Chapter Five

Mara’s patience snapped. She shoved against Gavin’s shoulder, her voice sharp and loud enough for anyone nearby to hear. “Seriously, Gavin! Stop staring at them! I’m right here! Do I mean nothing to you tonight?!”

Gavin stiffened, caught between the outburst and his subtle, protective attention toward Ari and Gemma. He ran a hand through his damp hair, hesitated, and then leaned into her kiss—not fully, but enough to appease her. His arm stayed around her, but his eyes kept darting toward the fire where Ari and Gemma laughed, swayed, and sipped their drinks.

Mara pulled back slightly, glaring at him, but her voice softened with a mix of frustration and relief. “Finally! I can’t believe how distracted you’ve been.”

Gavin let out a quiet, controlled laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I… just wanted to make sure they’re okay,” he murmured, still sneaking glances at us. His tone was careful, almost defensive, but his body language made it clear he hadn’t fully let go of his watch over Ari and Gemma.

Meanwhile, the flirtatious guy by the fire—still nameless—grinned and held out the bottle again. “Come on, one more. Keep the fun going,” he coaxed, leaning closer to Ari and Gemma.

Gemma hesitated for a split second, then laughed drunkenly. “Why not? You’re not scaring us off yet,” she said, taking the drink and handing mine back.

I tipped it back, warmth spreading through me, feeling the alcohol loosen my nerves. The fire crackled, laughter and music pulsed around the party, but my eyes couldn’t leave Gavin. Even as he leaned into Mara, subtly appeasing her, his attention flicked toward us repeatedly—careful, protective, impossible to ignore.

Mara huffed, her arms crossing over her chest again, still visibly irritated. “I swear, if you do that one more time…” she muttered, shaking her head. Gavin gave a faint shrug, lips twitching into a controlled smile, still pretending to focus on her while keeping tabs on us.

Gemma nudged me, whispering, “See? Even now… he’s watching, and it’s driving her crazy.”

I laughed softly, tipsy and flushed, taking another sip. The night stretched on around us—firelight flickering, The too friendly stranger grinning as he continued his teasing, and Gavin’s quiet, restrained vigilance making my chest tighten with every glance he stole.

Gavin shifted on the log, his arm still loosely around Mara, but his eyes flicked repeatedly toward Ari and Gemma. Mara, still visibly annoyed, huffed and muttered something under her breath, but he gave a faint shrug and a casual smile.

“I’m… just making sure they don’t get into trouble,” he said smoothly, keeping his tone light, almost innocent. “It’s a party. You know how these things can go.”

Mara frowned, clearly still irritated, but didn’t argue further—though the tension between them was easy to feel.

Meanwhile, The too friendly stranger’s grin widened as he caught the way Ari and Gemma were loosening up from the drinks. He tilted his head slightly, gesturing subtly to a guy standing near the fire, who nodded just enough to understand. The friend moved closer, blending naturally into the group without drawing attention.

“Alright,” The too friendly stranger said, his voice low and teasing as he held out the bottle again, “one more round, just to keep the night interesting.”

Gemma laughed, swaying a little, the alcohol making her bold. “Why not? Let’s see how far this party can go,” she said, handing me my cup. I hesitated for a moment, then tipped it back, the warmth spreading through me, loosening my nerves further.

The new guy slid closer, offering a charming smile that Ari couldn’t quite resist. “Mind if I join?” he asked smoothly, casually leaning in toward both of us.

I laughed, a little tipsy, shrugging. “Sure… why not?”

Gemma rolled her eyes playfully but didn’t protest. “Just… don’t let him win too easily,” she teased, sipping her drink.

Across the fire, I noticed Gavin again. He leaned slightly back, making it seem like he was just relaxing, but the subtle way his eyes followed our group was unmistakable. Protective, careful, but still hidden behind casual movements.

Mara noticed it too, a slight frown crossing her forehead. “Seriously, Gavin…” she muttered, nudging him with her elbow. “You’ve got to stop obsessing over them.”

He gave a quiet, controlled laugh, tilting his head toward her. “I told you—I’m just making sure the party doesn’t get out of hand,” he said smoothly, though every subtle glance toward me and Gemma suggested otherwise.

Gemma elbowed me, whispering, “he’s keeping her in check too.”

I swallowed another sip, heart beating faster, noticing Gavin’s careful, protective eyes. The fire crackled, laughter and music swirled around us, The too friendly stranger grinned, and his friend moved closer, all while the tension and energy of the party made every glance and movement feel amplified.

The new guy and The too friendly stranger moved a little closer, their presence subtle but intentional. At first it was small—brushing against arms, leaning in too close—but soon their hands started lingering a little too long on our shoulders, slipping near wrists, teasing touches that made Gemma laugh nervously and made my stomach twist.

“Alright, okay, that’s enough,” Gemma said, swaying slightly, a tipsy laugh escaping her lips. “You’re testing your luck.”

I tried to keep my own composure, laughing a little too loudly, sipping my drink as warmth spread through me, but the feeling of being cornered in the fun and chaos made my chest tighten.

From across the fire, Gavin stiffened. His arm stayed around Mara, who was now muttering under her breath about his constant glances toward us, but his eyes flicked sharply toward our group every time a hand lingered too long.

He gritted his teeth just enough to keep his composure, forcing his posture casual. Each time one of the guys leaned too close, his jaw tightened, a subtle tension rolling through his shoulders. He didn’t move—he couldn’t make it obvious—but the heat in his eyes spoke volumes. Protective, restrained, barely holding himself back.

The too friendly stranger, grinning, clearly enjoying the effect, whispered something to his friend, and the other guy laughed softly, leaning even closer. Gemma flinched slightly, tipping her drink back, while I tried to keep my laughter easy, hiding the flush rising in my chest.

Mara, still beside Gavin, noticed the flickers in his eyes—the subtle shift in posture, the quiet tension he couldn’t completely mask. She huffed in frustration. “You’re too distracted,” she muttered, pulling lightly at hi s sleeve. “Focus on me for once.”