“You don’t let people in, do you? You keep everyone at arm’s length. Sure, you’ll joke and play around and be the life of the party, but people who know the true Gabe, there aren’t many, are there?”
“Are you done psycho-analyzing me?”
“Am I right?”
“Are you going to tell Rob about your father?”
“I said I would, didn’t I?”
"Yes, but sometimes, people talk without intending to do what they say, or they'll say one thing and do another."
“Ah, so you don’t know me well enough to know that I’m a woman of my word.”
“Are you?”
“Are you a man of your word? Because I laid out ground rules, and you didn’t listen to them.”
“I didn’t touch your ass or your boobs!”
“Side boob is still boob!”
“I wasn’t reaching for your side boob!”
"Bull. Your hand was right…" I try to show and demonstrate. "See? Fingertips on the side boob."
“I didn’t think… If I grazed you, I’m sorry, but trust me, darling, it wasn’t anything.”
“Nothing, huh? Just because you didn’t get a hard-on doesn’t mean that it was nothing?”
“That isn’t what got me all hot and bothered.”
That wasn’t what got him… His words replay in my head, and I realize he’s insinuating that somethingelsegot him all hot and bothered.
Don't look down. Don't check him out.
Don't. Just don't.
But I do take a peek, and he is hard.
“What?” I ask.
“We’re having a battle.”
“A battle,” I repeat.
“A battle of wits. I enjoy those.”
“Please tell me you weren’t on the debate team in high school,” I groan.
“This only happens when I’m battling a woman I find hot. It never happened with girls.”
“Ah. Okay. Yeah. We’re done here.”
Gabe shifts over slightly to block me. “I seriously didn’t mean to upset you or set you off, and I didn’t mean—”
“There was no reason for you to touch my side at all in the first place!”
“I sometimes get a side stitch after a heavy night of drinking, and rubbing helps to make the pain go away. I seriously wasn’t trying to break the rules, although I can understand why you wouldn’t trust me. I can break the rules, and I mean… yeah…” He gestures vaguely toward his erection. “I can’t deny that you’re hot. Sue me. I seriously wasn’t trying anything uncouth.”