Chapter 23 Taylor
TAYLOR
Istood in front of the mirror, fussing with my hair.
Kai stuck his head into the bathroom. “You look great.”
Tonight was Margo and Benji’s wedding rehearsal. I wore wide-legged, high-waisted grey dress pants and a light pink dress shirt. It was more feminine than I usually dressed around my family, but I was out of fucks for what they thought of me.
“Thanks,” I said, finally surrendering the comb.
I took a quick mirror selfie to send to Gabriel, and he immediately sent a string of fire emojis in response.
Margo looked stunning in a white pantsuit with a peplum jacket, and Benji complimented her with a dark red dress shirt.
She’d dyed her hair lavender for the wedding.
They’d leaned into the Valentine’s Day color palette, but with a more modern edge than basic fire engine red and baby pink.
The rehearsal was held at the art gallery where the wedding would take place, and we’d walked to a neighboring rooftop restaurant for dinner.
I was glad my parents weren’t walking Margo down the aisle.
They’d given her away when she was a child and didn’t deserve to do it now.
I’d managed to avoid talking to them before we started, and for that, I was feeling pretty lucky.
I was still simmering and stressed, but I tried to focus on logistics during the rehearsal.
The wedding day-of coordinator was a friend of Margo’s from high school, and I was her main point of contact so Margo could relax and have as much fun as possible.
Only a few more steps and my weekend duties would be over—and my responsibilities to Margo would be over, too.
I wasn’t sure what I’d do without constantly fretting over her.
She was ready, but I wasn’t. I still had the medical loans to worry about, but those would be paid off next year if everything went as I planned.
I was still waiting on all the bills from my own hospital stay, which sat at the back of my mind like a heavy stone.
I grabbed two cocktails at the bar—one for Margo and one for me—and wove through the party to find her.
Unfortunately, that’s when my luck ran out.
“Taylor,” my mother called out.
“Diane,” I responded.
I didn’t call her mom; she hadn’t wanted to be a mom to me, so I’m sure she didn’t mind.
I turned toward her voice and took her in.
I hadn’t seen her since Margo’s college graduation, I think.
That was probably the last time my parents had been in the same room, too.
She was decked out in a bedazzled floor-length gown and a designer handbag, definitely overdressed for the evening.
I’m sure it was to prove a point to my father.
“Do you think you could let Margo know that I’m going to miss brunch on Saturday morning?” she asked in the syrupy voice she used when she wanted something. “I’ve been invited to go boating in the Riviera, so I’ll have a plane to catch.”
I clenched my jaw. Of course, she was leaving early, and of course, she’d made it my responsibility to break the news and make excuses for her.
She continued. “I don’t want to bother her before the wedding, so I thought you could let her know that morning.”
“I’m sure she’ll figure it out when you’re a no-show.”
“Oh, but it’s not because I don’t want to be there. My boyfriend couldn’t adjust his schedule, you understand. He’s a busy man.”
“Of course. Drinking wine on a yacht is more important than your daughter’s wedding. I’m sure she’ll understand.” I was tired of this already. “Speaking of your daughter, I want to get this drink over to Margo before the ice melts, so I’m going to go do that now.”
Before she could say anything else, I strode off.
I spotted Margo by one of the fire pits in the restaurant’s outdoor area.
The view from the balcony of downtown LA was unmatched.
I don’t know how Margo got a deal on this place, but she could make friends with anyone, so I was unsurprised that she’d talked an event planner or customer service person into helping her out.
I was interrupted again by my father, John, and his new wife before I could escape. What was this, an Olympic hurdles event? I dragged a big sip from my drink.
“What did Diane want?” were the first words out of John’s mouth.
“I’m not your message boy anymore. You can go talk to her yourself if you’d like.”
He huffed. “I don’t have anything to say to her.”
“Great, she didn’t have anything to say to you either.”
“Doesn’t Pam look lovely?” John asked, gesturing to his wife.
“Sure,” I said, glancing at her.
It only took a quick look to see the diamonds she was decked out with.
If I didn’t have these drinks in my hands, I’d be clenching my fists.
I had been giving them tens of thousands of dollars a year toward Margo’s medical debt, living in a crappy apartment, and eating ramen, while my parents both showed up flaunting their money.
Assholes. At least I was paying the loan directly through the website, so I knew my money was going where I intended it.
“Look, I have a drink for Margo, and I don’t want to keep the bride waiting. I’ll catch up with you both later.”
When I finally pushed out onto the balcony, my shoulders relaxed. Margo was still at the fire pit, so I walked with quick, purposeful strides in her direction to avoid being stopped yet again.
“About time you joined us, bro,” Margo teased as I handed her a drink. “Your boyfriend was getting bored.”
“My… what?” I finally processed who else was standing around the fire.
Gabriel was grinning ear to ear. “Oh, you’ve forgotten me already?” He slipped under my arm and kissed my cheek, and—what had I been so worried about again?
Curse Margo for setting me up like this, but it was a welcome surprise.
“I could never.” I nipped at his lips. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Hey, no one is allowed to be a cuter couple than Benji and me tonight,” Margo shouted. “Babe, come over here and be cute with me!”
Benji laughed from across the balcony.
“My almost-wife is calling, and I must go,” he told his groomsmen as he walked over to join us.
The group whistled and hollered.
“Benji, this is Gabriel,” I said when the catcalls from the other group died down.
“Great to meet you, man,” Benji said, tipping his glass. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
This was all I needed. My best friends, a cocktail, and a fire. Kai was missing, but otherwise, this moment was perfect. Forget the madness inside.
Gabriel’s hand trailed up and down my back, and I relaxed under his touch.
“Are you two ready for the big day tomorrow?” Gabriel asked Margo and Benji.
They looked at each other with hearts in their eyes, and my chest squeezed.
“Oh yeah,” Benji said. “I can’t wait to marry Margo. She’s incredible.”
“It took you long enough to ask me,” Margo teased before turning to me. “Have you said hi to Mom and Dad?”
“Yeah, I was ambushed by both of them on my way out here,” I said.
“You’re so hard on them.”
“Not hard enough,” I muttered.
“Are you going to introduce me?” Gabriel asked, squeezing my waist.
I groaned. “Do I have to?”
When a few more guests joined our fire pit circle, Gabriel dragged me by the hand to an unoccupied corner of the balcony.
“Be careful, or you’re going to give a guy a complex,” he whispered in my ear as he pulled me close.
“You know that your character isn’t the one on trial here, right?” I whispered.
“I know, Tay.” Gabriel traced my face with his eyes. “Are you doing ok?”
I leaned my head back against the stucco. “Not really, but it’s fine. My parents have managed to do the bare minimum to keep Margo believing the best of them, but my mother has already told me she’s leaving early to go on a cruise with some guy.”
Gabriel leaned on his side, squeezing my hand and running his other hand down my forearm, his fingers brushing over my skin.
I inhaled deeply, grounded by his touch. “My father is trying to make my mother jealous for no reason, considering they haven’t been together for almost twenty years and he’s remarried. And that’s only the start. I’m not a violent person, but it makes me want to punch something.”
Another squeeze from Gabriel’s hand, another deep breath.
“It’s hard to be around them and not slide back into the mind of that abandoned fifteen-year-old who was trying to keep it together for his kid sister.
” I finally released the last of the tension and anger with a sigh.
“Anyway, there’s only one more loose end, and then I don’t have to deal with my parents ever again. ”
“You’re a good brother,” Gabriel said.
It made me want to cry, but I blinked it back.
“Thanks for being here. I didn’t know how much I needed you.” I rolled my head against the wall so I could look at him.
He leaned forward and kissed my shoulder. “Of course. Any time you need reminding that your needs are worth taking care of, I’ll be here.”
“Are you sure you haven’t had a boyfriend before? Because you’re excellent at it.” My free hand lifted to the back of his head, threading through his curly hair, and my thumb traced his dimple.
His hazel eyes dropped to my lips. “You’re the first.”
I didn’t deserve an angel like Gabriel, and I wasn’t treating him remotely like he should be, especially since I was the one who had initially pushed the issue and made that grand gesture in front of his whole neighborhood.
Now, it felt like I was waiting for shit to hit the fan.
All we needed was one crisis to turn us into my parents, and the best thing that had happened to me would be over.
Dread curled around my heart. My mind wanted to push Gabriel away in that moment, but my body turned it into desperation, and I pulled him into a kiss, forcing my tongue into his mouth.
“Holy shit,” Gabriel said when he reluctantly pulled back to breathe. “We need to stop, or I’m going to embarrass myself.”
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur.
I put on a public smile for my sister’s benefit and listened quietly as Gabriel endeared himself to the whole bridal party seated at our table.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to give a speech until tomorrow night, so I had some time to get my emotional shit together.
I was vaguely aware of my parents eyeing me from their separate tables throughout the evening, but I was done worrying about them. I would finish paying off Margo’s debt, and then I would be free. Both Margo and I would be free.