Chapter 24
Victor
“Hey, Dad, lookin’ good. You heading next door to meet Mom?” Kerri calls from the living room, stopping me on my way out the door.
I turn and head over to her, plopping down next to her on the couch. “Hey, kiddo, yeah, I’m heading over there. When did Mom head over?”
“She left like an hour ago. She’s lookin’ good too. As a matter of fact, you guys are like matchy matchy with her little black dress and your black button-up with jeans. Actually, give me your arm.” Kerri takes the time to unbutton and roll each of my sleeves, exposing my forearms.
“This is better?” I ask, amused by her strangely placed excitement.
“Dad, chicks dig muscly, tattooed forearms. Trust me.” Kerri winks and smiles at me.
I purse my lips and furrow my brow, “I’m not sure that I like you knowing this, but I’m just going to let it go since I’m running late.” Standing, I lean over and kiss Kerri on the top of her head. “Have a good night, sweetheart. Mom and I will be back in a couple of hours. Love you.”
“Bye, Dad. Love you too.” Kerri smiles up at me.
“Bye, Dad. Love you.” I hear Abby yell from the kitchen.
“Love you too, Abby-girl.”
Ty told me to let myself in the backyard since we’re cooking out tonight. Walking toward the back gate, I see the front door open, and Trip walks out toward the blacked-out Yamaha R1 sitting in front of Ty’s house. I was wondering whose motorcycle that was. “Hey, Wildman!”
Trip’s head snaps up, looking like his thoughts were a million miles away. “Hey, Mr. S., how’s it going?” He responds, but doesn’t stop walking to the bike.
“What’s the rush, man? You don’t have a minute to say hi?
” And there goes the teenage eyeroll. He may look like a grown ass man with his tattoo sleeves and shaped goatee, but he still has that teenage attitude.
Last time I saw him, he was a scrawny 16-year-old; guess the last two years really changed him.
Trip’s shoulders drop as he changes directions, heading toward me. Giving me a quick, one-armed hug, he explains, “Sorry, Mr. S., my head is somewhere else.” He makes eye contact with me when he’s talking, but I can still see he’s distracted.
“Anything I can help with?”
“Naw, just shit I have to deal with. Thanks, though.” Trip looks at his watch, and I see a bit of panic set in. “I gotta run. It was good to see you. Mom and Dad are in the backyard with your wifey.” He starts to head back toward his bike.
“Okay, bud. Hey, Trip, do me a favor? Gabbi and I told the girls to be nice. Please tell me if they aren’t. I know it can be hard moving to a new place.”
Trip turns his head to the side to answer, and I swear I see a half-smirk on his face. “No problem.” Well, that’s a little disturbing.
When I enter the backyard, I immediately home in on a sexy set of curves in a short, flowy, black dress. There’s my girl. Gabbi looks up at me over her wine glass and releases a small grin, which makes my face mirror hers.
“There’s the man of the hour.” Ty hollers as I walk over to Gabbi, placing my hand on the small of her back, and lean down to kiss her on the cheek.
“So, Gabbi told us about what happened with Jessi today at the shop. I told you to look out for that one. I’m surprised Gabbi didn’t go all Rhonda Rousey on her.
” Ty ends his statement with a guttural laugh. I’m never going to live this down.
Looking at Gabbi, I playfully shake my head, “You told them the whole story, right?” After the epic kiss with Gabbi, I sat in her car with her for a bit and explained the whole story with Jessi.
I was a bit surprised she wasn’t mad at me in the least for the petty shit I pulled.
As a matter of fact, it kinda looked like a bit of pride was shimmering off her.
Before she can respond, Emma cuts in, “You mean how you played with the girl’s emotions before burning her hopes to the ground? Savage, Kid, totally fucking savage!” Emma and Ty both laugh this time.
Gabbi, rushing to my defense, chimes in, “Well, I’m just glad Vic told me everything.
I like this whole no-guessing thing since I seem to have some evil bitch in my head telling me to constantly think the worst of everything.
” Gabbi shrugs and gives me an impish grin.
I can’t help but lean down and give her a quick, soft kiss on her pouting lips.
Lifting my head, I notice the laughing has stopped.
Gabbi and I both turn to look at Ty and Emma, who are staring back at us with grins on their faces.
“Ummm, did anyone want to mention the progress you had made aside from the throwdown that almost happened today?” Emma chimes in.
“You didn’t tell them about the whole encounter today, then?” I ask, looking back down at Gabbi.
“I thought some stuff should be private.” Gabbi pouts.
“Oh no, G. We need to hear it all.” Ty’s playfulness is gone. “Don’t look at me like that, Gabbi. I know it’s strange, but Emma and I need to know so we’re all on the same page.” He pauses for a second. “Are you both still okay with that?”
After gauging each other’s comfort level, we both look at Ty and nod.
“Dinner is served.” Ty puts the platter of steaks next to all of the side dishes on the black iron patio table, and Emma tops off our wine glasses. “Now, Emma and I have some questions.”
Gabbi reaches over and grabs my plate, loading all the things she knows I love, then sets the plate down in front of me.
Ty starts to ask a question, but seems to change directions when he sees Gabbi do this.
“Gabbi, why did you just do that?” She looks at him, confused.
“Communication, Gabbs, why did you make Vic’s plate? ”
“Oh, yeah. Okay. I guess I was just trying to be nice.”
“Give us more Gabbi. Why were you trying to be nice?” Emma adds.
Gabbi is showing some irritation, which is understandable since she’s not used to explaining herself to anyone; it’s usually the other way around.
She pauses a minute with a deep inhale, then exhales with resignation.
“Okay. I made his plate, partially out of habit since I started doing it whenever we were at parties in high school.” She starts to relax her shoulders and look at me.
“I guess the other part is that it’s how I show love.
I want to take care of him. It’s something small I can do to show him I love him. ” All of us sit in silence now.
Emma smiles and nods her head in approval of Gabbi’s willingness to share.
“Vic, what did you feel today when Jessi came on to you?” Nope.
No. Not this. Gabbi is going to freak. I shake my head.
“Vic. Answer.” Emma is patient but demanding.
Gabbi looks over at me, worried. I stay silent and look at Ty, who shrugs.
Emma continues, “Okay, fine. Gabbi, what are you thinking now since Vic won’t answer? ”
Jesus, this is invasive.
Gabbi’s mouth shifts, and her eyes cast down to the table. She seems to shrink into herself. “I’m thinking that he liked it and doesn’t want to admit it or tell me. He probably only kissed me to cover up whatever else happened or what he was feeling in response to her.”
“What the fuck?” I look at Gabbi in shock as her wide eyes snap to mine.
Emma cuts in, but my gaze remains on Gabbi, “Vic, something I know you probably already know about women, is that our brains work against us. Most, if not all of us, have a nasty voice in our head that speaks every fear we have, whether rational or not. You just heard Gabbi’s voice of fear out loud, which is why we encourage over-communication at the beginning of this. ”
“Is this true, Gabbi? You really think I want someone else?” She remains silent, and I nod, knowing I’m going to be honest right now and hope to god she hears me out.
“Everything I told you this afternoon was true. What I didn’t tell you was that when Jessi ran her finger down my chest and I pulled her close to me,” Gabbi looks away from me and I see her bottom lip wobble, “Gabbi, look at me.”
After a breath, she lifts her chin and meets my eyes.
“When Jessi did that, I just thought of how long it had been since you touched me like that, or how bad I wanted to hold your body close to mine. I didn’t want her.
I don’t want her. Just like I told you today, baby.
You are it. We have to figure this out. We’re starting to fight again.
For anyone else, that may be a bad sign, but not for us.
I would rather fight with you for the rest of my life than be with anyone else. ”