30. Veronica #3
“I knew he would be a good boyfriend someday.” Morgan beams with joy.
Once she steps back, Gabe takes a good look at her as his eyes widen. “Oh wow, look at you! Your little bump is starting to show already!”
“I know! The doctor says it’s normal since there are two of them, even though I’m only fourteen weeks along.” She lights up at the mention of her babies, and we all can’t help but smile along with her.
“Hey, where’s Adler?” Silas calls as we finally sit down on the couch, Gabe taking the end seat with Aubrey beside him, while I sit sideways on his lap.
That tightness I felt earlier in my chest now moves to my throat. I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
Clay frowns. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”
I look down at my hands as I fiddle with the hem of my skirt. Gabe slides his fingers through my hair soothingly and kisses my temple. “He’s been… disappearing during the day. Sometimes late into the night as well.”
“And you don’t know where he is?” Cecilia asks softly.
I shake my head again. “He won’t answer his phone, and he won’t tell me where he goes. We talked about it the other day, and he said he would tell me from now on. But he still doesn’t, and he ignores all our calls and texts.” I feel the tears swelling in my eyes as I sniff.
Aubrey takes my hand in hers, rubbing soothing circles over my palm.
I take a deep breath and look at everyone who holds commiserated expressions on their faces.
“Can we please change the subject? I really don’t want to cry right now.
But I could really use a glass of wine, though.
” I giggle humorlessly with a sad smile.
“Of course, sweetie.” Morgan smiles with sympathy, understanding exactly the emotions I’m feeling after our talk, and stands from beside Clay. “You too, Brey? Gabe, beer?”
“You rest, little mama. I’ll get our drinks.” He lifts me by the waist and sets me down in his vacated spot, grabbing my chin and tilting my head up as he kisses me. He pulls back with a beaming smile that makes me melt. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?”
I giggle. “Only seven times.”
“Then let me say it again.” He pecks my lips once more. “You look beautiful today, Vixen.”
I bite my lip. “Thank you.” He straightens, winks, and heads to the kitchen, while all I can do is watch his retreating form with a breathless sigh and turn to mush in my seat.
“Aww, you guys are adorable!” Cecilia coos with hearts in her eyes.
I laugh. “Gabe is a very attentive boyfriend. Honestly, he’s amazing. But don’t tell him that, it will only boost his ego,” I whisper to them.
“And to think you hated his guts not too long ago.” Silas laughs.
“There’s a very thin line between love and hate.” Aubrey smiles. “Just look at Grey and Em.”
“I don’t think Greyson ever really hated Em. He just couldn’t stand her craziness.” Cecilia points at her in a knowing way.
“And look at him now, can’t get enough of it.” Clay chuckles.
Gabe returns with two glasses of white wine and a beer, handing the wine over to Aubrey and me as I stand to let him take his spot. His hand circles my waist and pulls me back to him, then he kisses my shoulder.
“Speaking of Grey and Em, where are they?” I ask, just picking up on the two missing members of our group. Well, aside from Noah.
“They had an ultrasound this afternoon to check on the baby. We picked up Gracie earlier since it’s Sam’s day off. Her and Dante are down for their nap upstairs,” Cece informs us.
“And how are things going with the business?” Gabe asks, taking a swig of his beer.
“Oh, it’s doing amazingly! The outcome is so much more than we could have imagined.
We’ve had to hire five more event planners, and we’re visiting a new location tomorrow.
” Cecilia grins broadly. “We hadn’t planned on having to expand until next year, but things are moving so quickly, and we have so many new demands coming in daily.
Plus, the donations, God, we keep receiving more and more; it’s almost overwhelming.
” She bounces in her husband’s lap excitedly.
“Would you be moving the whole foundation if you like this new place?” Aubrey asks with interest.
“Oh, no. It was our goal at first. But the place we are seeing tomorrow is actually a huge industrial building that was remodeled into four separate halls. But the owner abandoned the project halfway, now all that’s left is to put up the walls and the finishing touches.
Which means we would be able to plan four different events at the same time, on the same day.
Plus, the one at our headquarters; it would give us an opportunity to host more people at once. ”
“Wow, that’s incredible!” I gush in amazement.
The front door bursts open, making all of us whip our heads in its direction. “NO, GREYSON! Never again! You are never touching me ever again!” Emma comes stomping in, throwing her bag onto the ground dramatically.
“TWO OF THEM! There are two of them!” She stretches her hands at her sides, emphasizing her point.
“What’s two of them?” I frown.
“That…” She flaps her hand around in Greyson’s direction, who leans against the wall with clear amusement. “Baboon, put two babies in me! Two! Do you realize what that’s going to do to my body!?”
She turns to face Greyson. “You can say goodbye to that tight little pussy you like so much, because it’s never coming back! BYE-BYE! Adios! And even if it does, you’re never putting your hands on it ever again!”
“Did she just call him a baboon?” Gabe asks with a chuckle.
“Shut up, Gabe! It’s all I could think of under pressure. Can’t you tell I’m having a major crisis right now?! By next year, I’m going to be fat and give birth to two huge babies! When I didn’t even want one right now!” She whines, stomping her foot repeatedly.
“Hey! You said I was lucky to be having two.” Morgan narrows her eyes at her.