✗ dirty paws

Addie: Seeing you for the first time in a long ass time the other week inspired me

Addie: What’s shocking to me is that you still have the same number. Pleasant surprise, I guess?????

Gabe: wine induced nostalgia? pleasantly surprised on my end as well

Addie: On a scale of one to Scrooge/The Grinch how sad is it that I’ve never put up a Christmas tree solo?

Addie: I’ve somehow managed to make it look like shit so I might need your help to pretty it up

Addie: and no I did not drink a full bottle of wine before doing it

Gabe: was this supposed to go to me?

🎀 what’s your fashion sense like?

“When I’m not wearing my ratty painting getup, I typically cycle through the same couple pairs of trusty jeans and worn boots or a pair of sneaks. Pretty basic and neutral.” 

🌷 what’s your mbti personality and why do you think it suits you?

“To be honest, I had no clue what this was until my Google search 10 minutes ago. I guess I’m ENFP-A (The Campaigner). I’d say it’s pretty spot-on. Weird.”

🙀 are you an adrenaline seeker?

“I make a living by breaking into abandoned places and tagging up their walls… so yes. An understatement, really. I crave it.” 

🐰 what is one secret that you’ve never told anyone?

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily a secret, but I have a TERRIBLE credit score - like scary bad. There will be no brand new cars or houses in my near future.”

🎁 what never fails to make you happy?

“Anderson .Paak, a freshly-loaded bowl, and a long hike through the woods.” 

😘 talk about your crush

“Which one?”

“Probably an ambivert, leaning more towards extrovert. I have a ton of energy, so being alone for too long without stimulation gets old pretty fast, but I need to be alone in order to actually get shit done, think things through, chill. Guess I’m just a ‘go with the flow’ kinda dude.”

“You’ve got some moves, man.” Nate took a sip from his own drink with a half smile. “I don’t think anyone wants me out there, I don’t have much rhythm. Or two left feet, as they say.” He much preferred sitting on the sidelines watching people cut a rug, than being out there himself.

       “Ahh, come on. Everyone says that shit,” Gabe replied with raised brows, bringing his glass to his lips for a gulp of the liquid inside. “My philosophy - if you can call it that - is this: if you can have sex, you can dance. Maybe not well, but it’s possible to not look like an awkward dork in the process if you just... commit.” Gabe couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he plopped down on a stool, gaze keen on the crowd. “Flyin’ solo tonight?”

“Oh I couldn’t fathom dancing in these shoes let alone this dress.” she giggled before downing the rest of her drink. “And just in case you were wondering, the shoes went with the outfit so I was obligated to wear them.” Some of the women at her job were determined to get Camille some action by the end of the function which resulted in her wearing something that made her feel like if she moved too fast the whole ensemble would fall apart. “But you look like you’ve been having enough fun for the both of us.”

       “Well, objectively speaking, you're rockin’ them, so it’s probably worth it. But I don’t envy the way your feet have to feel right now, or tomorrow,” Gabe winced, giving her a sympathetic smile. He would never understand women’s fashion, but he was no saint; he could understand the allure of the long-legged silhouette on a beautiful woman. “I tend to do that,” he answered before extending his hand. “Gabe.” 

“Don’t act like you’re surprised by that, darlin’.” Something about him told her he was more aware than he put off and she figured that he was fishing for her to elaborate a little. And perhaps she would in a little time. The blonde leaned foward a little, edging just slightly closer to the male. “Well, Gabriel… there’s Henri,” to which she smiled to indicate that was a good choice, “or Henrietta,” and that came with a slight shake of her head. “Last but not least there’s Savage, but… that’s a whole different ballgame, babe.”

       As the woman elaborated upon her different identities, Gabe couldn’t help but allow his gaze to wash over her features as he listened intently. From what he could tell, she had that “I bite” vibe about her; enticing to say the least, but he did always have a thing for the vixen type. “Sounds like a lot of work... Henri. How does one go about meeting the other two?” His deep hues held hers as he took another sip of his drink, the pad of his thumb moving up to wipe any remaining liquid from his lip. “But for the record, Gabe is a lot more fun than Gabriel, I can assure you.” 

She pretended to think about Gabe’s offer for a long moment before nodding her approval. She took another sip from her tonic water as she tilted herself to face him. He was better company than 95% of the people pouring into the free mixer. “But I don’t need a bodyguard. It’s rather fun watch the boys slink away with their tail between their legs. What have you been up to besides seducing the population of Coral Gables?”

       “I’m a lover, not a fighter... so no worries here,” Gabe replied, flashing her his palms in faux surrender. He had no problem occupying the cute brunette’s attention; no problem at all. “Damn, besides that? I dunno... I’ve been working on the South Beach population for a minute now,” he retorted in jest, his shoulders bucking upward as a chuckle escaped him. “Just workin’... livin’. You know how it is. What about you? You still making folks cry over at Lost Weekend?” 

      Another night, another event — Val couldn’t entirely recall what this one had been all about. All she knew was that she was expected to make a fabulous post at the end of the night, which as usual she wasn’t worried about as there were more than enough photos to choose from already. “Have a good night, y’all! You know where I am, so stop by and buy this princess a drink before midnight,” Valentina blew a sultry kiss towards the camera on her iPhone before posting her last story for the night and placing her phone down on the bar. Her attention was suddenly drawn to the person now by her side, her lips began moving before she even had a chance to fully take in the man’s features. “Are you offering? If so, you’re going to need to work on those persuasive skills.” @gaberojas​

       “I wasn’t offering, but I’ll keep that in mind,” Gabe answered plainly before allowing an amused grin to tick at the corner of his mouth. As he tipped his drink to his lips, his chestnut hues attempted to put a name to the familiar face before him. “Where do I know you from?” he inquired as his eyes narrowed, a snap of his fingers as he finally placed her. Of course - he knew all about her bikini photos. “Ahhh, the Instagram baddie. Veronica? Wait...Valentina. Right?” 

          Usually if someone were to call out her first and last name like that, it was because they knew exactly who she was and who her family was, but this time it was just Gabe. Just. Gabe. So it was a huge relief when she factored in his presence. “Jesus, hey.” She muttered, rubbing the space between her eyebrows once more. “No, just me tonight, but you—” She stopped to check him out up and down. “Look handsome. Hot date?” 

       “Gabe, not Jesus unfortunately - it’s probably the hair,” he retorted playfully before sliding onto a stool, his brows knitting together as he nodded his answer to her question. “Tinder girl; she’s running late, but they always are.” Crossing his arms over the bar, Gabe’s gaze washed over Bianca’s features - he knew enough about her to know it wasn’t likely that she’d try that hard to look good; she just kinda always did. “But shit, had I known you were drinking alone, I’d have joined you instead. What are you up to these days? Same old shit?”

Dilan had settled herself at the bar with the notion that she’d people watch for some time being and when the dance floor opened up, maybe she’d find enough courage to join in on a song or two. As fingers toyed with the recycled plastic straw, dark hues focused on the male who turned his attention to her. “A little bit of both,” she replied with a lift and fall of her shoulder. “There’s a lot of people, though you seem to have been enjoying it.” @gaberojas​

       “Right? Not bad at all for a townie mixer,” he replied with a tame smile. “Only an hour ago, these people were comparing homeowner’s associations... and now it’s like they’re ready to pass around the molly,” Gabe joked, folding his straw over so he could take a sip from the rim of his glass. “Don’t tell me you’re here alone.” 

       “I don’t discriminate based on career paths, babe,” Gabe retorted with an amused grin as he slipped onto the stool beside Rose. Perhaps he was a masochist, but her attitude just made him want to turn her frown upside down. “If Sober Rose is going to continue talking about herself in third person, I’m gonna have to dip and leave you lonely,” he snickered, taking a sip of his drink. “How ‘bout this? You quit mean-muggin’ me and I’ll keep the frat boys off your scent.” 

Rose had unfortunately pulled a morning shift tomorrow morning at Lost Weekend, which meant hungover revelers playing subpar pool and ordering grossly mismatched items. She was the DD tonight, sober, and pissed about being turned down for an internship in D.C.. So yeah, she was probably going to bite someone’s head off before the night was over. She sat on a bar stool with her tonic water and lime and watched Gabe and a stranger make their way across the dance floor, when he took a break she leaned both elbows back against the bar and tilted her head to one side. “Neither, though I thoroughly enjoyed your audition for Dancing with the Stars. Did you at least get the girl’s phone number after all that effort?”

       Gabe’s bottom lip poked out in a faux pout as Rose mocked him, then quickly allowed a grin to pull over his lips. “They do that on network television?” he asked incredulously, thinking back to the way the girl’s ass was pressed into his crotch for the majority of their time on the dance floor. Pulling his palm up to face Rose, he gave her a nice view of the black ink scrawled near his thumb. “What’s with the sourpuss? You get stood up or something?”