Chapter 40
CHASE
Are you both in town?
IVORY
Everything okay?
ME
What’s going on?
CHASE
I really hope she doesn’t get mad at me for this but Gabby needs you.
I start to type out a demand that he tell me what’s wrong, but decide to call instead. He sends me to voicemail. We haven’t talked much the past week, but I assumed it was because she was tied up with Chase and work. Now, I’m kicking myself for not paying more attention.
ME
Answer the phone.
CHASE
I can’t right now. And I won’t betray her confidence by telling you what’s happening but I get the sense that she is going to text you anyway.
IVORY
I just went over to Gabby’s and no one is home.
CHASE
We’ll be home soon.
ME
We’ll be there.
My phone rings with an incoming call from Ivory as I rush around the penthouse to get my stuff together. The guys have a game tonight, so I’m packing a bag just in case we have an impromptu sleepover.
Popping my ear buds in, I answer the call. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Ivory says somberly. “I’m worried.”
“Me too, Ives. Everything will be okay though. She’s got us.”
“Do you think we should ask Miller if he knows anything?”
“No. If he knows, he’s clearly kept it between them and if he doesn’t, she doesn’t want him to know.”
“I’d bet he already knows and has been hiding it from us,” she huffs.
“For the blabbermouth of the group, he’s surprisingly good at keeping things in the vault.” Miller never told Preston about Gabby and Chase hooking up at their wedding, and we’ve never talked about it either, even though we were both there earlier that night.
“I think there’s a lot we don’t know about Ryan Miller,” Ivory muses.
“Yeah, like his secret social media thirst traps.” I laugh, recalling when Miller showed us his jump roping videos on social media last fall.
“Are you on your way over?”
“I’m about to leave. I was packing a bag just in case.”
“You can crash with me if she doesn’t want us to stay over tonight,” Ivory offers.
Picking up my bag off the bed and my purse from the hook on the wall by the door, I leave the penthouse. “Thanks. Anything I can grab from the store on my way?”
“I’ve got wine and tequila, so drinks are covered. Maybe chips, salsa, and queso? Some movie snacks? I don’t know the last time she and Miller had a movie night or the state of their stash.”
“I’ll stop at the grocery store on the corner.” Pressing the button for the lobby in the elevator, I pace back and forth, too anxious to stand still even for the short ride to the ground floor.
“I have cheese so I’ll make a board.”
“Great. See you soon.”
“Drive safe.”
I hang up just as I step up to the valet.
There’s no chit chat today. I nod my head for my car and toss the bags into the backseat when he pulls the car around.
The traffic isn’t terrible despite the mid-afternoon hour, and I make it to the store and Gabby’s by the time Chase texts to let us know they’re on the way home.
A few minutes later, a text comes through from Gabby.
GABBY
I need you.
ME
We’ve got you.
IVORY
Waiting for you at home.
For Gabby to say she needs us means something big is going on.
She rarely lets us in to see all her struggles.
It was like pulling teeth to get her to tell us Mark and Ricardo were giving her trouble before I witnessed it with my own eyes.
My best friend is the one always going out of her way to support her friends, but suffering in silence on her own.
Since Chase came into her life, I’ve noticed a shift.
She’s more open and free with her feelings.
It’s something I’ve always wished for her.
And it’s another reason I need to stay in Nashville—to be surrounded by my chosen family, support them when they need it and to lean on them too.
I’m happy Grant and I had the conversation a few nights ago and are making plans to move my stuff here permanently.
What I don’t need in Nashville, I plan to move to his brownstone and then sell my place.
It served its purpose, and I don’t want to hold onto it anymore.
“What can I grab?” Ivory asks, walking out Gabby’s back door when I step out of the car.
“Here,” I pass her a couple grocery bags and reach back into the car for my purse and the last of the snacks.
“Let’s get this set up on the porch for when they get here.”
We work in silence, unpacking the snacks in containers and taking them out to the porch.
Before long, Gabby’s car pulls into the driveway with Chase in the driver’s seat and a sad-looking Gabby in the passenger seat.
He waits for the gate to open and then pulls down far enough for Gabby to get out and walk up the front path to the porch.
Everything about Gabby’s demeanor puts me on edge. Her eyes are downcast and detached. She wrings her hands together in front of her and her steps are slow. Chase follows her with his hand on her lower back and a mixture of concern and hopelessness on his face.
“Wow, you got here fast,” Gabby says once she reaches the steps.
“Chase texted us a few hours ago,” Ivory tells her.
“You did?” She looks up at him in surprise as tears well in her eyes.
He leans down to whisper into her ear. I can’t make out all of what he says, but I do hear him say, “didn’t feel right leaving you alone.”
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Princess. Ladies, thank you for coming over. I need to get going but really appreciate it.”
“Always.” I reach out to squeeze his forearm and Ivory gives him a hug.
“Have a good game,” Gabby says as he pulls her into a hug, burrowing into his chest.
“I’m not in the lineup tonight, but I’ll let the others know.”
“You’re not playing tonight?” Gabby pulls back and looks at him.
“This was more important.” He brushes her hair back and gives her a kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He nods toward us. “Tell them everything. I’ll be home later.”
Gabby gives Chase a small smile and says, “I like the way that sounds.”
“Me too. One day you’ll let me move in,” Chase responds.
“You basically live here already,” I tease.
“He’s here all the time,” Ivory joins in, making Gabby laugh.
Finally, there’s a little spark of life.
Gabby looks at us anxiously when Chase walks back to her car. We watch him get in, pull out of the driveway, and drive off before anyone moves.
“Sit, we have snacks.” Ivory says once we’re on the porch, sitting gracefully on the couch. Gabby drops into the chair, so I take the spot on the far end of the couch and wait.
Finally, Gabby breaks the silence and says, “I can’t believe he texted you.” She may act like she’s surprised, but I can tell how relieved she is not only that Chase knew exactly what she needed, but also to have us here.
“You’ve got a good one.” Ivory reaches over and squeezes her hand.
There’s an awkwardness in the air right now, and I hate it. I need to get her talking, but I don’t want to rush her, so instead I opt for my special brand of sarcasm. “I’m trying not to be salty that you didn’t text us sooner.”
“Don’t think you’re one to be throwing stones at secrets right now,” Gabby snarks back. Good.
I stare at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What’s going on with you and Grant?” she asks.
“Nothing. This isn’t about me. This is about you.”
Shit, Taylor. You didn’t really think this one through. Those in glass houses do not throw stones. Gabby sighs at my refusal to share my secret with them. It’s not lost on me that we’re all keeping secrets lately.
“Sooner or later, you’re going to have to tell us, Tay.”
“I choose later, thank you.” I take a sip of wine and avert my eyes. I planned to tell them about me and Grant this week, but now is definitely not the time. This is about Gabby, whatever is going on in her life that has Chase concerned enough to text us and for her to be looking so miserable.
Thankfully, Ivory redirects things away from me and back to Gabby. “Gabby, can I get you anything?”
“Just water for me tonight and maybe some ibuprofen.” Gabby gently touches her breast and winces.
“Sure thing.” Ivory goes inside to get her water.
“And I love you, but can we maybe go inside? I want to lay down.” Gabby starts to stand, and I jump up to help her.
“Yeah, babe. Let’s go.” I follow her the way Chase did and wait until she gets comfortable on the chaise side of the couch.
Ivory comes into the living room and hands her the pain medicine and water. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
While Gabby gets settled, Ivory and I move all the snacks from the porch to the living room, arranging everything on the coffee table.
Gabby is huddled in the corner of the couch with a blanket wrapped around her and I sit on the end of the chaise lounge while Ivory takes the spot in the middle of the couch.
“Okay, where do you want to start?” Ivory asks.
“I guess the beginning,” Gabby mumbles. “Don’t be mad, but I’ve been keeping a secret since before your wedding. I had a lump and needed a mammogram.”
Ivory and I share a look, but we don’t interrupt her.
Gabby was quiet and introspective during some of the wedding planning, so this is starting to make sense now.
The way Miller jumped in so we wouldn’t notice as much.
They’re hushed conversations and her detachment.
It hurts to know she’s been dealing with this on her own for over a year.
“It came back to be nothing and I didn’t need a biopsy or anything, so I didn’t want to say anything.
You were planning your wedding, Ives, and there was just so much going on.
It was supposed to be a happy time. I didn’t want to burden you with this and ruin the celebrations.
Anyway, I was nervous for my annual appointment this year because that’s how they found the lump last year.
When I went to the doctor, she felt something and ordered another mammogram.
I was so upset and a bit numb about it. I had the mammogram a couple weeks ago and they scheduled a biopsy.
That was where we were today.” She pauses and takes a steadying breath.
“So now we wait on the results of the biopsy.”
“Oh, Gabby, I’m so sorry.” Ivory is desperately trying to keep tears at bay when she gives Gabby a hug.
I crawl over and sandwich her between us, wrapping my arms around her. “We’re here for you. Whatever it is.”
All the pieces fall into place. The excuse that she was working at a coffee shop when I showed up to her house.
Her fight with Chase a couple weeks ago, pushing him away because she was scared.
I was here. She could have told me. It makes me sad she didn’t, but if anyone knows anything about keeping secrets from your closest friends, it’s me.
We’re all on our own journey, and I can’t fault her for handling this in the way it felt best for her.
Gabby sniffles. “Sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“You told us now.” Ivory says, squeezing her gently.
Gripping her hand, I let her know we’re solid. “That’s all that matters.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Ivory asks, keeping her arms around Gabby, but looking at her to make sure she’s okay.
“Not really. I’d like to watch a movie and hang out with my best girls if that’s good with you?”
“It’s perfect.” Ivory smiles and moves to the far end of the couch, slapping the middle cushion for me to sit between them.
Tossing in my agreement, I say, “We watch enough baseball anyway.”
“I think we can take a night off. Everyone gets one every now and then,” Gabby agrees.
Ivory grabs the remote and turns the TV on, pulling up a rom-com to watch. Gabby pulls out her phone and starts texting, likely checking up on Chase given how hard it was for him to leave her.
“How’s Chase?” I ask, leaning my head on her shoulder.
“Mills said he broke down a bit when he got there, but that he’s fine now. I hate putting him through this.”
“You’re not putting him through anything.
You didn’t cause this. It happens. We’re here because we love you and want to be there to support you no matter what.
” I try to assure her even though to my own ears, I sound like a hypocrite.
What would they say about Grant and I? I know they wouldn’t care that we’re together but how would they feel about the fact that I’ve been keeping a secret as monumental as a marriage license from them for ten years.
Guilt swarms me. It’s not so much the secret as it is how long I’ve hid it from them. I can only hope they understand when the time comes.
“Thank you for being here. I love you girls.”
“We love you, too.”
“Love you big, G. Should we get some ice on that boob or what?” Leaning back, I look down at her chest, making her laugh.
With the heavy out of the way, we fall back into our normal pattern—joking, laughing, and enjoying an overdue girls night.