Chapter 33 Taylor
TAYLOR
Waking up with Gabriel in my arms was like a drug.
My nose was buried in his hair, where the scent of the salty ocean and citrus shampoo lingered.
It was my new favorite smell. When I rolled from where I was spooning him to lie flat, he followed immediately, sleepily tucking himself into my side.
I ran my fingers along the solid muscles of his back and tipped his head up to kiss him gently awake.
“Is it morning already?” Gabriel murmured.
“Unfortunately. The good news is that there are mimosas in our near future.”
Gabriel had stayed over so we could carpool with Kai to our monthly brunch.
Margo and Benji were back from their honeymoon, and while I was hoping we didn’t have to spend the whole time listening to the schmoopy romantic stories from their trip, at least I was also a little love-drunk.
It was always easier to hear about other people’s love when you weren’t alone.
It made my heart hurt a little bit for Kai, who I knew was harboring an unrequited crush.
“Coffee, or I’m not going to make it that far,” Gabriel mumbled into my armpit, and I couldn’t help laughing.
“If we’re lucky, Kai’s already got it started.”
“Kai,” Gabriel shouted. “Is there coffee out there?”
He cackled, and I could hear it through the wall.
“You know it, honey,” came the answer.
That was enough to coax Gabriel from my embrace. I was not going to be jealous of a beverage. I wasn’t. I watched his ass with interest as he bent to grab his clothes from his gym bag and headed to the bathroom.
Thankfully, brunch at my sister’s was a casual affair, so I threw on a pair of grey sweatpants and a black tee. The heat in Gabriel’s eyes when I joined him at the bathroom sink made me want to drag him back to bed.
“Grey sweatpants should be illegal,” he grumbled. He wore gym shorts slung low on his hips and a muscle tank with rainbow stripes across the chest.
“As if you have room to talk.” I let my gaze travel indulgently across his body as I dragged my finger lightly from his belly button down to his waistband.
But going any further would have to wait. I had a birthday surprise to deliver, and for that, we had to make it to my sister’s. Like a well-behaved boyfriend, I kept my hands to myself as I brushed my teeth.
“Yours is all fixed up, Taylor, but I didn’t know how Gabriel took his,” Kai said, handing us each a mug of coffee as we entered the kitchen. “I left some room for cream.”
“Black is great, actually,” Gabriel assured him.
I made a skeptical noise as I sipped my highly sugared, beige coffee. Thank goodness he had better taste in men than he did in coffee.
The coffee did nothing to help my anxious stomach as we made our way to Margo’s place.
I probably should have skipped the caffeine altogether, but then I’d be dealing with headaches, and that was worse.
Gabriel looked quizzically at my tense shoulders and nervous expression when we stood on the porch.
“I know you’re nervous about talking to your sister about the money,” Gabriel said. “But she loves you. Everything will be fine.”
He squeezed my hand as he lifted the other to knock. I shook the tension off with a smile as Benji opened the door to let us in.
“Welcome, guys!”
“Thanks for having me,” Gabriel said as he shook Benji’s hand.
“Of course, man. You’re part of the crew now.” Benji smiled, leading us into the kitchen.
My heart fluttered at thinking of Gabriel as part of our little family, and Gabriel’s cheeks reddened. Maybe he was thinking the same thing? A guy could hope.
Margo was at the fridge when we walked in, pulling out the prosecco and orange juice. “We’re gonna have to upgrade family brunch to three bottles if you start bringing someone around, too, Kai.”
He let out a forced laugh. “Unlikely. I think you’re safe. You all better not make me feel like a fifth wheel, though, or I will mutiny.”
I didn’t know what was going on with Kai, but I was still willing to come to his rescue. “Have you all figured out your costumes for Gabriel’s party?”
Thankfully, my sister jumped on this change in topic, and Kai breathed a subtle sigh of relief.
“I found the best outfit the other day,” Margo exclaimed. “And I even convinced Benji to match me. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Marital bliss, everyone.” Benji rolled his eyes, but his tone was indulgent.
“Don’t tell me there’s trouble in paradise already?” Kai chuckled.
Margo and Benji grinned at each other.
“Just because we disagree on whether Clueless is one of the greatest movies of all time does not mean our relationship is about to collapse, thankfully,” Margo replied.
With our plates and glasses filled, we sat around the table, and I was happy with how easily Gabriel fit right in.
We’d spent a decent amount of time around Kai, Margo, and Benji by this point, so I didn’t have a reason to think something would go wrong, but I’d never wanted someone to fit into my family that badly.
Granted, Gabriel was so friendly and kind that I couldn’t imagine anyone disliking him.
I still had a protective anger toward anyone who’d made him feel like he was unworthy. Gabriel was everything.
When Margo stood to grab mimosa refills from the kitchen, she raised her eyebrow in question, and I nodded subtly in acknowledgment.
“Can I take anyone’s dishes?” I asked, grabbing anything I could clear from the table and following Margo out of the room. It was a challenge with my hands shaking as they were, but I made it to the kitchen without incident.
Margo jumped right in headfirst, as she did with everything. “I’ve blocked Dad’s number. I told him where he could shove that debt first, though.”
“I hate that you had to do that.”
“You’ve covered for them for long enough.” She glared at me. “Let me be mad for you.”
I knew I would let her have her way, as always.
“Fine,” I said with a put-upon sigh.
“I have Gabriel’s gift, but I have something for you, too.” Margo reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope. Inside was a check for $5,000.
My mouth dropped open. “Margo, I can’t accept this.”
“You can and you will,” she said. “I know I insisted you get a bunch of those extra tests at the hospital. This probably won’t scratch the surface of the medical bills, but it’s the least I can do.”
“I love you, Margo.” My voice cracked as I held my emotions. It seemed I had feelings in abundance these days.
With Margo’s gift and my parents blocked at last, maybe I could see that therapist sooner rather than later.
“I know, big brother.” Margo pulled me into a hug that I pretended to fight, even though we both knew I wanted it.
She squeezed me tight, and I squealed in a manly, grown-up way. Her bright laughter lightened the moment. Margo released me and reached into the back of her pantry to remove the black folder she’d stashed there.
“Here’s everything you asked for. He’s going to love it.”
I let out a slow breath and nodded. Now was the moment of truth. I wasn’t sure if Gabriel was going to be pissed that I’d gone behind his back or—as I was hoping—see this as a gesture of my unconditional support of his fledgling business.
Margo carried the Prosecco and orange juice, and I carried the folder, rejoining Gabriel and Benji at the table.
“What’s that, baby?” Gabriel asked, gesturing at the folder.
“I got you something for your birthday. I know your party is coming up soon, but I wanted to give it to you now since Margo helped me with it. Sorry, it’s not wrapped.”
As I handed over the folder, Gabriel glanced around the table. Could he hear how fast my heart was racing?
I held my breath as he flipped it open, and he let out a gasp.
“Taylor,” he whispered as he thumbed through the papers inside.
“Margo studied graphic design in college, so I paid her to help me make a logo and branding for Plant Daddy Botanicals. It’s all in there. Of course, she can edit anything if you don’t think it’s perfect yet.”
“Taylor may have sent me photos of the vision board you were working on,” Margo said. “Hopefully, we’re close to what you were imagining.”
My heart sat in my throat as Gabriel took in all of Margo’s design work.
His face was unusually blank as he turned each page.
Would he feel like I was forcing him down a path like his parents?
Maybe this had been a terrible idea, and I moved my fingers under my thighs to keep myself from snatching the folder back and pretending none of this had happened.
Gabriel had tears in his eyes when he looked up at me, and I couldn’t read his face to know whether they were good tears or bad tears.
“It’s perfect,” he said, finally.
Oh, thank god.
“I want you to know how much your passion and perseverance inspire me as you launch this new brand,” I said. “You’re working hard, and you deserve to be celebrated and supported. I got you all set up on your accounting software, but that’s not nearly as exciting. I can show it to you later.”
There was nothing I wouldn’t do to see Gabriel’s dreams come true, and I hoped this communicated that.
Setting the folder down, he practically leapt into my arms, squeezing onto my lap.
I laughed, deep and joyful. “If you let me scoot my chair back, you’ll have more room.”
“Nope, I live here now.” He squeezed his arms tighter around me. “That was the best gift I’ve ever been given. Thank you for helping him, Margo. You’re so talented.”
I lifted my fingers to his cheek to wipe away the tear that had spilled over.
“Happy to do it,” Margo replied. “Honestly, I don’t get to do a lot of true graphic design in my work for the gallery, so this was a fun change of pace.
Don’t worry, I gave him the friends-and-family discount, so you can consider that my birthday present to you.
We’re so excited to see how your business takes off. ”
Gabriel glowed.
I made eye contact with Kai, and he lifted his mimosa in a toast. All my most important people were around the same table, and I basked in it.
For so long, I’d felt the burden of ensuring the people I loved were healthy and safe. I’d carried everything alone. But seeing Margo and Benji across from us, happily married and in this beautiful home, something deep inside me settled.
We made it.
Yes, the matter of my lingering medical bills needed to be resolved, but I was no longer on my own.
It wasn’t a failure if I needed help from my true family.
Margo was safe and successful. I had a best friend who’d always stood by me, even when things were the darkest they’d ever been, and now I had a doting boyfriend and an awesome brother-in-law.
I’d been so focused on Margo not needing me anymore as we were gearing up for the wedding, so afraid I’d be left alone, that I didn’t realize my family was growing instead.
“I’m proud of you,” I whispered into Gabriel’s ear, and he shivered, blushing. When I got him alone, I planned to show him how much.
Margo topped off our drinks, and we toasted to Gabriel’s birthday and his new business. Gabriel stayed on my lap for the rest of our meal, and even though Kai made gagging noises every time I nuzzled into Gabriel’s neck, I wasn’t going to stop on his account.
In this moment, with Gabriel in my arms, life was good.