Covered: Part One Read Online Free Page B

you see without them?”
    “I manage I guess,” I replied. Jenny was funny, most of the time she was upbeat and airy and I didn’t take offence to her pokes and prods at my looks and my character. Tonight was different somehow; there was a mean tension under her words that gave them sharp barbs.
    We made our way to the ballroom in the hotel’s East Wing and found our table. We were pretty far from the guest of honor table, the one where Gavin would most likely be. Several authors I loved were there as well, I’d already met them all but wouldn’t mind a few more autographs.
    “Shitty table,” Jenny muttered, “I can’t see a thing.”
    “Well, it is a mix and mingle,” I replied, “I think we’re supposed to get up and talk to people.”
    “Aren’t you suddenly the party expert?” she said and brushed her strap down so it hung off her shoulder. She really was beautiful; I wish she didn’t act so weird every time somebody else got a little male attention.
    “Let’s go get a drink,” I said and stood up.
    “Oh, so now you’re drinking too?” she asked and stood up, following me towards the bar.
    “Just a couple,” I replied, “it goes straight to my head so I have to be careful.”
    We stood in line and listened to the gossip going on around us. The one thing I detested about the book world was how fast rumors spread and how quickly they became distorted. I heard a couple people mention me, not by name, but only as, “the one who talked to Gavin.”
    We got our drinks; I let Jenny order us each a vodka and cranberry juice. I was game, getting a little urinary tract boost while I got my drink on.
    “Oh, I see some girls I met today, stay here and I’ll be right back,” Jenny said suddenly and left before I could reply. She found a small herd of girls who could have all been her cousins. They were all shorter, curvier and prettier than I, and I was overcome with a sense of being on the outside.
    All my life I’d tried to fit in, but the key word is tried. When you have to try, it’s not fitting in. Popular girls never try, it just happens…they take to social graces like ducks to water and I’m always left paddling on the bank like an ugly duckling.
    I watched them laugh and giggle and sipped my drink. I’d never been a giggler either, I just didn’t get it. I was more of a dry, ironic chuckle kind of girl. I think I’d always been that way, but just a little more sad since the death of my parents.
    I walked to the edge of the room and stood back, watching everybody move and talk, mix and mingle. Have I mentioned how much I hated public events?
    Somebody bumped my arm and I jumped, spilling a little of my drink. “Oh shit, sorry,” the woman said and breezed past me. I gulped back the rest of it and stood there with melting ice cubes in my glass.
    I was feeling a little warmer than usual, but nothing too major. Still, I was a lightweight so I decided to forgo another drink right now and nurse my cubes. I stuck one in my mouth and began to chew, wondering what the hell I was doing in a place like this. I really should have gone home.
    I was minding my own business and in mid crunch when I felt a hand on my arm. A perfect, strong but not too strong, dry and warm hand. Gavin.
    “Can I get you another drink, love?” he asked in my ear. I finished cracking the last of the ice, swallowed it and turned to him.
    “I’m–” I started to say but a stray piece of ice got caught up in the back of my throat. What I ended up doing was practically choking as I coughed and attempted to breathe. Tears hit my eyes and my face went hot, I was probably bright red as I hunched over, gasped and wheezed.

Chapter Five
     
    Why did I have to fall and now choke in front of the hottest man in the world? Why did I have such horrible luck when it came to Gavin, and yes, men in general?
    “My god, are you okay?” he asked and patted my back gently, “I know I have strange effects on girls, but this is the first