Page 33 of Covet (The Red #3)

Chapter Thirty-Three

Max

Listen to Clarity

by Zedd (featuring Foxes)

I couldn’t stop thinking about Gabby.

After her bombshell confession, I figured I’d immediately go to Coop and dump it all on him. I needed someone to talk to who’d be on my side, but the moment I opened my mouth, I realized I wasn’t ready.

If I told Coop, the secret would spread like wildfire through our group.

We’d ostracize Gabby, turn the girls against her, and deal with a sticky situation.

The idea of not seeing Gabby again didn’t feel right.

I also hesitated at exposing her secret.

Yeah, the whole thing was severely fucked, from her leaking the video to the way she told me, but I simply didn’t want to cut her loose.

I saw Gabby at Red the next day and ignored her.

She got the hint and didn’t push. She also didn’t beg or try to explain her actions, which should’ve pissed me off but instead sparked a begrudging flicker of respect.

Gabby didn’t do big apologies. I got the impression she’d left the next move up to me and refused to push.

She’d either fade away or allow me to simply forget our last interaction.

I had the power, but I ridiculously still felt as if she did.

Even worse?

The thought turned me on. She’d timed her admission to match coming in her mouth.

She’d risen to her knees and boldly told me Landon had never been my match.

She was the only woman who gave it to me straight and didn’t give a shit about my response.

There was no dramatics, clingy emotion, or guilt. No martyr routine.

She was unlike any other woman I’d known and I was beginning to get a bit obsessed.

On the third day, I couldn’t take it anymore. I kept dreaming about the blow job. I even picked up a girl after my shift at Red, figuring I’d bang her and clear my head. Instead, I got her off, then sent her home.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Gabby. Somehow, she’d twisted me up until the idea of sex with someone else left me cold. I only wanted her in all the ways she’d promised. And I knew the exchange would be me letting go of the fact she was the one who leaked the video.

My brain fantasized about all the ways I should punish her.

My dick said fuck it, move on. After all the things I’d done in my past that should’ve caused shame, who was I to suddenly play judge and jury? Did it even matter anymore? My relationship with Landon was over. She would’ve left me for Adam. Maybe shit happened for a reason after all.

It was easy to focus on the sex, but the game we’d played had shown Gabby’s deeper layers. I liked the idea of being the one who heard her secrets. She owned an intriguing fucked-up dark side that fascinated me.

I needed more.

On the third night at Red, I met her in the back during my break. She was alone, smoking a cigarette and scrolling her phone. I took a spot beside her and leaned against the brick wall. She didn’t even bother glancing over; just kept her focus on the screen.

“Want to grab a drink after your shift?” I finally asked.

She looked up. I fell into those gleaming green eyes like a damn willing victim.

She was a walking ad for a wet dream in her tight black skirt, combat boots, and tight black corset.

The white jacket she’d covered herself with was a cock tease, because every time she bent over and it gapped open, I saw her tight nipples.

Her hair was down and super curly, wild and sexy.

Her makeup was full of sparkle and glitter; green shadow, black liner, red cheeks and lips.

Every time I looked at her, I fell deeper under her spell because I thought of the things we did together.

The bossy way she ordered me around. The way she owned my body and my will and got me off.

One red brow arched. “You talking to me now?”

I let out a breath. “Yeah. I was pissed for a while.”

She shrugged. “I understand.”

I couldn’t help laughing. “You look really scared about it. Losing my approval.”

Her answering grin lit me up. “Guess I’m not great at the guilt or grovel thing. Never have been.”

“Good thing I don’t seem to care about that.”

Gabby nibbled at her lip and regarded me with interest. “You gonna tell everyone about the video?”

I shook my head. “Not worth it. It won’t change anything so I decided to move on.”

“Cool.” She took a long drag and her eyes darkened. “Want to come back to my place for that drink?”

“Fuck, yes.”

We laughed together and headed back to work. I tried not to eye fuck her as she worked the floor, careful no one caught on. I liked having this thing between us under wraps. It was too confusing for me to figure out, let alone explain to my friends.

Elle came by and I waved her over. “Hey, did you talk to Coop about this Thursday?”

A strange expression flickered over her face but she just shook her head. “We’ve been missing each other.”

I cashed out my customer and frowned. “Everything okay with you guys? I know you’ve both been crazy busy.”

“Why? Did Coop say something’s wrong?” she asked sharply.

I threw up my hands. “Hell, no. He hasn’t said a thing—I was only asking.”

Elle relaxed and stacked two margaritas on her tray. “Sorry. Like you said, we’re crazy busy.”

“Well, we want to get together Thursday. Noah and Daisy are free, so I wanted to check with you.”

She smiled but it seemed forced. “Yeah, sure. Gotta go.”

Elle lifted the tray and disappeared into the crowd. Hmm, definitely distracted lately but I figured she was stressed finishing the album. It was time to try and pull us all together for one night. We needed some bonding time with all of us diving into various projects.

I made a note to ask Coop if things were cool. He’d only mentioned they’d been fighting but he didn’t seem worried.

Finally, my shift ended and I closed out. I lingered and chatted with some of the staff, waiting for Gabby so it looked natural if we walked out together.

The chilly pre-winter air hit me full force when I pushed through the door. Soon, the holidays would be here and turn the city into a festive presence that always gave off fake cheer. “Want to grab an Uber since it’s cold?” I asked.

Her smile was full of mischief. “Hell, no. I love this type of weather. Are you a summer baby?”

I fell in step beside her as she lit a joint. Her pink, fake fur coat should’ve looked trashy yet gave her a sense of style paired with the combat boots. “Definitely. Not a fan of winter in New York. Everything looks like shit with the dirty snow and it’s dark at five.”

“Fall is definitely nicer but there’s something cozy about everyone huddling in their homes. Things slow down. And winter fashion is the bomb.”

I laughed. “How was the article post you did for Cosmo?”

Her face brightened and she passed the joint over. I took a nice inhale. “I got a whole bunch of new clients from it! I just have to solve the problem of being on call 24/7. That’s not working like I thought since I’m always tied to my phone.”

“Did you ever think of putting in office fashion hours? Like these are the specific times you can jump on live with me and we can go over your shit?”

“Actually, I was. It’s a great idea. I need to structure so my clients don’t feel like I’m abandoning them.”

“If you show them more value than what they’re paying, they’ll accept some rules.”

“Agree.”

We walked in comfortable silence and passed the joint back and forth. “Gabs?”

“Yeah?”

“Is there any other shit about me you’ve been hiding?”

Her laugh was robust and free. “Hmm, I think that was all of it. Oh, I know you hired your friend to scare Landon at Red.”

I froze in my tracks. Dread trickled down my spine. “What the fuck did you just say?”

She glanced back in surprise. “Bruh, seriously? I know Adam was telling the truth. I’m not looking for denials or crap, okay?”

I tried to gather my composure. “If you think I did something that horrible, why wouldn’t you scream it to the world? Or is this whole thing with us a sick type of revenge?”

Gabby rolled her eyes. “Here’s the drama again. Max, I don’t care. I know you’d never deliberately hurt Landon so you had this stupid ass plan to get her to run back to you. It got out of control and you freaked. Deny all you want but I know.”

I remember that night so clearly. The sickness I felt after realizing that asshole had taken it too far.

I’d only wanted Landon to remember how good we were together, but never wanted to truly scare her.

When she went to bed, I stayed safely in the living room until I heard her scream.

I rushed in to comfort her, and she’d been all clingy and snuggly, I couldn’t help myself from taking her in my arms. I’d watched her sleep all night, longing for more, but refusing to take advantage.

In the morning, she acted like I was a villain. Which I guess I was. The more she slipped out of my grasp, the more desperate I became.

But it had always been about Adam. The shit I’d done had only rushed the ending.

The only one I’d told about my plan was Coop. After that asshole I hired tried to take advantage, I’d blown up but he threatened to leak the truth to Landon. I convinced Coop it had been a mistake. I wondered if he ever really believed me.

Now, Gabby knew it all. But didn’t seem to care.

“Why aren’t you freaking out? I thought Landon was your friend?” I challenged.

She began walking again and I followed. “She is. I was super pissed and reamed you out, remember? I was team Adam, especially after that. But I also knew your intentions. You screwed up and got desperate.” Her shoulders lifted in a delicate shrug.

“People do bad things when they think they’re in love. I understand.”

My laugh held no humor. “So, that’s it? You forgive me, and we’re moving on?”

“That’s right. I’ve done bad shit, too. Who am I to hold it over your head forever?”

The realization she knew all my truths without hating me caused a heady sense of freedom to course through my veins. I’d never encountered a woman who accepted all of me without question.

“Gabby, you’re really fucking with my head,” I muttered.

She shot me a playful look. “Good. Death is being boring.”

We reached her place and I followed her in. She went to the kitchen and pulled out two beers, then uncapped them. “Hungry? I have Thai leftovers.”

“Okay.”

She heated them up while I drank my beer. “How’s the financing going for the gym?”

I tried not to stiffen. “Fine. Got approved for the bank loan.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. It took me forever to get financing for the Drip. I ended up using a bunch of high-rate interest cards to start. It sucked.”

“I’m lucky, I guess.” I stared moodily at the cheap linoleum floor. “My Dad wanted to help.”

I was surprised when the words shot from my mouth. I waited for her to tease and call me a little rich boy but instead, she met my gaze, a tiny frown creasing her brow. “Why don’t you sound thrilled with that?”

I kept my tone light. “I had lofty goals of creating this on my own. But as usual, he found out and didn’t want me to embarrass him. Guess me begging to banks in his industry wasn’t a good look.”

“He’s in finance?”

“Yeah, owns a successful wealth advising company. Knows everyone.”

Gabby wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, I bet he was hell to grow up with.”

I tried to keep my gaze impassive. “Sure, it was torture driving a sports car at sixteen and getting most of what I asked for.”

“Don’t do that.”

I jerked at her soft, commanding tone. “Do what?”

“Pretend you had no problems because you had money. It’s bullshit. Sure, you were privileged but that doesn’t guarantee you can’t be fucked up like the rest of us.”

I began to laugh. My chest eased. “True. My dad likes to run the show. Mom stays in the background and does what he wants. He’s insisting the loan be in his name so he has full rights. Says I can have fun and run it, but he’ll make sure I don’t fail.”

Gabby pursed her lips. Fire shot from her emerald eyes. “Asshole. You’re not a thing to control. You’re his son. People suck.”

I’d never felt so seen before. It wasn’t about pity, or trying to say a bunch of bullshit to make her feel good. Gabby was different. She saw things no one else did.

Holy shit, what was happening here? Was I suddenly falling for this woman?

Gabby took out the Thai food, divvied it up, and dug in. “My parents wanted to control me with religion, not money. That’s why I don’t want kids. I’m afraid I’d mess them up because I’m too selfish.”

“Maybe you’d be a great Mom because you realize that,” I pointed out.

“Hmm, never thought about it.”

We dove deep into various discussions about what society termed as important and our different outlooks. I liked the way she saw things. Gabby made me think about subjects in a new manner.

We finished the food, and our beer. I was struck by the fact I hadn’t been thinking about banging her. It was nice hanging out in her company.

The moment the thought chased past my brain, Gabby looked at me. Immediately, sexual tension exploded between us. Her knowing gaze dropped to my hardening dick, and she licked her lips.

“Have you been thinking about me?”

I took a step toward her. “Hell, yes. You?”

“Yes. Max?—”

Her next words were cut off by a loud ring. She checked her phone. “Sorry, I gotta take this. It’s Landon. You can say hello.”

Before I could protest, she’d already accepted the call.