CHAPTER TWENTY #2
“Man...you’re so different now. I mean, I guess not so different. Although...maybe not. I mean, you were sporting that confidence from the night we met.”
“No, you’re right, I’m pretty different.
This is not who I was like six months ago.
I look different, I sound different, I act different, I feel different.
But none of it is...I guess, fake? I’m still doing what makes sense to me, and I feel confident that the choices I’ve made would all make sense to me six months ago, it’s more that I’m surprised I can make those choices. ”
“Like?”
“Going after you? Proposing? Standing up to your stupid ex, or Ellen’s?”
“Oh man...how often is this going to come up? I mean, Holly has a stupid ex that could cause problems. Krystal almost certainly does, but they’d be from farther back, I guess. I’m almost certain Kim will come with a stupid ex.”
“We have no idea if she’s going to want to join.”
“Of course she wants to join! Besides the fact that she’s obviously into you, think about everything this relationship, this household, offers!”
“I mean...okay, yeah, you’ve got a good point.” He thought about it for a second, then sighed. “If she does join, she’s the last one. She has to be. Seven people in one relationship is enough. Especially with the women on the side. It’s...I think I might be reaching my limit.”
She laughed. “Suffering from success.”
“Honestly? Yeah.”
“You’re probably right, but there is admittedly a part of me, and clearly this part exists in every other woman in this house, that wants to see how many other women we can hook you into.”
“...interesting word choice.”
“I said what I said.” He laughed and another moment went by. “Gabe?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to talk about...your dad?”
He sighed. “I...don’t think so. It kind of feels like I buried it and moved on.”
“I’m hearing a ‘but…’ in there somewhere.”
“There is, but I can’t quite see it. I think I need to just sit with this information for a while longer. Which is perfectly fantastic, because I’ve still got days and days of fun ahead of me anyway.”
“Would you talk to him?” she asked. Then, immediately after, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“It’s a fair question, but I don’t have an answer yet.
I want to say no, but something makes me hesitate, which means...
I guess I’m not as over this as I thought I was...
hoped I was.” He sighed. “If I do talk to him, it’ll be...
not good.” He trailed off into silence for a bit.
“Eh, whatever, we’ll kick that can down the road.
For now, I want to give you your present. ”
“Oh right!” Chloe replied excitedly.
She rolled off of him and he got up and then got right back down onto the floor. He half-disappeared under their massive king size bed and then came back with a small package wrapped in wrapping paper.
“Holy shit, what is this?” Chloe whispered as she accepted it.
He watched intently as she tore the paper off. She let out a shriek as she read the front of the blu-ray. “Gabe!”
“You like it?” he asked, chuckling.
“Yes! Fucking-I didn’t even know this was a thing! How’d you fucking get this!?” she demanded.
“Well, once again, Aria.”
Chloe kept staring at the blu-ray in her hands.
It was basically a documentary about the making of Recovery.
It was two hours, which was impressive given most ‘making of’ docs about video games hardly lasted an hour.
He had the idea that Aria had taken a very personal interest in it, and likely everyone at the studio had been pretty happy to go on and on about lots of behind-the-scenes stuff.
Her little indie company seemed particularly invested in their goal.
“I had to sign an NDA, you know, just for the covering of asses. So you can’t talk about it on social media or anything. Basically, this stays between us until it comes out like...two weeks from now or so? But open it up! There’s something else inside.”
Chloe began to respond, looking up at him, then slowly looked back down. Gently, she cracked the case open and made a vaguely startled sound as a note fell out. He watched her read it. Gabe already knew what it said, as it was addressed to both of them.
Chloe,
I hope your V-Day is going well! Gabe told me some of what he has planned and WOW.
A little jealous, honestly. But anyway, I hope you enjoy this!
Also, I’ve been watching some of your videos and streams recently, and you are crushing it!
There is a noticeable jump in quality between your work even just a couple of months ago and now. I’m looking forward to more!
Gabe,
I’ll be sending the contract soon. So unless you intend to delay or back out, this is basically a lock. I’m really looking forward to your stories. When you’re done with your insane V-Day run, get in touch with me. I want to start talking specifics.
-Aria
“Gabe,” Chloe said, then paused.
She frowned, then carefully replaced the note, snapped the case shut, and set it on the headboard. Then she laid down and began crying. Having been half-expecting this, Gabe laid back down with her and hugged her. She grabbed him and squeezed him. As far as cries went, it was about medium strength.
He felt bad about being kind of blasé about it, but he’d been through this...a lot of times at this point.
“Thanks,” she murmured after she’d finished.
She took a deep breath and sat up, then dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose with the toiletpaper they kept on the headboard specifically for this reason. Well, this reason and cleaning up the messes he made in and on them.
Usually in.
“You’re welcome, babe. Wanna talk about it?”
“Not too much to talk about, honestly. Just...I was overwhelmed because I suddenly found myself running back through my previous relationships and thinking if anyone has done anything like this for me, and no one’s come close.
But that isn’t exactly what bothered me.
It isn’t the lack of big presents and grand gestures, it’s...
the lack of the little ones.” She smiled suddenly and took his hand.
“But that doesn’t matter right now. This was... almost a perfect day. Thank you.”
“Almost a perfect day,” he agreed, “and you’re welcome, Chloe.”
“Now what?” she asked.
“By now, those pizza and wings we ordered should-” They both paused as the doorbell rang. “Yep. Come on, let’s get the food and, if you want, watch the Recovery documentary. Then play something horror and co-op after.”
“Now that’s a perfect end to the day.”