentleman, whom I recognized as one of our coaches from high school. It had been a few weeks since I’d seen him and my stomach fluttered at the site of him in his slate-gray suit. He had the body of a runner, long and lean, and his dark hair was being swept about by the wind. Scott wasn’t classically handsome, but his strong features made you stop and take a second look. And when he smiled, it always hit me straight in the gut.

We’d been friends since Shelly and Cal hooked up, but everything had changed on prom night…

The dance had been magical. I felt like a princess in my long electric-blue gown. I loved the way it floated around my ankles, and the cut of the top made my small chest look ample. My long hair flowed in fat curls down my back, and Sasha had done a beautiful job on my makeup. I felt pretty and special, and my date, Tom, was a wonderful dancer. It had everything I’d hoped prom would be, except for one thing … I knew I couldn’t end the night by losing my virginity to Tom. As much as I liked him, and as great a time as we’d had this evening, I knew deep in my heart that I couldn’t go back to the hotel room with him that night like we’d planned.

He wasn’t “the one” and there was no way that I was going to settle for anything less than perfect for my first time. Tom had frequently snuck off with his buddies to throw back some alcohol, and had started getting pretty handsy on the dance floor. I knew he was expecting to get lucky tonight.

Now I just had to break the news to him, and I had a feeling he was going to be disappointed. I just hoped he’d understand.

“Tom.” I stopped in the lobby before he could pull me toward the elevator.

Tom stopped and turned to look at me, his long blond hair flopping in his eyes as he did. He pushed it back off his forehead in a gesture I’d always loved and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t do this,” I said softly, squeezing his hand in mine, willing him to get it.

He looked confused at first, then took a step closer, until he was standing inches away from me. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am … I’m sorry,” I pleaded with him as I looked into his face. I was staring at him so intently that I was able to pinpoint the moment he went from annoyed to angry. “I’m just not ready.”

“You’ve been stringing me along for months, Gaby,” Tom said his jaw pronounced as he ground his teeth together. I pulled my hand away from his, but he gripped my arm tightly before I could walk away. “The only reason I stuck it out was because you led me to believe that we were going to go all the way tonight.”

I felt his grip on my arm tighten as his other hand came up and rubbed my exposed cleavage. I swatted at his hand, but he didn’t stop his exploration. My body started to shake with anger and embarrassment, but when I realized he was moving me backward through the lobby, his hands holding me like a vise, my stomach twisted with fear. I swiveled my head to look for help, and was about to yell out when Tom was suddenly spun around and shoved swiftly into the wall behind us. I’d barely caught my breath before I saw Scott’s arms come up and his hands wind around Tom’s neck. I couldn’t hear what Scott was saying, but Tom’s face had turned white as snow, and his eyes bulged as Scott spoke.

I finally snapped back to reality and rushed over, putting my hand gently on the fabric of Scott’s black dress coat. “Scott, it’s okay, let him go.”

“He had his hands on you,” Scott responded through clenched teeth, keeping his focus solely on my date’s face.

“I’m okay,” I repeated softly, rubbing my hand across his back slowly in an attempt to calm him. “Let him go.”

Scott finally turned his face toward mine, his face searching every inch of mine. “You’re sure?”

I nodded, my heart pounding rapidly in my chest, and sighed a breath of relief when Scott released Tom, who slid down the wall. Scott turned, took my hand in his softly, and led me across the lobby to the other side of the room. He placed both of his hands on my shoulders, then slid them down my arms, as if he were trying to make sure I was in one piece. The intensity of his gaze held me still, and I became aware of my body shaking uncontrollably beneath his palms. Everything had happened so quickly, my brain was trying to catch up.

“Thank you,” I said softly. I noticed his face had a little scruff on it, as if he’d shaved in the morning, but hadn’t shaved again before coming to the dance tonight. I wondered absently if he had done it to anger his mother. I couldn’t imagine she’d be happy with him looking anything other than cleanly groomed. I thought he looked perfect.

“You don’t have to thank me, Gabs,” Scott said, his voice low and fierce. “I’m glad I was walking by when that fucker put his hands on you, I hate to think what could have happened if I wasn’t.”

He broke off and ran his hands through his hair. I heard someone clear their throat behind us, and turned to see Scott’s date standing a few feet away, looking annoyed and beautiful. Scott looked over at her, then back at me. “I’ll be right back, stay here.”

I nodded and watched as he walked over to his date. Her face turned to one of shock as he spoke, and when he turned to walk back toward me, she stood there, as if unable to move, as she watched his retreating back.

“C’mon,” Scott said as he held out his hand to me. “I have a room upstairs. We can go up there until you’re good and ready to head home.”

“But … you have a date,” I said, stating the obvious.

“I told her you needed me,” Scott said simply. “You’re more important, Gabs. I’m not going to leave you alone after what just happened.”

I put my hand in his and let him lead me to the elevators. My heart was clanging around in my chest again, but this time, fear had nothing to do with it.

As I waited for him to unlock the door, I noticed the perfect cut of his hair. The way the long hair on top tapered down to the shorter hair at the back of his head, ending in a perfect line right at his neck. It looked soft, and I wondered if it would feel so to the touch. When he held the door open, I walked in and looked around, not really seeing what was in the room. All I could do was feel. Nervous, excited, hopeful.

“I came in earlier and brought some drinks and stuff,” Scott said, gesturing to the desk next to the window. There were some chips, chocolate, whiskey, and a 2-liter of coke. “Do you want anything?”

“A drink,” I responded with a small smile. I pressed a hand to my riotous stomach and walked over to where Scott was pouring the dark liquid into plastic cups. When he handed me one, I said, “Thanks,” then took a sip, smiling at him over the rim as he did the same.