10. Veronica
Chapter ten
Veronica
Kissing = Thank you.
I’m not sure who Gabe was arguing with on the phone when I came down to the kitchen. I only caught the end of his conversation, where he mentioned an agreement of once a month, and that whoever was on the line couldn’t start demanding it whenever they wanted.
What is ‘it’? And who was he talking to?
Whoever it was, Gabe hates their guts. It showed in his posture, his features, and his tone.
His entire body language screamed with pent-up fury.
I’ve never seen Gabe that mad in his life.
I didn’t even know that was an emotion he had with how happy and goofy he always is.
He’s like a jokester, the class clown. You’d never expect that person to have a bad temper.
In that moment, he scared me. Without wanting to, my body and mind feared that anger he contained.
It reminded me too much of my past, too much of someone I desperately want to forget.
But then he asked me for a hug, and despite that smile he carried on his face, there was so much unspoken sadness behind it.
Although I could tell from the haunted look in his eyes, it wasn’t sadness toward what the person had said.
It was something else. Like the person on the phone had evoked a buried past that he didn’t want to relive.
And at that moment, all I wanted was to run into his arms. To tell him that everything would be okay, the same way I desperately needed someone to tell me that three years ago. But just like three years ago, those words were never spoken. But through my hug, I know he felt them.
I wait around the penthouse for Noah and Gabe to get home before heading out, since Gabe told me I couldn’t leave until he arrived with my new phone, even though I reminded him it wasn’t necessary.
I’m pretty sure I have an old one lying around somewhere in my room that I could use.
But he said it was out of the question and that since he was picking one up for himself, it just made more sense to get me one, too.
I walk over to the fridge and pull out a water bottle, then grab my medication bottle from the counter beside it and pop one pill.
I could probably go without the medication today, but I’m being cautious.
The cramps aren’t as bad today, thank God, because I would never be able to sit through a whole hockey game tonight if they were.
I lean my ass against the counter as I wait, bottle in hand, thinking about what little tricks Gabe might pull on me with this phone. Who knows, he might ask for something in exchange. I wouldn’t put it past him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if, when he hands it over, I find some very inappropriate photos of himself on it.
Or maybe he’ll text himself from my phone, saying how much I want him and declaring my undying love for him.
Then he’ll show it to our friends, claiming it was really me who wrote it.
The thought makes me laugh from where I stand, the water bottle inches from my lips.
“What’s got you laughing over there?”
I look up to find the man in question smirking at me from the couch, his butt leaning against the back of it, feet crossed at the ankles, and arms folded over his large chest. His tight gray shirt clings to his muscular torso and arms that bulge in their position.
His damp wavy-blond hair that falls to his shoulders is held back by a backwards baseball cap, and a devilish smirk lies on his clean-shaven face, white pearly teeth glimpsing out from the side.
Gabriel has that boyish charm. The one that makes you want to do wild, crazy things with him. He could ask you to go graffiti the Statue of Liberty, and all it would take is that smile to convince you. He’s ridiculously handsome.
“You,” I answer truthfully.
His smile broadens as he pushes off the couch and walks toward me. “Glad to know you’re thinking about me.”
I roll my eyes but still smile.
He comes to stand in front of me and hands me a brand-new iPhone.
The newest version, while mine was three generations old.
As predicted, the phone is already activated, and everything has been synced from my old one.
When I look up to thank him, the mischievous look in his eyes confirms my earlier thoughts. He definitely did something.
“What did you do?” I narrow my eyes to slits.
He holds his hands up. “Nothing. I swear, I’m a good boy.”
“The fact that you didn’t stop at ‘nothing’, then claimed you were a ‘good boy’ tells me you weren’t. What did you do to my phone, Ellis?” I raise a brow.
“You’ll just have to find out.” He winks, then lowers quickly and pecks my cheek. Noah and Gabe are practically the same height, although I suspect Gabe is maybe half an inch taller, maybe even a third.
When his lips hit my cheek, I expect something to happen, a feeling of unease to wash over me.
But again, it never comes. Yesterday every time he touched me, I felt calm.
I suspected it was because of my state of mind, but now I’m questioning if maybe something in me has shifted.
Maybe my mind and body finally understand that I have nothing to fear from Gabe, that he’s harmless.
That he’ll never hurt me like Victor did.
“Noh should be arriving soon. He had an interview with a reporter to do before leaving the arena. I’m off to nap. See you at the game later, Vixen.” He walks backwards and heads for the stairs as he finishes talking.
“Okay, I’m gonna head out now. Thank you for the phone, and good luck tonight!” I call out as he takes the steps two at a time, up to his room.
I head to the elevator just as it opens with Noah inside. “You leaving?” he asks as we switch positions, him in the foyer and me in the elevator.
“Yeah, but I’ll see you at the game tonight.” I grab his shirt quickly and kiss his cheek. “For good luck.” I wink.
He smiles broadly. “Bye, Veronica.”
“Bye, Noah,” I say as the doors to the elevator close.
I make my way down while texting Aubrey to find out where she is. She tells me she’s still at her brother’s house with all the girls and to join her there since she has my car. Once in the lobby, I get myself an Uber and head over to Emma’s. Forty-five minutes later, I’m finally at my destination.
“Hello, my beloved puck ladies,” I say with a smile as I march into the kitchen where all the girls are gathered around.
“Ugh, we never did end up changing that name. It makes us sound so old,” Emma whines while wrinkling her nose.
“Well, last I checked, there were still little humans around with tiny ears. So we can’t use the B word anymore,” I point out to her.
“I still think it sounds classy,” Morgan provides.
“I agree,” Aubrey says, nodding her head.
“Of course, you do, Miss Prim and Proper. You just don’t like being called a B-I-T-C-H.” I narrow my eyes at her, and she smiles.
“How are you feeling today, Ronnie?” Morgan questions softly. “Gabe said you weren’t doing so well yesterday.”
“He told you that?” I furrow my brows.
“Yeah, I called to invite them over for dinner, but they said you were napping and wanted to stay home to check on you. It’s really sweet if you ask me,” she finishes with a swoony sigh.
“That’s if it’s really what was going on.” Cecilia smirks.
“It was.” I point a finger at her. “Don’t start thinking things. Nothing’s going on there.” I turn back to Morgan. “And I’m feeling much better now.”
“Oh, good! I would hate for you to miss their game tonight.” She smiles at me. Morgan is a huge supporter of her husband. She practically goes to every single one of his games.
Emma reaches behind her for a wineglass, holding it in my direction. “Want one?”
It’s then I notice all the girls already have glasses.
I’m tempted to say yes, but then Gabe’s warning voice pops into my head, and I groan.
“I can’t. Gabe forbade me from having anything that could make my cramps worse.
He literally made me a list of what I can and can’t have.
Did you guys know he was such a health nut? ”
They all frown as they rack their brains. “Actually, now that you mention it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ellis eat anything that wasn’t healthy. Even when we’ve ordered pizza in the past, he always claimed he wasn’t hungry because he had just raided Silas’s nutrient bars,” Cecilia speaks up.
“It’s true. Except for drinking beer, I’ve never seen him eat junk food. He wouldn’t even have a piece of cake on my birthday, or at Gracie’s,” Em says.
“He didn’t want any dessert at your baby shower either,” Aubrey adds, addressing Cecilia.
“How are we just figuring this out? We spend so much time with those guys.” Morgan looks perplexed. “Jesus, I’ve fed him so many times, and I’ve never noticed.”
Now that actually makes me curious. Gabe and Noah often eat over at Morgan and Clay’s, yet Gabe is a phenomenal cook himself. Why eat somewhere else when you can make it yourself? Plus, he really seems to enjoy cooking. It seems both the boys are really good at hiding secrets.
I look around, noticing Dante and Gracie aren’t with their toys in the living room. “Are the kids napping?”
Emma holds up a water bottle this time, and I nod as she passes it over. “No, they’re out with their grandparents, though they should be coming back soon. We’re putting them down a little later, since they’ll be up past their bedtime and we don’t want them getting cranky at the game.”
“Makes sense.” My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out.
“You got a new phone?” Aubrey questions with curiosity as she looks it over in my hand.
“Yeah, my old one broke, so Gabe got me a new one.” When I look up, I find all of them staring at me. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say his name so often in one day.” Cecilia stares at me with wide eyes.
“So?”
They all look at each other, then back at me. “He bought you a phone. Did he ask for something in exchange?” Emma asks.
“Umm, no.” I furrow my brows.
They give each other that look again. “Wow, could it be?” Morgan questions finally.