"Charla has an assignment due tomorrow, so we're going to call it a night."
"Can I ask you something?" Victoria whispered, leaning in. When Angie nodded surprised, she continued. "When we were talking last week, you said something about Christian Devereux being colorless. What did you mean by that?"
"That's what I meant. Colorless." Victoria's blank stare made Angie clarify. "As in no color at all. As in dead," she said. Angie leaned closer to Victoria, her stringent face anxious. "He's not good for you, Tori."
Victoria was so stunned by the fact that Angie had called her Tori that she barely took in the fact that Angie was warning her off.
"Wait, I don't understand what you mean by dead."
"He's not human."
As if she'd said too much, Angie gave her a searching look and left without another word. Victoria could feel Christian's eyes boring into her.
Not human. Not human. Not human.
The words drummed in time with her chaotic pulse, making her palms clammy.
Tori, look at me. The silent command was inviting, compelling. Victoria's heart raced even as her brain registered that his words had been spoken inside her head.
Why should I? So I can serve as your punching bag some more?
She felt his sadness. I am sorry. It's ... complicated.
How complicated can it be, Christian? You've made it pretty clear how you feel about me every time you are near me. It's exhausting. I just want you to stay away from me.
I ... cannot.
I am not doing this with you. I won't. I can feel every part of you pushing me way. If I'm that horrible, then just leave me alone.
Tori, look at me. She clenched her teeth as he opened himself to her, the raw feelings he conveyed undermining her will far more than any words could. She steeled herself. She'd seen all of his excuses, all the reasons why he couldn't allow himself to feel anything for her. She didn't understand why, but it'd been as clear as day—he was not meant for her.
Please, Tori, he said.
No.
You must. She felt the surge of his compelling magnetism. She brushed it aside like a troublesome fly, turning to look him directly in the eye.
I don't know who or what you are, but try that again, and I will hurt you. Get out of my head, Christian! She held his gaze before her final push. You are not meant for me.
Although she knew he was prepared, especially after the last time she'd knocked him over, it gave her great satisfaction to see his eyes widen as she forcefully shoved him out, erecting an impenetrable fortress around her mind. She moved further down the bar to put as much distance between them as possible and gravitated recklessly toward a familiar face.
"Hi Gabe!" she said over-brightly, throwing caution to the wind. Her tone was warm and flirtatious.
Gabriel leaned forward, his tanned forearms pressing on the bar, giving her a charming smile of his own. "So if I said it was my birthday, what would be my drink of choice?" His tone matched hers, and Victoria was too agitated to listen to the voice of reason in her head. She gave him a coy smile, leaning forward.
"Is it your birthday, Gabriel?"
"No, but I was hoping for a freebie."
The bar erupted in cheers, and took up the chant of "Freebie!" with uproarious glee. Victoria put her hands on her hips, playing along shamelessly, putting into play all of the feminine wiles she had been born with, but had never been a fan of using.
Until then.
"It looks like ... you want ..." People leaned forward in anticipation. She peeked through her lashes toward the end of the bar, registering the expression of contempt on Christian's face as he glared at Gabriel.
Gabriel raised his eyebrows in cool challenge, and Victoria didn't hesitate, an instinctive response born out of wanting to make Christian react just a little bit, to make him pay for the hurt she'd suffered at his hands.
"I'm just not quite sure whether you want it ..." She paused for dramatic effect. "Shaken or stirred." Then she leaned forward and planted a light kiss on Gabriel's lips.
She didn't hear the snarl, she felt it, but before she could react, the crowd erupted, clapping Gabriel on the back and laughing noisily. Gabriel looked at her and winked, ordered a Coke, and then headed back over to his friends who were laughing and cheering like idiots.