Page 55 of Blood Ties
“Gaby? Are you sure.” I heard the other voice answer. It was Shawn. They both were whispering back and forth. It was a little muddled so I was sure they were standing outside our front door.
“Positive. She started hyperventilating, but before I could even ask she started crying.”
“I didn’t even think vampires got panic attacks,” Shawn seemed genuinely concerned. “I’ve been trying to call her since the other night. She left me a voicemail, but she hasn’t answered.”
“So you have no idea what happened?”
“Why do you think something happened?”
“I know Gaby, Shawn. She was frightened.” It was quiet for a moment before Shawn spoke. “Let me talk to her. Go grab a coffee and leave me withourgirl.”
I heard the front door open, which only confirmed that I had been right about where they were, followed by the slow creak of the bedroom door.
“Come on in, Shawn.”
“Hey, baby girl. Did I wake you?” He asked as he crawled into bed with me, lying on top of the covers.
“Not really. I heard you and Grayson talking,” I mumbled sitting up.
“You’ve got him scared, Gabs,” he disclosed with an uneasy look to his eyes. I nodded aware why Grayson was concerned and Shawn too. Panic attacks weren’t something that had ever happened to me. “Wanna tell me what’s up? Or why you haven’t returned my phone calls?”
“My phone broke,” I simply stated looking down at my hands in my lap.
“And?” He coaxed me.
“And there’s nothing to tell,” I still made no eye contact.
“Gaby?”
I couldn’t help but glare at him. I just wanted him to let it go. “No, Shawn. I’m fine, okay. I. Am. Fine.”
“Who are you trying to convince here, Gaby? It’s me. Remember? Your best friend? Even sitting here next to you I can see that something’s not right.” I was back to looking at my fingers. “We don’t have to tell Grayson. If it’s something that you think might…hurt him…”
I shifted my eyes to Shawn. I couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. “What are you getting at Shawn? You think I cheated on him?”
“Gaby, there’s no judgment here, but with your draw to Sebastian…” I was seriously regretting confiding that in Shawn.
“I told you that it’s just his power, the supernatural in me noticed. I never would have told you that if I knew you’d throw it back in my face.” I kept the fact that I had drunk his blood to myself. I didn’t want to see the judgment or give Shawn more ammo.
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
I threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. “Look Shawn, I still have to head over to The Angelo Tower today to go over a few things for Damien’s upcoming parties. I’m a little behind.” It wasn’t a lie. After all I had slept yesterday away. “You know where the door is.” I told him before I closed myself in the bathroom.
I was sitting on the floor with my knees propped up with my head in my hands when Grayson walked in minutes later.
“Hey,” he whispered nervously.
I looked up at him and couldn’t help smiling. “Hey.”
“So you have work today that you need to get done.” I nodded my reply. “At The Angelo Tower?” I nodded again. “Would you like some company?” He looked down, almost as if he was concerned about what my response would be.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips, but I waited for his eyes to fall on me before I answered. Once they did, I responded, “I would love that.”
A few hours later, Grayson and I sat in a room with Damien, well, Grayson sat while Damien and I looked over papers scattered across the long rectangular table. The room we were in was one that still belonged to the office part of the building. It was a conference room that nestled just below the floor of vampires that were busy resting peacefully above us. When we walked into the room, I felt my cheeks flamed red with recognition remembering my last visit to one. I heard Grayson release a small chuckle when he noticed my reaction. For a brief moment, everything felt the way it was before he left for Los Angeles.
“You see, it just depends on how many rooms you want closed off for the event,” I was explaining to Damien when the door to the room opened. Sebastian poked his head in. I felt nervous by just the sight of him. He was the only one who knew what happened. I didn’t think he’d share the information, but what if there was accidental slip. Hehadsuggested that I tell Grayson.
“Damien? Do you mind if I speak to your daughter for a moment?”
