Page 6 of Ice-Cold Obsession
I look up and find Gabriel standing in front of me, with a charming grin plastered on his face. The other guy is hanging back a few steps and watching.
“Oh, hi,” I say, keeping my tone light and a little confused.
“I didn’t expect to run into you again so soon,” Gabriel says, and there’s something in his voice that suggests he thinks this is fate, luck, or whatever bullshit he’s telling himself.
I tilt my head and give him a polite smile. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
His grin falters for just a second, and I see the flash of annoyance in his eyes before he covers it. “Last night. At Taj’s party. I’m Gabriel.”
“Oh, right.” I snap my fingers as if I’ve just remembered. “Sorry, I met a lot of people last night.”
The annoyance is still there, simmering under the surface, but he keeps his voice smooth and charming. “No worries. I’m hard to forget, though.”
I smile again, sweet and innocent. “I’m sure.”
He shifts from foot to foot, and I can tell he’s not used to this. Girls don’t forget Gabriel Santelli or treat him like he’s just another face in the crowd. Watching him try to hide how much it bothers him is almost satisfying.
The guy behind him steps forward. “I’m Cory,” he says, extending his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met.”
I shake his hand. “Scarlett.”
“Nice to meet you. Are you a student here?”
“Yeah, I just started.”
Cory opens his mouth to say something else, but Gabriel shoots him a look. It’s quick and just a flick of his eyes and a tightening of his jaw, but the message is clear.
Back off. She’s mine.
Cory immediately pulls back, his smile faltering. “Cool. Well, welcome to Northstone.”
“Thanks,” I say, keeping my voice friendly.
Gabriel turns back to me, his grin back in place. “So, what are you up to today?”
“Just grabbing some food and exploring the campus.”
“You should come to a game sometime. We’ve got one this weekend.”
“Maybe.”
He nods, but I can see the frustration in his eyes. He’s not getting the reaction he wants, and it’s driving him insane.
“Well, see you around,” he says, and there’s an edge in his voice now.
“See you!” I watch as he and Cory walk away.
As soon as they’re out of sight, I let out a breath. Being that close to him and pretending to be sweet and oblivious makes my skin crawl.
But it’s working. He’s annoyed, which means he’s interested. The way he shut Cory down without even saying a word proves that Gabriel thinks he owns everything and everyone around him.
He’s a self-absorbed asshole who controls his friends and expects the world to revolve around him. I still can’t believe Carla fell into his trap.
I pick up my phone and scroll through social media while I finish my sandwich. A post from the Northstone Hockey account catches my eye. They’re looking for a team photographer.
Looking for a student photographer to cover games and practices. Experience preferred but not required. Apply via the athletics department.
I stare at the post for a long moment, my mind racing. This is perfect. If I’m the team photographer, I’ll have access to everything. Practices, games, and the locker room area. I’ll be around Gabriel constantly, and he won’t be able to avoid me.