Chapter 32
GABE
AUGUST PRESENT DAY
Finding Shane waiting for me in my office this morning is the last thing I need.
She walked in wearing that damn sundress last night, and I was screwed.
Then her husband showed up. I don’t like him.
To be fair, I wouldn’t have liked him anyway because he got her, but I especially didn’t like how he was talking to her.
I kept drinking, hoping after a few shots I’d be able to brush it off or pass out.
All it did was make how much I want her very fucking clear.
I knew I was pushing things by bombarding her in the hallway, but I didn’t plan to kiss her. When she said she loved him, it did something to me, and I couldn’t stop myself.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I needed a break from Nik asking if I’m okay. I know she means well, but the constant worry is driving me up a wall.”
“I’m sure she’ll chill once you’ve been home for a bit,” I say, sitting at my desk.
He leans back in his chair. “Heard you were pretty fucked up last night.” There’s a hint of a question in his tone, and I grit my teeth.
“I’m just stressed with this club shit. It’s fine.”
He quirks a brow.
“What?”
“I’m just not buying it.”
“Well, it’s the truth so drop it, okay?”
“Look…” He leans forward. “I know I have no room to talk after everything I’ve done.
But I’m begging you, please don’t fuck with her.
I appreciate you being there when she needed you.
Especially since it saved my life. But she’ll let you back in if you ask.
So, I’m begging you… don’t. Just leave her be. ”
“I came because you needed me. That’s all it was.”
He nods, sitting back in his chair.
JT knocks, poking his head in the door.
What the hell. We’re not even open yet and these fuckers are already up my ass.
“What?” I ask.
“My guy lost Adam.”
“What do you mean lost him?”
We’ve been trailing him since he showed up at the hospital. That’s the best I could do to keep Ash safe, aside from killing the motherfucker.
“I don’t know. I’m gonna head over there and see what happened.”
I nod.
“Fuck,” Shane mutters, standing to follow JT from the room. “I gotta check on Ash.”
My mind stays on the girl I’m not supposed to think about all day while I work. I’m finishing up the last vehicle of the day when I hear, “Did you kiss Shane’s sister at the party?”
I roll out from under the minivan I’m working on and sit up, resting my arms on my knees. Lily stands beside me, smirking.
“It sounds like you already know the answer to that.”
“Word travels fast.”
“Alright… Out with it.”
She throws up her hands. “I’m not saying a word.
You wouldn’t listen to me anyway.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she continues, “However, if I were talking to someone who does listen to sound advice, I’d say he should pull his head out of his ass.
I’d tell him it’s clear to literally everyone but him how much that girl means to him, and he deserves to be happy.
I’d also tell him not to fuck it up because what he did last time was fucked up. ”
I run my hands through my hair, sighing. “None of that matters. She almost—” Shaking my head, I run my tongue over my teeth and try to collect my thoughts. “I was doing the right thing. If I go back on that now, it’d all be for nothing.”
“Would it?”
I scoff. She’s not fucking getting it. “Yeah.”
She places her hands on my shoulders. “You’re so very clueless, my dear Gabe. You aren’t the guy you were six years ago, and she’s not the kid she was. Maybe an honest conversation would do you both some good.”
“Yeah. That’s the part that sucks.”
I think that’s what’s been eating me alive since she came back. Because no matter how different we are, my feelings are the same, and I’m pretty sure hers are too. The magnet that pulled me to her back then is just as strong. Nothing about my love for her changed or dulled. I doubt it ever will.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life missing her.