21. Veronica #3
“Yeah, actually I just got to the condo.” She listens for a moment. “Oh okay, sure. We haven’t gone in yet, so I’ll just wait before heading up, so you don’t have to ring… Okay, see you in a bit.”
She hangs up and looks at us. Apparently, I’m not the only one not enjoying that phone call. One look at Gabe and he looks ready to rip someone’s head off.
“So… Nathan’s coming to pick up some of his stuff he left at my place a while back.
He was supposed to collect them before we left on vaca, but he had an emergency, so he canceled.
He said he was right around the corner and asked if he could stop by,” she clarifies for us as she looks out the window. “Oh, he’s already here.”
Veronica quickly steps out of the car as Gabe and I follow suit. She walks over to him as he opens his arms, only hesitating a second before reaching up and accepting his hug. I hear a growl erupt from Gabe’s throat at my side as he watches them.
Veronica must hear it too, because she swiftly steps out of his embrace and glares at Gabe. She then smiles awkwardly at all of us before snapping out of it. “Um, Nathan, this is Noah and Gabriel. Noah, Gabe, this is Nathan.”
We nod at each other in acknowledgment. “So, you’re the friend?” Gabe says in a not-so-friendly voice.
Nathan smiles broadly with another nod, then looks at me. “And you’re the boyfriend.”
Now it’s my turn to smile and quickly turn it into a smirk. “One of them.”
His eyebrows rise as he turns to Veronica. “Damn, Rons. You went from not wanting to date to having two boyfriends?” He throws his head back and laughs. “Good for you.” He finishes with a smile aimed at her.
She punches his arm. “Shut up.” Then rolls her eyes. “All right, well, let’s go inside. Unless you guys want to start a pissing contest or something.”
Gabe takes a step toward her and throws his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, baby. I can’t wait to see your room so we can get started on that baby making.” He turns her toward the entrance to her building.
“Oh my God, Gabe! I was joking!”
He kisses her temple and laughs. “Whatever you say, Vixen.”
I chuckle at the same time as Nathan does. Okay, maybe he’s not too bad of a guy.
We enter the building and step into the waiting elevator, making our way to the fourth floor.
No one says a word, all standing awkwardly around Veronica, until Gabe breaks the silence.
“Now I understand how Silas must have felt when he was around Ford after finding out he slept with his girl.” He whistles. “Fucking unpleasant.”
“Jesus, Ellis. Shut up,” I grunt out.
Nathan shakes his head with a smirk. “For what it’s worth, Rons and I were only ever friends with the occasional hookup.”
“Not helping at all,” Gabe grumbles.
“Boys, behave,” Veronica chides us.
“By the way, congrats on your win,” he says with a genuine smile.
“Thanks, man.” I smile back. I have no idea if he has any intentions of staying in my Kitten’s life, but might as well get used to it now.
We finally reach her floor and enter her condo to find Aubrey standing in the kitchen. “Oh, hey! I thought you were already at Morg’s,” Veronica says as she walks over to her.
“Not yet, I had a few things to do at the bakery before heading over, and I spilled coffee on my shirt, so I came in to get changed.” She smiles, then her eyes turn round when she notices us all standing by the door.
“Oh, wow… hi everyone…” She waves hesitantly, then turns back to Veronica. “This is weird, right?”
“Very weird.” Kitten giggles. “Nathan just stopped by to collect some things of his. And I wanted to grab some spare clothes, since I’m spending the night with these two giants.”
“I’m just gonna head back and grab my things, if that’s okay?” Nathan steps up to the girls, pointing toward Veronica’s room.
“Yeah, just go ahead.”
“Thanks. Hey, Brey.” He smiles at her before heading down the hall.
“Hi, Nathan.” She blushes for a moment, then shakes it off. “Oh! This came in for you as I was stepping into the building.”
Veronica’s brows furrow as she inspects the rectangular package. “That’s weird, I didn’t order anything.” She picks it up and shakes the box as something rattles inside. She goes to open it just as Nathan reappears.
“Got everything. I’m gonna head out, my shift starts soon. See you around, Rons. Don’t be a stranger. Bye everyone.” He hugs her again, then waves and leaves with two or three items of clothing and a watch in hand.
Veronica gets back to opening her package, ripping through the tape with one hand while holding the box with her other.
She pushes the flaps open and looks inside.
A loud gasp leaves her lips, making all the little hairs on my body stand to attention.
The color drains from her face as the box falls from her hands.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Gabe rushes to her side, taking her in his arms as she begins to shake.
I go to reach for the package just as Aubrey looks inside the box. “Oh my God…” She covers her mouth with her hands while looking down in horror.
I pick it up and look inside.
“Oh fuck…”
This guy isn’t messing around anymore.