Chapter 36
Gabriella
Laughing at Emma’s cackling, exploding over the speakers in my car, I turn down our street to get home.
I couldn’t wait to call Emma and tell her about what happened today.
So I called as soon as I left work this afternoon.
Going back to work was a little rough after Vic and I completed a communication and trust exercise, as Emma just referred to it.
I tried to clean up as much as I could in Vic’s bathroom at the shop, but I’m still a little sticky, and I swear my whole car smells like sex.
“Woman, I cannot believe you pissed on Vic’s leg like that. I mean the proverbial piss, unless you’re into that thing.” Emma corrects herself, revealing no judgment.
“No, Ems, we’re not into that, but thanks for sparing judgment.” I huff another laugh at her. “I know what you meant. I’m just tired of that little girl hanging all over Vic. I mean, she texts him after hours about what she says is work stuff.” Irritation creeps into my voice.
“Well, I’m pretty sure that shit will stop now.
” Emma lets out another cackle. Her laugh starts to wane, and she lets out a couple of sighs as she gets herself under control.
I can picture her wiping tears from her eyes.
“Oh man, I would have paid fucking money to see that girl’s reaction witnessing Vic’s face in your nakie punani.
” A bark of laughter breaks out of my mouth at her comment.
We take yet another minute to calm ourselves.
I see her sitting on her front porch as I pull into my driveway.
“Bitch, I see you. I’m jumping off here. ” We hang up as I shut my car off.
I get out of the car, seeing that Vic is home and in the garage with Ty.
Emma walks over to me as I get out of the car, grabbing my bag and pink Stanley Cup on my way out.
As soon as we make eye contact, we both burst out into laughter yet again.
The guys emerge from the garage with our unapologetic laughs.
“Well, Kid, looks like Gabbs told Ems about your adventures today.” Ty chuckles as he and Vic step up to me and Emma. Vic comes to me, wrapping his arm around my waist and bringing me close to his body, dropping a kiss on the top of my head.
“It was a pretty epic moment. Not gonna lie.” I look up to Vic as he answers Ty, butterflies beating against my ribcage at the smile he’s wearing. My inner diva preens at the look of pride on Vic’s face.
“I think this calls for a celebration!” I laugh at Emma’s declaration. “What?” She looks at all of us with confusion. “I’m serious. Ty, let’s go to the cabin this weekend.”
Ty looks thoughtful, pulling Emma in closer to his side. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea.”
“Cabin?” Vic and I say in unison.
“Yeah. One of my former soldiers has a family cabin about four hours away in Maple Falls. It’s pretty nice.
Tall ceilings, on a lake, private beach, three or four guest rooms. I can’t remember.
It actually might be perfect for our next steps.
” Ty smiles at Em, then they both turn those smiles to us.
My carefree feeling just dropped into my toes. “Next steps? I thought we were making pretty good progress.” Vic nods in support.
Emma steps out from under Ty’s arm and grabs my hands in hers. “Oh, honey, yes abso-fucking-lutely, you all are making major progress.”
Ty steps up next to her. “Which is why we’re ready for a little time away. What do you all say? We leave tomorrow morning? Come on, you won’t regret it. I promise.”
Vic looks at me, shrugging his shoulders, “Kerri can stay here with Abby. They don’t have any games this weekend.”
“Trip will be home too in case the girls need anything,” Ty interjects in a hopeful tone.
I look around at all three of them, debating to myself. This is really last-minute. I haven’t planned anything. What about the girls? I don’t know where this place is. The house needs to be cleaned. I was supposed to run errands tomorrow, but now I’ll have to squeeze them in during the week.
My rapid-fire thoughts come to a screeching halt when I feel Vic grab both of my hands together in his and lift them both to his lips.
He dusts his lips across my knuckles, his pleading eyes meeting mine.
“Please, G? Let’s do this. We can leave a list of errands for Kerri to run, or we can get a house cleaner for the weekend.
Whatever you need to be comfortable with this. Please, baby.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes and huff a quiet laugh at Vic’s inexplicable way he reads the thoughts flying around in my head. With a sigh and a hope, I nod. “What time do we leave?”
Ty, Emma, and Vic all let out a happy cheer. Ty tells us we leave at six am tomorrow, before we all head into our respective houses to pack. I hope I don’t regret this.
I finished packing, ate dinner, and have been lying in bed for an hour and a half with no sign of sleep in sight.
Agh, I’m nervous about this weekend. Will Ty and Emma expect Vic and me to sleep in the same bed?
What will I do if they ask? Before the other night, we hadn’t slept in the same bed, or even the same room, for years.
I roll over, stretching my arm across the empty side of the bed.
I’m not sure why I still sleep on one side.
I wonder what Vic’s doing. What if he wants to sleep in the same bed? My skin tingles at the thought of him and me in the same bed again. The other night was so good and comfortable. I slept so heavily and felt so safe.
What if he doesn’t want to sleep in the same bed? What if the other night was just a favor to me? My stomach rolls, and bile rises in my throat at the thought of that. He probably just felt sorry for you. Tears spring to my eyes at the thought of a pity-cuddle from my husband.
Vrrr. Vrrr. Vrrr.
My phone vibrates on the nightstand, snapping me out of my spiraling, hateful thoughts preached by my alter-ego.
I should name that bitch. I mean, if I put a name to it, then it’s not as scary, right?
Hmmm…Mean Margaret…Douchie Debbie…Rotten Rachel…
Oh! Intrusive Ingrid…Yep, that’s it. Fucking Ingrid.
Vrrr. Vrrr. Vrrr.
Who is messaging me at 10:00 at night? I pick the phone up, looking at the screen, and my face breaks out into a huge grin, my stomach doing that rollercoaster thing again.
Vic: Hey, sexy. (Winking emoji)
Vic: You sleepin’? (Pouting emoji)
Me: Um, excuse me, I don’t think my husband would appreciate a strange man messaging me after 9 PM.
Vic: Grrr. I think you mean your husband wouldn’t appreciate ANY MAN MESSAGING ANYTIME.
I laugh out loud at Vic’s use of all caps.
Me: LOL
Me: Can’t sleep?
Vic: Nah. I mean, I’m not really tired. I keep thinking of earlier today. I can still taste you and smell you all over me.
Jesus. My mouth just went dry, and my sleep shorts just got wet. What the fuck do I say to that? Honesty. Communication, Gabbi. I hear Emma’s voice in my head.
Me: I don’t know what to say to that.
Vic: Tell me you’re thinking about me, too.
Me: I haven’t stopped thinking about you since I left your shop today.
Vic: Send me a picture, Rockstar.
My breath catches, and a zing shoots through my core, making my stomach involuntarily tighten. Okay, a picture. I used to send him pictures years ago.
Feeling a bit nostalgic, I throw my fluffy covers off, fan my thick brown hair out, covering my pillow, and raise my phone as high as I can over top of me. It captures my face, hair, tank top, and the top half of my sleep shorts. I should take a couple, just to be sure.
After snapping several, making pouty lips, winking, smiling, and looking ‘seductive,’ whatever the fuck that looks like. I decided to just send him the whole shoot. A few minutes pass. No response. A few more minutes. What if he hated them? Ugh. I probably look ridiculous.
No! Ingrid, shut your face! I slap my hand to my forehead. I’m losing my fucking mind. As I sit here with my face in my hands, feeling stupid, my phone vibrates in my lap.
Lifting my phone, I see it’s Vic. God, it took him ten minutes to look at the pictures?
Vic: You are a fucking goddess.
Me: I was worried you didn’t like them, you took so long to respond.
I sound pathetic.
Vic: Baby, I’m supposed to be honest with you and communicate, so I’m just going to tell you that it took that long because I couldn’t help myself. (Shoulder shrug emoji)
Ummm…Jaw drop….
Me: You mean you jerked off to my pictures?
I think my lady bits just fluttered, and it’s all of a sudden really fucking hot in my room.
Vic: LOL, it sounds really stupid over text, but yes. I did.
Me: That’s hot. (Panting emoji)
Vic: Only for you, Rockstar. (Winking emoji)
As I think of Vic and all of his hotness, Invasive Ingrid breaks into my thoughts again. Remember, he only pity-cuddled you the other night. Don’t get your hopes up.
Shit. Communication. Honesty.
Me: Vic, can I ask you something?
Vic: Anything, G.
Me: The other night, when you stayed with me in my room. Did you just stay because you felt bad? Like a pity-cuddle? (Embarrassed emoji)
I can’t believe I just sent that. I see the three dots to indicate he is typing. Ugh. Now they’re gone. Okay, back to the three dots. Now nothing. Fuck. I throw the covers over my head, hoping that the bed swallows my middle-aged, insecure ass up forever. How did I fucking get here?
A few more minutes pass, and embarrassment turns into anger, then I hear my door swing open and immediately shut, and then bare feet are padding across my carpet.
The covers are ripped off me, and there’s my beautiful husband in all his glory. He’s standing over me in a pair of black mesh basketball shorts hanging low on his hips, and his tattooed chest on full display. Goddamn, he is something else.
“Um…hi.” My voice is small. Vic just stares at me, chest moving with heavy breaths. Is he angry? The way he looks at me makes heat crawl up my body, starting at the tips of my toes all the way up to my scalp. I think I can feel every hair on my head.
Vic doesn’t say anything; he just slides into bed with me.
I don’t want his pity. “Vic,” I start to protest, but he lies on his back, head on the pillow, and pulls me into his chest, bringing me up so my body is half on his.
He wraps his arm around my back, slings my leg over his, and gently presses my head to his chest. I can hear his heart pounding.
God, he smells good, all fire, oranges, and fuel.
With his arm wrapped around my back, he lifts my chin with his other hand so our eyes can speak as our mouths do, “Gabriella Scott. I fucking love you.” A giant lump forms in my throat, making it hard to swallow.
Tears start to sting my eyes, and I blink to keep them at bay.
“I have loved you since the fifth grade. You’re everything to me, and there’s not a day that we’ve been together, good or bad, that I wouldn’t relive over and over again.
I’ve never pitied you. You are my Queen.
” Vic pauses and sighs. Running his fingers through my hair, his eyes jockey between mine.
“I’m sorry I didn’t do my part to remind you of that.
I’m sorry I ever caused you to question your place as my queen.
I let you forget who you were to me, and that’s on me, one hundred percent.
” Vic lifts my chin toward him, his eyes still flitting back and forth between mine, searching for permission.
When I give it, he leans in and takes my lips between his.
So soft and slow, his tongue caresses mine in an apology, a proclamation of love, and a promise to be more. My entire body is trembling, my breath stuttering as he pulls away. Holy fuck! I feel like my heart just liquefied, and the warmth of life is spreading through my veins.
“Open your eyes, Gabbi. Look at me.” His tone is hard, and his voice is throaty.
My eyes snap open to his. Grasping the side of my face, his fingers in my hair, thumb on my jaw, he declares, “I’m done being separated from you.
You can decide if I move in here or if you would rather move into my room.
Your room is probably better since it’s the master bedroom, but I leave it up to you to choose.
” Every word in the English dictionary has just slipped my mind, and I just stare at him.
“Gabriella, I’m done being without you. I want to come home and curl up in bed with you.
I don’t care if we have sex or not, if we are fighting or not.
No matter what, I want your body next to mine for the rest of my life.
We’ve lost so many nights, I refuse to miss anymore.
Nod if you understand me.” Tears are streaming down my cheeks now.
I close my eyes and place my hand on top of his on my cheek. When I open my eyes, his brows are furrowed, and I can see his icy blues sparkle with unshed tears. I lift a corner of my mouth and whisper, “Yes, Vic. I want you with me. Will you please move in here with me, starting tonight?”
His smile turns megawatt right before he smashes his mouth to mine in what is probably the most explosive kiss of our lives. It’s filled with forgiveness and hope, sex, heat, passion, fire, and magic. Vic’s mouth makes love to mine, and my fears disappear. At least for tonight.
When he breaks our kiss, we’re both heaving chests and quick breaths.
I want so much more, but tonight, our bodies sleeping together, recharging through our touch is enough.
Vic turns us and pulls the covers up over us.
My back is to his front, his arm pulling me in close around my stomach, and his face is buried in my hair. This is how I recharge.