Chapter 14
Gabe
The sound of the door closing as Elle left my room moved through my body. I felt in my ears, in my chest, in my very core. By her walking out the door, we were both literally and figuratively closing the door on what we had done the night before.
I rolled onto my side and onto the pillow that Elle had slept on. Her scent lingered and I pressed my face into it. My body immediately reacted to even the simple act of smelling her. I let out a frustrated growl. I rolled onto my back again, taking the pillow with me then dropped it to my side.
Even as I took Elle in my arms, I knew it was a mistake.
She was my daughter’s best friend. She was half my age.
She had been drinking and was a bit tipsy.
No matter what Elle might say or think, I had taken advantage of her.
I hadn’t cared; I wanted her, and she had looked at me with such love, such need, I was helpless to stop myself.
When I woke and saw her getting ready to sneak out of my bed, I almost let her.
She had known what the night was as much as I did.
She knew there wasn’t anything more we needed to say.
Yet, I hadn’t wanted her to leave. It was reckless and not like me at all, but I wanted her to stay.
I wanted to hold on to what we had, what we had shared for a little while longer.
I saw the regret on her face as soon as she looked at me. It hurt. There was a part of me that had hoped that she would have smiled at me, rolled back into bed, and the morning would have ended completely differently.
She had been smarter than me; she had been willing to walk away from me and what we had shared. I knew she was right. I knew it was the right thing to do and say. But it left a sour taste in my mouth when I did.
I hadn’t expected us to sleep together. I had honestly wanted to be friendly with her the night before. But I didn’t regret what occurred, nor would I apologize for longing for it to happen again.
But just because I wanted her again, didn’t mean I could or should. Sarah had asked me to watch out for her friend. She certainly hadn’t expected her father to sleep with her friend less than two weeks after she had moved in.
Elle was right, Sarah would freak out if she ever found out. Which was why it could never happen again, why we had said as much to each other. I had meant it when I had agreed with Elle, but it didn’t make the ache of wanting her or the desire to be with her easier to bear.
I rubbed my hands over my face and tried to get the image of Elle standing in my doorway out of my mind. It didn’t work. I rolled out of bed and took a shower, but all I could think about was what it would be like if she were in the shower with me.
My mood did not improve when I came out of my room to find that she had already left for the day.
I could tell as her backpack wasn’t by the door.
I wondered if she would go up to her parents, avoid me and the apartment for the rest of the weekend.
I wouldn’t blame her. All things considered, it might be for the best.
I wasn’t sure what I would have said to her if I had seen her.
Again, she was being smarter than me and avoiding me and the situation.
I walked into the kitchen and made myself some coffee; I saw her mug sitting in the sink.
I stared at the mug for a second and even seeing it made me want her.
I knew it was going to take more than a week or some busy days at work for me to get over wanting her.
It would take me even longer to forget what it was like to have Elle in my arms.
I leaned against the counter and took a long, slow breath.
I knew what I needed to do but I was hesitant to do it.
But the best way to get over Elle was to be with another woman, any woman.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contact lists.
I really didn’t see who I was calling, I just knew I needed to call someone, anyone.
But even as I made plans for dinner that night, I knew it was a big mistake.