Ruin (Ruin 1)

He laughed.

“So where’s my shake?”

“Here.” He turned around and did a booty shake then dropped it like it was hot in the kitchen.

I fell into fits of laughter before he turned back around and held up his finger while he fished out his phone, put on some music, and grabbed my hands.

Rocketship by Shane Harper came on. We danced in circles and then bumped hips.

Gabe released me and danced, really well, over to the cups above the sink and pulled one down, then continued dancing while he mixed banana with the protein shake.

He dipped his finger in it and licked then did the same for me, holding out his finger for me to lick.

I shook my head no.

He leaned in and whispered, “Just one taste.”

“Said the senior to the freshman.”

“Once won’t kill you.”

“You’re the guy drug officers warn teens about, aren’t you? The one that says just one time won’t get you addicted?”

Gabe smirked. “Why, Kiersten, are you afraid you’re going to get addicted to me?”

“Fine.” I licked the sugary substance off his finger.

“You like him a lot.”

“What?” I stepped back and moved around him to grab my glass, but Gabe’s arms came around my waist twisting me around.

“I know girls.” He shook his head and winced. “Believe me, I know them well, and nothing about me is causing you to falter. Absolutely nothing. I bet even if I kissed you, you’d be thinking about him. Shit, Kiersten, it’s been four days! You’re going to get your little heart broken if you fall for him, and then I’m going to have to pick up the pieces, and you’ll probably sleep with me to feel better, wake up hating yourself and jump into a downward spiral of using men to fill the void he left in your life.”

“Whoa.”

“My point,” he said, grabbing my wrists, “is that this can all be avoided. Just don’t give him your everything — not until you know the return will be the same.”

I shook away from his hold and took a long sip of my shake. “Why are you saying all this? You hardly know me.”

Gabe snorted. “My point exactly. I don’t know you. He doesn’t know you. The only person that’s going to fight for you right now, is you. Don’t let yourself lose sight of your biggest ally. Don’t allow yourself to be blinded by pretty smiles and hot bodies — not even mine.”

My eyebrows arched at his confidence.

“Don’t get me wrong.” Gabe held up his hands. “You’re sexy as hell, but I would never shit where I like to stay.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a compliment.” Gabe snickered. “You don’t sleep with cousins’ best friends, or roommates, or girls who don’t know themselves yet. It’s not fair. And in the end, it’s just inviting heartbreak.”

“You seem like you speak from experience.” I tilted my head to get a better look at his piercing eyes.

Gabe swore and looked away. “I do. And that’s all you need to know. She ruined me, Kiersten. And damn, if I wouldn’t give my entire world to be ruined over and over again, if it meant I could be a part of her universe.”

I pushed him toward the main room and sat on the couch. “What happened?”

“Apparently I’m the guy you date to piss your parents off. I’m the guy you date before a better offer, one involving multi-million dollar business deals, comes bustling through.”

I reached for his hand. “Gabe, I’m sorry.”