Chapter 17
Paige set her steaming plate of spaghetti and meatballs on the kitchen table next to her laptop. She said a quick blessing on the leftovers then opened her computer to check for job listings in the local school districts while it cooled.
It had only been a few days since she'd last checked, but she kept hoping something would open up. There was supposedly a teacher shortage, but you’d never guess it by the lack of elementary job listings. There were, however, plenty of part-time jobs like bus drivers, custodians, and cooks.
She'd nearly had a panic attack last Saturday when she finally emailed Principal Stevens, informing him she wouldn't be returning to Seattle and asked for a letter of reference.
She had no doubt he would give her a great reference, but she hated letting him down.
She was committed now, though, and it was giving her more than a little anxiety.
The ringing of the doorbell kept her from spiraling into full-on panic.
She pushed to her feet, wondering who was at the door. Her parents were out for the evening, and she wasn't expecting anyone. A quick glance out the window of the sitting room made her skid to a stop. Phillip's red Nissan sat in the driveway.
Instead of opening the door, she hurried back to the kitchen on bare feet and grabbed her phone. She rocked from foot to foot as she scrolled through her texts.
Come on. Where is it?
Finally, she found the text Gabe sent, checking on her after her first day of PT. She opened it and jabbed the call icon at the top. "Please pick up. And please still be in Providence."
She didn't know what time he left the office on Mondays, but she knew they stayed late a couple nights a week. She sent up a little prayer, fully aware that what she and Gabe were doing was wrong, and she didn’t deserve to have it answered.
The doorbell rang again, followed by Phillip shouting, "Come on, Paige, open up. I know you're home."
She needed Gabe's help to convince Phillip she was over him. He wasn't likely to leave her alone otherwise.
"Hello?"
Relief surged through her at the sound of Gabe's deep voice. "Oh, thank goodness you answered. Please tell me you're still in Providence."
"I'm still in Providence, but only for a few more minutes."
She looked up at the ceiling. Thank you, God. She didn't deserve to have her prayer answered, but she was grateful it was.
"Phillip's at my front door." Urgency filled her voice. "Can you come to my house and pretend you're picking me up for a date or something?"
"Uh…sure." Gabe's voice held too much hesitation, and his pause made her stomach drop. "I need your address."
Phillip knocked long and loud on the door.
"It's okay, you have my permission to get it from my file."
"I just left the office, it would be quicker for you to give it to me, so I don't have to go back inside."
"Oh right, okay." She rattled off her address as she hurried down the hall to her bedroom.
"Thanks, I'll be there in a few minutes. Stall him the best you can."
Ending the call, she tossed her phone on the bed then stripped off her shirt and yoga pants before grabbing her ratty old bathrobe from the closet.
Maybe she could make Phillip think she’d been in the shower.
She darted to the bathroom, wrapped her hair in a towel, then dabbed some water on her neck.
She finished tying her robe as she reached the front door.
"Alright, alright." She swung open the door. "Hold your hors—" She feigned surprise. "Phillip? What are you doing here?"
His gaze rake over her, lips lifting in an appreciative grin that she used to find flattering but now looked too much like a leer. He folded his arms and leaned against the door frame as though he had all the time in the world. "Well, hello, darling."
She used to get goosebumps when his voice took on that seductive quality, but now, it made her skin crawl. She tugged the neck of her robe closed.
"Why are you here?" Ice filled her voice.
"I tried to leave Providence, but I just couldn't." He shoved his hands into his pockets, making himself look insecure. "I need you in my life, babe."
The action didn't look nearly as endearing on Phillip as it did on Gabe. When Gabe did it, Paige saw it as a protective shield, not a ploy for attention.
"You were gone when I stopped by Saturday evening, but your mom assured me you'd be home alone tonight." He pulled his hands from his pockets and clasped them in a pleading gesture. "Spend the evening with me. Please. Let me prove that we belong together."
My mom set me up?
Heat flared in Paige's chest, and she promised herself she'd tell her parents the truth about Phillip tonight. She'd even wait up late for them if she needed to.
"I have plans this evening. With my boyfriend." She put emphasis on that last word.
"Your therapist? You honestly think that will last?" His face filled with skepticism.
"Of course it will," she said ignoring the doubts that filled her head and heart earlier that afternoon. "He's not cheating on me, like you did."
Although he is lying to his mom.
Even though she understood why, it still bothered her.
Phillip cocked a brow. "Are you sure about that?"
She growled in disgust and started to push the door closed, but he stuck his foot over the threshold, stopping it.
"I'm sorry. That was out of line." His expression grew more earnest. "Paige, honey. I refuse to give up on us."
"There is no us," she insisted, frustration raising her voice. "There never should have been any form of us, because you were engaged to someone else, remember?"
Gabe's car came to a stop in front of the house, lifting a weight from her shoulders and weakening her knees.
Phillip barely glanced over his shoulder before trying again. "I need you in my life, Paige." He looked down for a moment and shuffled his feet. "I'm willing to play second fiddle until you realize we're meant to be together."
Revulsion ricocheted through her. "What?"
"If you come back to me, you can keep seeing your therapist on the side."
Paige's mouth dropped open. Why would Phillip think she’d be interested in such a disgusting proposition? Did he think it only fair, since he'd seen someone else the entire time he was with her?
"And if her therapist isn't okay with that?" Gabe's voice bordered on a growl.
Phillip looked only mildly surprised. He gave Gabe a quick once over before turning back to Paige. "I'm confident, if given the chance, I can win you back." Cockiness filled his voice.
Paige was in the process of vigorously shaking her head when Gabe shouldered past Phillip who blocked the doorway.
He wrapped his arms around Paige. "Hola, mi amor." He planted a brief kiss on her lips then looked down at her robe and quirked an eyebrow. "You said you'd be ready by seven."
"I am." The words popped out of her mouth before taking the time to remember she wore a bathrobe. She was so flustered by Phillip's audacity and Gabe's nearness she couldn't think straight.
"Are you now?" His gaze swept over her again. "Not exactly what I had in mind for tonight. But I'm open to a change of plans." He brought his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "If we ignore him in favor of a PDA will he go away?"
His warm breath tickled her neck, sending shivers of awareness coursing down her spine. It took every ounce of her focus to play her role.
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sounds fun. I'm game."
"Paige." Phillip's voice sounded almost tortured, but she couldn't find an ounce of sympathy.
How could she care about Phillip when she felt so alive in Gabe's arms? Safe and treasured. Then suddenly those strong arms released her.
Gabe spun and addressed Phillip. "Why are you still here?"
"I-I need to…talk to Paige." Phillip's voice was whiny now.
"She's done talking to you, pal." Gabe turned back to her. "Do you have anything else you'd like to say to him?"
"Other than get lost?" She shook her head and folded her arms, bolstered by Gabe's presence.
"Are you even remotely interested in his repulsive offer?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Good answer." Gabe smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple. Then his grin broadened, looking almost maniacal, as he turned to face Phillip. "Because I'm the possessive type and have been known to give into bouts of violence when I’m challenged."
Paige could no longer see Gabe's expression, but something in it made Phillip fall back a step. Or maybe it was the way Gabe effortlessly flexed his muscles. She bit back a giggle.
"It's time for you to leave." Gabe's voice was hard as stone. "If you come back, we'll call the police and have you arrested for harassment."
He wrapped an arm around Paige, pulled her further into the house, and slammed the door.
Paige wanted to sink against the wall in relief, but that would distance her from Gabe, and she wasn't ready to do that yet. She considered playing the fragile female and sinking into him instead, but then she recalled his words that afternoon.
I can't promise you anything.
Gabe made no move to release her, however. So, she stayed put, enjoying every second of his embrace, knowing it wouldn’t last.
"Thank you for coming. That man does not take no for an answer."
"Do you think he'll leave you alone after this?"
His face was so close to hers, it wouldn't take much effort to lean in and press her lips to his. Her heart rate accelerated at the thought of kissing him again. She both loved and hated that Gabe affected her so strongly.
"I hope so." She chided herself for her breathlessness. "You were pretty convincing."
"You weren't so bad yourself. Except…" He touched the edge of her towel. "…the little triangle of hair showing up here is bone dry."
She forgot she even had it on after Gabe arrived. Gasping, she tugged the towel off and shook her head.
Gabe sucked in a sharp breath.
“What?” She patted her hair at his stunned look.