especially.” Matty pointed up at the stage. “There’s a band playin’ later,” he added, winking at Gemma. She felt sick. “You wanna dance with me?”
“I hate dancing,” Gemma mumbled. Rock, I’m sorry , she thought in her head. I’m so sorry. I hate this!
“Gemma, don’t be such a loser,” Talia said. “Come on, dance with me!” Talia pulled Gemma up from her chair and waltzed her towards the middle of the dance floor. A seductive, rhythmic beat was pulsing from the big speakers in the corner of the room and Talia shook her hips and wiggled her body towards Gemma, acting like a video girl from the 80s. Gemma blinked.
“I don’t feel well,” Gemma said. “I’m going to sit down.”
“Oh, no you’re not,” said a voice from behind her. Gemma turned around to see Matty. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her close. When she was close to him, he smelled like nasty, cheap cologne and he had bad breath. Gemma tried to push him away but Matty grabbed her wrists and pulled her back towards him, in a gross approximation of dancing. As Gemma tried to pull away, Matty put his hands on her chest and squeezed her breasts through her top until Gemma was blushing and shrieking in horror.
“Leave me alone!” Gemma shrieked. She ran away from the dance floor, tears blurring her vision. I have to get out of here , she thought frantically. Maybe I can go outside and get a cab, anything! As she ran in her high heels, she wasn’t looking where she was going and in a few seconds, she crashed into something big.
“Gemma?” The voice was familiar, and sounded surprised. “You okay?”
With tears still in her grey eyes, Gemma looked straight up into Rock’s face. He was looking down at her with concern and affection in his golden eyes and she practically melted against his burly frame, collapsing into his arms.
“I’m taking you home,” Rock said to Gemma’s ear. “Come on.” Gemma couldn’t speak as Rock wrapped his strong arms around her and lifted her into the air. She was barely aware of being carried out to the parking lot and propped up against the side of Rock’s truck.
“Thank you,” Gemma murmured. “My sister, she dragged me out here and she’s with these slimy guys.” Gemma glanced down.
“It’s fine,” Rock assured her. He opened the passenger door and lifted her up onto the high bench seat. “Wait here for a minute, okay?”
Gemma nodded. Even though she’d only been out for a little bit, she felt exhausted. She watched as Rock loped back into the bar, an angry and determined look on his face. Closing her eyes, she even managed to relax a little.
When Rock came back to the car, he was breathing hard and his shirt had ripped at the collar. Gemma examined him carefully. “Oh, no,” Gemma said softly as she reached out and touched a bruise on his face. “Are you hurt?”
Rock laughed. “Not hardly,” he said. “Don’t worry about me,” he added. “What I’m worried about is you ,” he said, in the most serious tone that Gemma had ever heard him use. “Are you alright?”
Gemma blushed. She slunk down low in the seat. “I’m fine,” she murmured. “Thank you.”
The whole ride back to Gemma’s house, she was silent. She couldn’t figure out how to explain that she’d fucked up, and part of her still thought that Talia was probably right. After all, Talia was her older sister. Talia knew better, that was why she’d always given Gemma advice. Never mind the fact that she’d been wrong sometimes, she had to be right about men, right?
Rock pulled into the driveway and shifted his truck into park. “Can I come in?”
Gemma slid out of the passenger seat before he could turn the engine off. “I’ve got to go,” she said breathlessly. “I’m sorry, Rock.”
Before he could answer, Gemma darted off and into the house.
Chapter Four
In the morning, Gemma lay in bed for a long