23
Remember Me
Amanda
Friday finally rolls around, but I can’t enjoy the thought of a weekend of freedom. I’m too busy bouncing between elation, horniness, and defeat.
They share women. Ok, I can handle that. It also eases the guilt of being attracted to more than one person. I know there are limits on how far that goes. He made that obvious when he referenced Jake and Cade as their own unit. The streams don’t cross there.
But what kind of rules do you have to have in place for something like this? Can I demand that no other woman joins in? It doesn’t seem fair to them, but I couldn’t take that. I’d spiral and never come back.
Ace isn’t waiting for me in the parking lot, which is odd, but that’s okay. I still have a ton of thinking to do. Besides, walking to work in tennis shoes and jeans is ten times better than the version in office clothes.
I don’t want to admit Gabriel was right about my discomfort. He already knows based on how he looks me up and down every morning with a smug smirk.
I make it to the building in record time and take the elevator up. Vanessa is on the phone when I breeze past. I open the office doors quietly to see if I can sneak in to scare Gabriel.
I poke my head in for a quick peek. The sight that greets me freezes my body as if someone has hit pause.
Gabriel props his head up with his hands covering his face. Mikael is behind him, looking concerned as one hand rests on his shoulder. Ace is standing by the desk, looking helpless and grim as he watches.
There’s something so melancholy and downright broken to Gabriel’s posture that makes my heart ache in sympathy. Whatever is going on, it's hit him hard. He almost looks like he’s crying. The idea of it is paralyzing. He’s so unaffected by most things that this is a slap in the face of shock.
My mind spins fruitlessly, trying to figure out what might have happened and how to help. The first thing I come up with is a death in the family.
I close the door as silently as I can. None of them notice me and the soft sound could be covered by whatever Mikael is saying to comfort him. I continue walking backward and run into someone.
“What’s the matter?” Jake whispers in my ear, trying his idiotic best to be creepy. My heart hurts too bad to be fazed.
I turn to look at him with wide eyes, catching Cade at his side as usual. They seem amused at my panic. Maybe they don’t know yet. I can’t get a word out as I stare between them.
When Jake tries to pass me, I grab his bicep with wide eyes. He glances down at my hand, his brows furrowing, and then back to me. He cradles my knuckles with his palm to keep my hand there.
“What’s wrong?” His tone is actually serious for once. It draws Cade’s attention with a snap. His usual smirk drops in an instant.
“Don’t go in there. I think he needs a minute. Or an hour. Or to just go home.”
“Who?” Jake asks with the barest hint of confusion.
“Gabriel,” I hiss with wide eyes. “I’m not joking. He needs a minute. Do you guys know what happened?”
They glance at each other, and I see when comprehension breaks over them. Jake’s body language becomes tense in seconds. Cade’s expression falls into a sad kind of resignation.
Of both of them, Cade’s reaction hits me the hardest. How can such an upbeat man sink into despair that quickly? He must have a lot of practice at it. The realization amps my concern up dramatically. Please don’t let him fall apart, too.
“Shit,” Cade mutters and runs a hand through his hair.
“With everything going on, I forgot,” Jake shakes his head with a sigh.
“Forgot what? Is he ok? Are you ok?” I look back and forth between them in rising concern.
“No, he’s not. And we all get to pretend one more time that he is.” The bitter tone of Cade’s voice is surprising. I notice he wiped away my question about his mental state with narrowed eyes.
“I can’t go in there and pretend I didn’t see that,” I tell him helplessly. “He needs something. What would help?”
“Do not do anything, Amanda,” Cade says sternly, his depression turning into anger aimed all at me. “No jokes or giving him shit today.”
“Well, duh,” I snap quietly back. “I want that to stop , not make it worse.”
“Just go in there and pretend everything is fine. Sit down, highlight, and don’t talk,” Cade insists.
I nod helplessly. Yeah, he’s being rude as hell, but I’ll do whatever it takes not to see that again.
“There’s nothing I can do? What’s going on?”
“There’s nothing any of us can do,” Jake sighs and taps my hand to get me to let go.
Cade swallows hard and glances over his shoulder at Vanessa, but she’s still on a call. He turns back to me to whisper, “This is fucking serious, Amanda. Behave today.”
I’m not that bad, am I? I rear back from him with a frown.
“Today is the anniversary of his mother getting murdered right in front of him,” Cade’s eyes narrow intently on me.
My jaw drops, and so does my heart.
“No,” I whisper helplessly. “Oh no.”
Out of all the things I thought could be waiting in that room like a ticking time bomb, that was nowhere on the list.
“Yeah,” Cade’s brows go up. “He was a kid, and his dad makes it a point every fucking year to get together and mourn her loss. Like Gabe fucking needs that reminder. Then he takes him out to some fancy restaurant and berates him for not saving her life. Like it’s his fault that she didn’t make it.”
My heart hurts with how much pain he must be in. Did that asshole call him already? We have to stop him! How can Gabriel heal with that in his face all day? And he’s been doing this every year ?
“Gabe finally put his foot down and isn’t going this time,” Jake adds darkly.
“Which means the real Matthias is fucking furious and is going to be relentless all day,” Cade confirms what I’m already suspecting.
“What a dick,” I mutter in wonder. And then I wince. The guy lost his wife, and grief makes people insane. But his son deserves a chance to grieve his own way.
“That motherfucker doesn’t get to today,” I nod firmly. “We have to take away any chance he has of reaching Gabriel.”
They both rear back to stare at me in surprise.
“Come on, guys,” I whisper angrily. “There’s no way I’m going to sit back and let someone put that look on his face. Fuck that and fuck his dad with a razor pineapple too.”
“That’s graphic,” Jake raises a brow. “I approve.”
Cade is the one who starts nodding, getting into it.
“Who has his phone?” Cade asks Jake.
“Probably Mikael. Ace would be too pissed off to be nice about it. Mik can stonewall him.”
“We don’t answer no matter what,” Cade starts setting up a plan that I’m not a part of, but I’m into immediately. “Take Gabe’s phone and Mikael’s too. Get in the car and start driving that way. If Matthias tracks his location, he’ll assume Gabe is giving in. Having Mik’s phone will convince him it’s legit. We’ll shut him down here so he can’t get any info.”
“What a piece of shit,” I mutter in disgust.
No wonder Ace said they aren’t whole people. Shit like this is why. His own father has done this every year since he was a kid. Even his guards know the routine.
The phone rings at Vanessa’s desk, and I break into a run when she picks it up. My fingers slam down on the button to cut the connection as I pant.
“What are you doing?” She demands with a sneer. “This is my job.”
“If the big Mr. Matthias calls, our Matthias is not in,” I tell her with wide eyes. “No calls come through no matter what, ok? If he has meetings, cancel them until next century. He got out of the fence, and we lost his leash.”
She scoffs and then sees Jake and Cade. Their serious expressions and the nodding are what convince her.
“What do I do?” She turns to me in utter confusion.
“Tell him the phone line is out,” I burst out and look back at the guys hopefully. “Staticky connection? Problems with the phone company?”
“How about he isn’t in ,” Cade deadpans with a scowl. “You used to be smooth.”
“I’m panicking,” I squeak back. “Why can’t he just go home? It’s not like he has to call out. He’s the boss!”
“No calls today,” Ace says quietly and then sees us all at the desk.
He takes in my expression and then glances at Jake and Cade with a hard look. “What did you say to her?”
“I saw Gabriel and freaked,” I rush to intercept whatever anger is brewing inside him. I get in between his dark scowl and the twin terrors without hesitation. “They explained what’s going on. We’re coming up with ways to keep his dad away. Cade came up with a great plan. Help us help him .”
Ace’s shoulders drop, and he pinches my chin with a sad smile. “Darlin’. No tricks planned for today, right?”
“No,” I shake my head. “I swear.”
“Good,” he mutters, his usual flirting put on the backburner. “I’m liable to be grumpy today. Don’t take it serious, ok?”
“Ok,” I whisper back with a tight smile. “We’ll get through this. One day. It’ll be ok.”
“I said that once,” Cade mutters and brushes past me. “It never gets better.”
He sounds like he’s speaking from experience.
“I’ll start the plan rolling,” Jake says and puts a finger to his lips. “Play innocent little imp.”
“Ok,” I nod and look at Ace again. “Is there anything I can do? I can’t just sit there.”
“He ain’t gonna be up to toleratin’ anythin’ today,” he tells me and sighs.
I nod and straighten myself up. I look down at my jeans with a wince.
“Pretend it’s another day,” he kisses my forehead and then abandons me too.
I share a pained wince with Vanessa and pretend it’s another day. With laryngitis. No talking.
The phone rings again, and we both look down in dread.
“He can’t fire me,” she whispers to herself in determination and then answers the phone in her usual snooty voice.
I hurry into the office and softly shut the door behind me. Mikael shakes his head when he sees me, and I nod. The agreement relaxes him.
Cade lays out his plan to an oblivious Gabriel, collects Mikael and Gabriel’s phones and hands them to Jake. Then he takes Jake’s phone and hands it to Mikael. I hope this works.
Jake gives me a wink as he walks past me to leave. I take my spot at my desk, praying Gabriel doesn’t look up and notice me freaking out over here.
He doesn’t. For hours. He’s staring at the wood grain as if he’s seeing the future and trapped in the vision. He doesn’t even pretend to do paperwork even though his pen is in his hand. It’s the strangest and most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen. All I want is to get up and give him a hug.
When Ace sees me chewing my nails in the corner, he glares. It startles me into a flurry of highlighting. All the lines are shaky today.
His mom was murdered in front of him. Did they catch the guy? Is he or she in prison rotting away? Dead and six feet under? God, I hope it’s the second option. And that every day for that person they get to experience exactly what Gabriel is going through right now. Every damn day for eternity.
No one is talking. The TV isn’t on. I think we all have our phones turned off or set to silent. I don’t dare play any music. It’s a funeral in here. I wince at the thought.
“ Where is she? ”
The scream of rage comes from beyond the closed doors and startles me bad enough that I drop my highlighter.
Oh shit.
Highlighters.
“Don’t you shush me! I want to know where that bitch is right now !”
My horrified eyes meet the glares of the three guards left. I shake my head helplessly. I can’t exactly defend myself. I’ve been waiting for Sarah to come up here and throw a fit for a week now. I planned on pulling the headphones out of my purse and putting them on to watch Gabriel suffer with my middle fingers raised.
But not today of all days!
My mouth works as a sharp scream echoes down to us, and my eyes slide to Gabriel.
His eyes are squeezed shut and he’s gripping his all-important pen so hard I’m afraid he’s going to snap the metal.
I can’t just sit here. I have to do something . Even if it’s wrong.
I bounce out of my seat quickly and yank my purse up to grab the headphones. Then I snatch up the highlighters spread everywhere, even the ones Gabriel bought. Before Ace can take a single enraged step forward to stop me, I hurry by him to drop the headphones on the desk and gasp out, “Put these on. I’ve got this.”
I close the door gently behind me and start stomping forward.
“Take your harpy voice down two thousand notches right now ,” I hiss angrily as I approach Sarah.
“There you are,” she says with relish at full volume. “You are getting fired today, that’s for sure.”
“Probably,” I agree with a dark glare. “Because your dumbass picked the wrong fucking day to start some shit.”
“Oh really,” she smirks. This egotistical shrew!
I throw the highlighters at her smug face.
“Yeah, really, you infected twat waffle!” I bark while she gapes at me. If she wants a fight, I’m willing to go there.
“Shh,” Vanessa hisses with wide eyes, staring at the closed doors behind us.
“Sorry,” I whisper back violently and turn my attention back to the problem. “Get your sorry ass out of here and keep your mouth shut.”
“You just assaulted me!” She screams back in rage.
“That was the tip of the iceberg!” I yell, yanking off my shoe to wave it threateningly. “You’re about to have a shoe to the face. Then I’ll throw you down the stairs, drag your carcass out to the parking lot, and back over you seventy times! ”
Wait, I don’t have a car. Doesn’t matter.
“Amanda!” Vanessa gasps and picks up the phone. To dial security, I hope.
“You have five fucking seconds to take your scrawny ass to the elevator and leave . If you’re lucky, it won’t be down the open shaft.”
“You think you can get away with all of this?” She asks me in shock.
“I will hand-make you a bouquet of highlighter flowers if you shut the fuck up and get out of here!”
She gives me a shriek that snaps my last nerve. The hand holding the shoe whips out, and she gets slapped across the cheek. The smack is violent enough that she stumbles back on her heels. The red imprint that comes up has jagged lines in the shape of the treads. I gape at the sight in horror. I didn’t mean to hit her that hard.
“You did that to you,” I defend myself stupidly right as the elevator doors swoosh open and two security guards exit.
I drop the shoe with wide eyes and throw my hands up to signal I’m unarmed.
“ Her ,” Vanessa jabs an accusing finger at Sarah, who’s still staring at me with her jaw dropped.
“You hit me,” she whines loudly and touches her cheek in shock.
“It was self-defense,” Vanessa rallies, giving the guards a stern nod. “She was asked politely to leave and became defiant and violent. Look at the mess she made.”
“ What? ” Sarah snaps at her angrily as Vanessa gestures to the scattered highlighters.
“Come with us, miss,” one of the guys says and reaches for her arm. She yanks herself away from him and hurries to get into Gabriel’s office. My bare foot shoots out to trip her in a last desperate bid to keep her out, and she falls flat on her face.
The pained wail that comes out makes me cringe and yell, “ Shut up! I’ve fallen harder than that on the stairs, you pussy!”
The guards manhandle her up while giving me a wide berth. She complains all the way to the elevator until the doors close.
We breathe a sigh of relief until the complete silence hits us. Then we look at each other in horror.
“I yelled,” I whisper with a cringe.
“And assaulted her. I’m impressed, honestly,” Vanessa says in surprise.
“I have to go back in there and pretend it’s just another day.” I look down at my shoe and hop around to put it back on.
“No sympathy,” Vanessa snaps back. “I have to fill out paperwork on this disaster and field off HR calls.”
“I’m so sorry,” I cringe and plead with her. “Save me, please.”
“No. I’m hoping he fires you today, and I won’t have to deal with you anymore.”
“You liar,” I snap and drop my hands from the prayer position. “You love it.”
“Not today, I don’t.”
We both sober at that comment and I take a deep breath for courage as I meekly walk back to the door. I stand there, shifting on my feet with indecision. I could run.
“Get in there already.” Vanessa startles me into motion. I whip the door open and try to act nonchalant.
The enraged glares I’m getting make that harder than the shame that’s piling on top of me.
Gabriel is leaning back in his chair, fiddling with the headphones without looking up.
“Is that the only drama I’ll have to deal with today?”
His voice has the normal cold tones, but it’s weak. It makes me cringe, and I immediately go into passive mode. I don’t have it in me to be snarky with him right now.
“Yes. I’m so sorry.”
He nods slowly and says, “Pity.”
I blink in surprise, and the rest of the guys turn to him with a frown.
“Do you have any highlighters left?”
I glance at the desk and spot one that fell on the floor. “Yes? And I could go out to Vanessa’s desk and pick up the ones I threw- I mean dropped . Dropped.”
“Ace?”
“Yeah?” He startles upright in confusion.
“Pull up the security tapes.”
Ace frowns for a second before he turns to give me an unholy grin. My cheeks flame with embarrassment. I start shaking my head. Gabriel’s head is down, so he doesn’t see it.
“Please don’t,” I mouth to him.
“Sure thing, Gabe.” His smile widens until he looks demented.
“Traitor,” I snap with no sound and glare as Ace shrugs.
“Be sure to blank out any other copies,” Gabriel adds, setting the headphones down to look at me.
His eyes are bloodshot, and his face is pale. He looks horrible.
“You want popcorn too?” I snark and then flinch. Me and my damn mouth.
“I do,” he agrees calmly and then stands to move over to the couch. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him sit there. It’s starting to feel like an alternate dimension.
I look around in confusion. Mikael meets my eyes and gives me a gentle, proud smile that makes my heart thump in my chest.
“I got it,” Cade says, standing and going to the kitchen area to pop some while I gape at him. He winks at me as he passes.
That settles it. This is a new dimension.
“Come sit down,” Gabriel turns so he can see me from the corner of his eyes.
I hurry to sit on the couch with a decent space between us and stare at the blank screen tensely.
When Ace brings in a disc and starts it, my face is on fire with shame. It starts with me marching out and hissing at her, the throw and highlighters flying everywhere. I see Vanessa rear back from me with eyes wide enough to pop out. Then me shouting, which is weird with no sound. I look like a psycho when I take my shoe off and threaten her. By the time I slap her with it, I have my face hidden behind my hands.
Mikael clears his throat. I’m hoping it’s because the video is over.
“Play it again,” Gabriel says in a shaky voice. I sink lower into the couch and pray a hole opens up to take me to another world far away.
And then he starts laughing. It starts off small and then builds until he’s bent at the waist. My hands drop to my lips in horror. I broke him. I single-handedly broke this man, and I can’t do anything about it. He has tears streaming from his eyes. A look around shows Cade struggling not to laugh. Ace has a hand over his mouth as he watches the screen. I don’t want to look at Mikael.
“It’s not funny. It’s embarrassing,” I snap, and he looks at me and gets louder.
“Stop it,” I protest hotly. If my face gets any redder, I might pop a blood vessel.
“Vanessa is looking up how to make highlighter bouquets,” Ace says helpfully. “Why is that, darlin’?”
“Shut up, Ace,” I glare at him intensely, and he breaks into laughter too.
“Thank you for defending my honor,” Gabriel says in a tone that shakes with laughter. He suddenly looks so much lighter than the heavy weight he had on his shoulders a few minutes ago.
“You don’t deserve it,” I snark without thinking and cross my arms. “And it was your delicate ears I was protecting you ass.”
“And you just happened to have noise-canceling headphones in your purse?” He asks slyly.
My eyes widen with guilt and he starts laughing all over again.
“You know what you need? Some alcohol,” I slap my hands on my thighs and stand up to get him a glass of whatever he has back there. It turns out to be whiskey or gin. Nothing else. I go with whiskey and hope for the best.
They’re still watching the video on repeat. I put the glass on the coffee table and settle at my desk to ignore them as best I can.
Things go back to a sort of normal. Gabriel stays on the couch, watching the video over and over while chuckling randomly. Cade leaves on some errand. Then Ace and Mikael do, too. I don’t realize it’s just us until Gabriel pulls up a chair next to me. Where did he get a metal one?
It startles me because I’ve been zoning out, so I won’t hear them laughing at my dramatic ass. The first chance I get, I’m stealing that video and breaking it.
We sit in silence at first. I’m nervously trying to ignore him, my eyes laser-focused on finding more names. With only one highlighter left I’m a little limited, but it’s all I can think of to do.
“Someone told you about today?” He asks in a stiff voice.
I swallow hard, my shoulders slumping in defeat. I fiddle with the highlighter for a second.
“Only a little. Enough to keep my mouth shut. Sorry I ruined that.”
He makes a thoughtful sound, his eyes focused on some memory that he probably shouldn’t be seeing. He needs a distraction.
“So-” I start feebly, ready to offer him another drink. If I have to replay the damn video, I will. Pride be damned.
“My parents had an arranged marriage.”
Oh shit. He’s opening up to me. Why? I’m nobody to him.
Then again, if I’m just passing through, he might see me as a therapist. Oh God, was South my warm-up? I’m not ready for another life-altering event talk!
I try to shut that shit down quickly.
“I’m not a-”
“I don’t think my mother would have ever left him. No matter how many mistresses he had.”
This motherfucker is so determined! And now I’m hooked on the drama.
Damn it!
“Shade was born three years before my mother died. I found that out later.”
Well, hello, Napalmed Bridge. It's nice to see you again. I wonder if Shade has figured that out yet.
“That’s not his fault,” I whisper helplessly.
“I’ve realized that. He has his own scars to face. I don’t need to add to them.”
Phew. Good on Gabe, using his brain and feelers in sync for once.
“Father got caught up in some shady dealings and refused to pay it back. I despise the mafia.”
Ok, ok, stop stalling. Everyone but dark romance readers hates the mafia. Big deal. I’m invested now.
“Mother was my world,” his voice falls into a confused whisper. “And she was nothing to him. An object not worth keeping.”
My brows furrow for several reasons. First of all, that dick doesn’t deserve to have teeth. Second of all, where does he live? Would Gabriel pay for a plane ticket? I’m motivated.
I should apologize to South for stopping her from attacking that therapist. I get it now.
“I was eight. They came for us at home. We were celebrating my good grades,” he lets out a bitter laugh. “She gave me this pen as a reward.”
I glance at the metal pen in his hand. The one he always keeps with him. My heart gets a bruising punch. My chest aches for him.
This emotional dick is determined to make me cry today. I’m convinced.
“Three thugs broke in. Security wasn’t what it is today. Mother told me to hide. So, I did.”
His voice cracks, and I blink a few times. You know what would be more useful than sorrow right now? Beating the shit out of an old man. My anger overtakes the sadness, allowing me to keep listening.
“I did. But I still saw. I froze. She suffered before she died.”
How can he break a tragedy this big into bite-sized pieces like that?
“Are they dead now?” My voice comes out without emotion. My anger is turning into hate quickly.
“Oh, yes,” he lets out a weak chuckle.
“Good,” I gnash my teeth to try to stay calm. Hopefully he doesn’t notice how hard my hands are shaking.
I can feel his stare hitting me. I can’t look at him yet. I’m trying to do some breathing exercises and staring at the couch like I could break it with my mind.
“And Daddy dearest?” I choke out. “Where was he?”
“With a mistress,” he admits with a frown. I barely catch it from the corner of my eye.
I make a thoughtful sound instead of flipping the table. My hands clench so hard that the highlighter cracks in my hand. When I stay quiet, he continues.
“He’s used my guilt over it to manipulate me ever since.”
“You were a child,” I snap, breaking out of my carefully held restraint. My harsh breathing is loud. “My Mom would have done the same damn thing. Any Mom would. That piece of shit is shoving off his complete failure to be a decent husband and dad on you. Sic Ace on him. If you do, I want pictures. Fuck that guy.”
“I chose to cut all ties to him,” he admits, like he’s trying to compromise with me. I seriously doubt Ace appreciates his restraint. I know I don’t.
Since this is none of my damn business, that will have to do.
By the time I get my breathing under control, he’s shut himself in his meat locker isolation again.
“How can I help?” He asks me in a normal, uptight tone.
“By going away?” I mutter hopefully. If he starts in with the emotional crap again, I might hit him in self-defense.
“I need something to do.”
I look at him, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. His gaunt face. He may sound right, but he doesn’t look ok.
“Take a nap?”
He gives me a flat look.
“For real,” I tell him softly. “You look exhausted. Go home and take a personal day.”
“No.”
“Then stay here and take a personal day,” I roll my eyes. “The couch looks comfy. Sleep there.”
We stare at each other, and my eyebrow slowly climbs the longer it goes on.
“If you keep staring, I’m going to start calling you Ace.”
His lips twitch up in a smile, and he leans back in the chair. Then he frowns and readjusts, trying to get comfortable. This is a perfect opportunity to give him shit. I would feel bad about it, but being his therapist has to have a few perks.
“Aw, can someone’s rich ass not get comfy in a normal chair?” I fake pout in sympathy.
He scoffs, “If you sit in my chair, you’ll take it home with you.”
“That’s an idea. Get in your chair and make Mikael wheel you home. He’s strong enough to see the job done. We can take bets on how long it will take.”
He laughs, relaxing back and then starts shifting again.
“Oh my God, you spoiled little shit. Go lay down on the couch.” I crack up at the disgusted look on his face.
“How have you been sitting here? No wonder you’re always in a bad mood,” he gripes.
“And I thought I was dramatic,” I scoff. I get up and pick a pillow from the couch to toss at him. “Now I’m protecting your delicate ass . This job is the worst.”
He gets up and places the pillow down while I gape. I was joking, and he’s so pompous his ass can’t meet metal.
“Look at this,” I gasp with wide eyes and pull a blanket out of a hidden cubby on the couch. “So tempting.”
He glares at me and slides a folder in front of him, stealing the only highlighter for himself. Then he stares down at the file and doesn’t move. I can see him going down the rabbit hole of his own thoughts again.
I fling the blanket at him in frustration. It lands over his head. The move startles him until he stands and throws it off with an enraged glare.
“Nap time,” I point at the couch defiantly.
“Fuck off,” he snaps.
“I can’t trust you with anything work-related. You’ve been drinking.”
“ You gave it to me,” he gapes in disbelief.
“And I will give you another one if you come lay down,” I raise a brow.
“I didn’t want the first one.”
“Then why did you drink it?”
“I was savoring you being nice for once,” his glare goes dark. “That didn’t last long.”
“Fine,” I shrug and flop down on the couch myself. “Night.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I make a big production of getting comfortable and let out a huge sigh. “So comfy. Much better than that chair.”
“Get back to work,” he demands. It sounds like he’s at the end of the couch, breathing fire.
I snuggle in deeper and let out another exaggerated sigh.
“You asshole,” his voice drops in disbelief. My lips twist up in a smile, but I don’t open my eyes.
And then a weight crushes me into the cushions, forcing the wind out of me. The blanket drops over me as he shifts around until we’re both lying on our sides with his back to my face.
“Night,” his smug voice makes me angry at first, and then I start laughing.
“And I’m an asshole,” I choke out and shove him. “You’re such a kid.”
“Like you’re any better.”
“Have you asked Mikael to build you a tree house yet?” I tease and blow some of his hair out of my face. It flies up and drops over his cheek.
“Can I get some fucking sympathy here?”
He says it in a laughing tone, but it sobers me. He seems to sense the mood change and his body stiffens up. He was doing so much better while I was being an ass, but I can’t help feeling upset at what he’s suffered through. No wonder he’s made of ice.
I give a disgruntled sigh and flop my arm around his waist to hold him. I’ve wanted to hug him all day, and this is as close as I’m getting. He took his jacket off, so I get a handful of hard abs that surprises me. He must exercise with Mikael. Holy shit.
“Go to sleep,” I demand, trying not to panic. I made a mistake here.
“No,” he mutters back without any force.
“Hurry up so I can draw dicks on your forehead.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” his suspicious tone is filled with dread.
“Wouldn’t I?” I lean close to his ear and give a soft villain laugh. I can’t resist. I like vulnerable, honest Gabriel. I don’t enjoy the sad, empty version. If this is what he needs, then I’ll give it to him.
“Quit.”
I settle back and get quiet. I’m expecting him to get up any second and act like an asshole. Instead, he slowly relaxes, and his breathing gets even. It makes my chest ache as he falls asleep. He should have stayed home and eaten ice cream with whiskey poured over it. I would have.
The heat from his body and the blanket makes me groggy. I shift a little to try and get up, and he leans back to crush me into submission.
“Stop wiggling,” he mutters angrily.
“I’m going to fall asleep,” I hiss back.
“So?”
And then he starts softly snoring.
Really? I outsmarted myself with this one. It’s my last thought before sleep pulls me under.