Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [53]
“Your loss.”
“Believe me, I know.”
She took her hand from his neck. “What do you play?”
He could have said keyboards, but he didn’t feel like telling her anything about himself. Since he wasn’t carrying a guitar or a bass, he said, “Drums.”
Again, that smile. “I like a guy who can carry a steady beat.”
“You know what they say. Drummers do it with a bang.” Thank God the bus was in sight. “Hey, I don’t even know your name.”
“Cameron.”
Gabe made a show of pulling out his phone and entering her name in his contact list. “And your number?”
She gave it to him. When she asked for his number, he mixed up the digits. That way if he ever ran into her again, he could claim that she typed them in wrong if she actually tried to call him.
“Do you have a last name?” she asked.
“Donatti.” He spelled it for her. If she googled the name, she’d get references to his dad and see that he was telling the truth. She’d probably figure that he was Donatti junior. Gabe didn’t ask for her last name, and she didn’t offer it up.
The bus pulled to the curb. “Good talking to you, Cameron,” he said. “Another time?”
Cameron tilted her head, but her eyes had turned stormy. “You can always dream, little boy.”
“I suppose I deserved that.” He stood up.
Her eyes went up and down his body. “I might be forgiving . . . it all depends. Ball’s in your court, Chris.” A pause. “I’m assuming you’re good with balls?”
He forced out a laugh and pointed to her purse. “Think of me when you try it out.” He climbed the two steps up to the driver and gave him the money.
He was thrilled when the bus pulled away.
Immediately, he erased her name from his contact list and sat back on the bench seat, feeling his heartbeat slow until it was back to normal. A few minutes later, his phone sprang to life.
r u there?
His smile was immediate. on the bus to sc.
gd luck on the audition. i know u’ll do g8.
thx. i’m pretty confident. gd luck on ur bio test.
thx. i’m not as confident as u r, but who is?
Gabe laughed. r u saying i’m arrogant?
i’m saying that ur 2 perfect 2 ever worry.
If she only knew! He texted: if i’m perfect, it’s cuz i hang with the goddess of perfection.
ur the best. :)
Gabe wrote: i really missed u this morning, Yasmine.
missed u soooo much. A pause. i dreamed . . . dreamt about u last nite.
i hope it was a good one.
we were kissing.
then it was a very good one.
it was so real, gabe. i could taste ur mouth. i didn’t ever want it 2 end.
Seven in the morning and her words were making him hornier than a springbok. Embarrassed, he crossed his legs and texted her: what u do 2 me, little girl. it’s obscene.
lol. Another pause. seriously, i miss u so much, gabriel. i’m so pathetic.
not as pathetic as i am. i think about u all the time. being away from u sucks.
yeah, it really does. i can’t w8 4 sat. how long will the deckers b away?
they leave 4 shul between 9 and 10. they’ll probably b gone for 4 hours so hopefully we’ll have lots of time 2gether and alone.
Yey! i can’t w8!!!!
He wrote: maybe we can act out ur dream.
She wrote: only if we can do it over and over and over.
Gabe felt faint. omg, ur killing me.
looks like u’ll need some mouth 2 mouth resuscitation. :)
ur waaaaay 2 sexy 4 ur own gd. i can’t w8 for sat. come at 10:30 2 b safe.
i’ll b there at 10:30 . . . on time.
Gabe smiled. right.
no, really.
A pause between her texts. Then she wrote: dang, i have 2 go. daisy is banging on my door 2 leave 4 school. if i don’t go, she’ll leave w/out me.
dang ur sister. go on. i’ll text u when i can.
i’ll do the same. will u miss me 2day?
ur a cuckoo bird. of course, i’ll miss u. i miss u every second ur not with me.
i can b a cuckoo bird just so long as im ur cuckoo bird.
u r definitely my cuckoo bird. a million hugs n kisses, yasmine. have a g8t day.
a million hugs n kisses back 4 ever n ever, gabriel. u know u own my ♥.
His cell went inert and he stared at the blank window hoping