Chapter 25
A week had passed since the awkward incident in the bathroom.
Nicole had slowly returned to being her usual bubbly, expressive self, her laughter and easy smiles filling the house again as if nothing uncomfortable had ever happened.
Gabriel, on his part, had grown accustomed to sharing his room with Nicole.
It was still slightly strange at first, adjusting to the idea that she was here to stay in his personal space — but gradually it had started to feel natural.
— waking up to her presence, her things scattered alongside his, her scent lingering on the pillows, the initial tension easing into something quieter, more familiar.
Helen, however, had been anything but relaxed.
She had been a whirlwind of excitement and activity.
She had thrown herself fully into wedding preparations with the enthusiasm only a mother could have, moving through the house with excitement and purpose.
She had managed to convince Gabriel to take a few days off work so he and Nicole could decide on their wedding decorations, select the menu, and even taste-test cake flavors and choose the one they preferred.
Every detail mattered to her. She was genuinely thrilled—she never thought she would live to see the day Gabriel would finally get married.
Seeing him move on after everything that had happened before filled her with relief and pride.
She radiated joy, as she imagined him walking down the aisle with Nicole by his side.
It was worth every moment of planning and coordination.
Taking her advice had been the right decision, and she couldn’t stop smiling about it.
Helen took Nicole bridal shopping, helping her choose the perfect wedding gown.
She was determined to have everything done early.
They visited boutiques for the wedding gown, discussing silhouettes and fabrics, making note of adjustments that would need time.
They spent extra time ensuring every detail of the wedding gown was perfect.
They also picked out a dress for the engagement party.
While they were still in the boutique, Nicole’s phone rang—it was Gabriel.
He told her they would be going out on a date later that night.
Nicole’s heart lifted instantly. It had been a while since they had gone out together, just the two of them, and the thought alone made her smile to herself.
Helen, sensing Nicole’s excitement suggested they stop by a salon for a full makeover once they were done shopping.
Nicole had chosen a stunning green, v-neck, strapless, tightly fitted floor-length gown for the engagement party.
The wedding dress couldn’t be taken home that day.
It needed minor adjustments, just as they had anticipated.
So it stayed at the boutique for now, but that didn’t dampen her excitement.
They did a bit more shopping afterward—accessories, shoes— and when all the shopping was done, Helen whisked her away to a beauty salon for a makeover and a fresh hairdo.
The salon visit took longer than expected.
By the time they were done with Nicole’s makeup, hair, and Helen’s new hairstyle, evening had already begun to drape the city in soft twilight.
When they got home, Helen, thrilled with her new look, hurried off to the bedroom, eager to show Jacob her new hairdo, unable to contain her excitement.
Nicole, on the other hand, went straight to Gabriel’s room.
She decided to change into one of the dresses she had bought earlier that day.
She lightly retouched her makeup, carefully adjusting her lashes and smoothing her lipstick before slipping into a sexy black-and-white off-shoulder dress.
The fabric hugged her figure comfortably.
And she paired it with black peep-toe ankle-strap platform heels.
Nicole stood in front of the mirror, slowly turning from side to side, assessing herself carefully.
The curls framed her face beautifully, bouncing softly with each movement.
The dress hugged her curves in all the right places.
She caught herself wondering — would Gabriel like the new curls?
Would he like the dress? Would he notice the effort she’d put into this look?
She paused at the realization, frowning slightly at her own reflection.
Why did she care so much about what Gabriel thought about her appearance? She asked herself silently.
Shaking the thought off, she reminded herself not to ruin the mood with unnecessary worry before the evening even began. She spritzed herself with perfume, picked up her purse, and left the room with a small, determined smile, her heart beating a little faster with anticipation.
Gabriel had worked late that night, wanting to make up for the days he had been absent.
By the time he finally decided to leave the office, exhaustion weighed heavily on him.
It was already late when he arrived home.
When he stepped into the living room, the house was quiet.
Then he was greeted by a sight that made him pause.
Nicole was asleep on the couch in the living room.
She was still dressed up, her curls spilling delicately across the cushions.
Her face was beautiful, peaceful, serene, almost glowing under the soft light of the room.
In that instant, it hit him, he remembered — the date he had promised her. How could he forget?
Lost in work and exhaustion, he had totally forgotten.
A sharp sense of déjà vu settled in his chest, bringing with it an uncomfortable wave of guilt. This—this exact thing—was part of the reason Ashley had broken up with him years ago. The realization made his stomach tighten.
How could he let this happen again? He thought, guilt gnawing at his chest.
He stood there for a moment, staring, feeling the weight of his failure, as the fear of losing someone over similar neglect settled in his chest.
How was he going to make it up to her?
They had only reconciled a week ago, and already he had disappointed her. Taking a deep breath, he moved toward the couch.
Nicole stirred as someone brushed her hair gently, a tender movement pulling her from her sleep. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light, and she saw Gabriel squatting in front of her, a mix of fatigue and concern in his expression.
“You’re back,” she whispered, her voice soft, still heavy with sleep. Her eyes drifted to the clock on the wall— 10:00 pm. She didn’t think going out made sense anymore. It was already late, and Gabriel must be tired. Perhaps the date could wait, she thought.
“I’m sorry for just coming. I worked late and forgot about our date,” Gabriel explained, his tone sincere, tinged with guilt.
Nicole’s lips curved into a sad smile. “I guessed that,” she said gently, though a trace of disappointment lingered in her eyes. Gabriel’s chest tightened— he could feel the weight of her subtle sadness.
The disappointment in her eyes was impossible to miss, and it stung him more than he expected.
“How do I make it up to you?” he asked, voice low, earnest, and cautious.
Nicole’s expression changed instantly. Excitement sparked in her eyes as she stood up, helping him to his feet. “We’re going to have that date,” she said with a playful smile, tugging him gently out of the living room.
To his surprise, she led him to the kitchen.
“Why are we here?” he asked, eyebrows raised. Confusion, curiosity, and amusement laced in his voice.
“We’re going to make dinner,” she said, her voice bubbling with excitement and enthusiasm.
“The chefs can do that,” he replied lightly.
Nicole shook her head. “Nah. They’re asleep. It would be rude to wake them, so we’ll do it ourselves,” she said, determination in every word.
Gabriel attempted to protest. “Count me out,” he said, turning to leave the kitchen.
Nicole was quick, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. “But you promised to make it up to me,” she said with a cute pout. The look on her face melted any resistance he had, and his resolve crumbled instantly.
“Fine,” he muttered in defeat.
“Yay!” she cheered, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
“So… what am I supposed to do?” he asked, surrendering.
“For keeping me waiting, you’ll have to sit down and watch me cook,” she instructed, as she gathered the ingredients from the fridge and cabinets with a sense of purpose.
“That’s fair,” he murmured, settling onto the island stool.
Gabriel’s eyes followed Nicole every second as she moved gracefully around the kitchen.
The black-and-white dress hugged her curves, accentuating her elegance.
Her curls bounced lightly as she leaned over the stove, and he caught the faint scent of her perfume mingling with the aroma of the cooking food.
He imagined running his fingers through her hair.
And every glance made his pulse quicken.
The longer he watched, the harder it became to ignore his body’s response.
His chest tightened, as he was already getting aroused.
Needing a distraction, he walked to the refrigerator, grabbing a glass of orange juice. The aroma of the food filled the air, making his stomach growl. He walked back toward her and stood directly behind her, looking into the pan, feeling the heat radiate from her back.
“What are you making?” he asked softly, his voice startling her.
Nicole jumped slightly. “Gosh! You scared me!” she exclaimed, placing a hand over her chest.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone gentle, yet he still didn’t move away.
“I’m making shrimp and sausage vegetable fried pasta,” she replied, her voice steady despite the brief moment of surprise.
“Smells good,” he complimented sincerely.
“Thanks, but eating it is the best part,” she said with a confident smile.
“I can’t wait,” he murmured, captivated.
Nicole decided to go set the table since the food was almost ready.
She turned around to set the table—and bumped lightly into Gabriel’s chest. Her breath hitched.
He was still standing close. He hadn’t moved.
She was close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body, and notice the firmness of his chest. Their proximity was sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.
“Um… G-Gabriel, I need to get the table ready,” she whispered, her cheeks warming.
He smirked faintly, enjoying her nervousness. It was a small, satisfying victory to see the blush on her cheeks, knowing the tension between them had shifted. “Okay,” he said, slowly stepping aside.
Nicole sighed in relief.
What is wrong with him? She wondered.
As she set the table, she kept stealing quick glances at him as she worked. He leaned casually, sipping his juice, eyes fixed on her, intense and unbroken, causing goosebumps to rise along her arms. She had to focus, forcing herself to concentrate on setting the table.
When the table was ready, she invited him to sit before serving their meal.
Dinner passed quietly, punctuated only by the sound of silverware against plates. Gabriel was silently impressed by Nicole’s cooking, and how skillfully she had prepared everything — every bite reaffirming her skill, her care.
Afterward, Nicole served fruit cocktail for dessert.
When they were done with dessert, they moved to the living room, settling side by side on the couch with wine in hand, sipping in silence.
Nicole noticed Gabriel hadn’t complimented the meal, and she couldn’t help but wonder why, as she grew anxious. Did it not taste good? Why hadn’t he said anything if that were the case? That way she would know her flaws.
Suddenly, his hands were on hers, steadying her slightly shaking fingers. He took her wine glass and placed it on the coffee table, leaning in slowly.
Nicole’s mind raced — does she have something on her face? She wondered.
Meanwhile, Gabriel couldn’t bear the distance anymore.
He needed to have even the slightest contact with Nicole.
He felt like he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if he didn’t.
He leaned in, and when his lips touched hers, everything felt right.
His relief, tension, and desire all collided in the kiss. He felt complete.
Nicole froze at first, then slowly melted into the kiss, her lips responding naturally.
Gabriel pulled her to his lap without breaking the kiss, the warmth of his body grounding her.
She gasped internally — this was different.
Normally she initiated these moments, but tonight he had changed the dynamic.
The closeness, the warmth, the familiarity overwhelmed her, and she internally screamed in excitement.
His left hand caressed her thigh, strong yet gentle, while his right hand stroked her hair softly, anchoring her against him. Every heartbeat, every exhale between them was charged with longing.
He had wanted this all night, ever since he got back from the office. He didn’t understand why he couldn’t hold himself back like he used to. Honestly, he didn’t care anymore if he was taking advantage of her or not. He just wanted to feel her this close.
After the kiss, both were breathing heavily.
Nicole’s eyes were closed for a moment longer, still processing the moment.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at Gabriel, especially not after the kiss.
She still found it hard to believe that they just shared a moment.
She took a bold step and slowly opened her eyes, to find Gabriel’s gaze fixed on her, an emotion flickering just beneath the surface, subtle yet powerful.
His expression was unreadable, and he was doing a good job hiding it.
Not wanting another awkward moment, as the embarrassment she felt from their previous kiss in the study was still very fresh, she decided to lighten the mood.
“If this is your way of saying that my food tastes delicious, then you’re welcome,” she said with a small, teasing smile, slipping from his lap and heading toward the bedroom.
Gabriel allowed a small smile to form on his lips.
Relief mingled with guilt — he had kissed her without permission, but her words soothed the moment and eased his conscience.
He lingered in the living room a moment longer, savoring the peace, and reflecting on the night.
He had thought tonight was going to be a repeat of what happened five years ago.
But, to his surprise tonight had turned out differently from the past. He wished Ashley was as understanding as Nicole.
Things would’ve definitely been different, but that was in the past now.
He had no idea why the thought of Ashley crossed his mind briefly. He hadn’t done that in a while, and didn’t need to now. So he pushed the thought away, finally letting go of old thoughts of Ashley, his thoughts entirely filled with Nicole.
He finished his wine and finally retired to bed.