Chapter 12
twelve
GENEVIEVE
Gen woke up later that day feeling warm and safe.
Gabriel was beside her, sleeping on his stomach and facing her, with one arm thrown over her.
She’d never really thought about how he might sleep before, and was a bit surprised he was a stomach sleeper.
When they’d fallen asleep, she hadn’t gotten a chance to fully appreciate him and watched as his body rose and fell with sleep, how his muscles shifted, and how much she liked his arm holding her, even while he’d changed positions.
She took a deep breath and looked around the room, catching sight of a clock on his side of the bed.
They’d been asleep for maybe ten hours and it was now the afternoon.
Soon, she would have to go home and face her mother again, but for now she could pretend yesterday hadn’t happened and stay hidden in the palace a little longer.
Her eyes strayed to the neatly folded pile of Sam’s clothes. She couldn’t bear to think about Sam gone, about never speaking to her again, or never going to the diner with her, or just having a friend with terrible ideas for your life that maybe weren’t so terrible in the end.
Gabriel shifted onto his side and pulled her against him more. He kissed her head and blinked his eyes open. His voice was rough and low and she liked knowing what his ‘morning’ voice sounded like. “Did you sleep, my dear?”
She nodded and cuddled closer with him. She really wanted to drink some more water, get up and use the bathroom, but even those simple tasks seemed daunting this morning.
“I was thinking last night…” he started.
“About what?” her own voice sounded pretty rough and she winced.
Gabriel didn’t seem to notice though. “Would you like to stay here? Either with me or in another suite if you prefer?”
“Today, you mean?”
“Yes, but also forever if you wanted it.”
Sure she’d heard him wrong, she looked up at his still sleepy eyes. “What?”
“Truthfully, I can’t bear the thought of you going back to your mother.” He ran a hand down her side, then back up to cup her face. “She won’t take care of you, and your injuries are bound to feel worse today.”
She did have a splitting headache, and her entire body felt sore, and also tender in a few spots. “But you said ‘forever’, didn’t you?”
“Yes and I meant it.”
“You want me to move in with you? That’s a bit fast.”
“I know, and I shouldn’t push it, especially today. But there’s something you should know.”
He tugged her just the slightest bit closer. “I love you, Genevieve.”
She sucked in a breath.
He brushed a thumb over her cheek. “When I thought I’d lost you…it made me realize many things, and one of them is that I love you, and that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this a life you could want to live with me.”
Sam’s words kept looping in her head. Don’t be afraid to love him, Gen. Promise me. “Last night…or this morning, really…a lot of things happened. And I can’t process what you’re saying right now because I’m simply not able to. That doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
“I know. And I’m not trying to pressure you into saying anything. I only wanted to ask and let you know the offer was there. You’ve lost one person you love, but there are others here who love you too. Not the same way as she did, but we do love you.”
Her eyes were too dry for tears, and she was probably dehydrated after everything that had happened anyway. But she would have cried then if she could have. Instead she tilted her head up, wove a hand into his hair and brought his lips to hers for a gentle kiss. “Thank you, Gabriel.”
They laid there in silence for several long minutes until Gen, who was so used to doing things and running around, found herself feeling guilty for doing nothing. Then she suddenly thought about Gabriel’s schedule. “Did you have work today?”
“I did work a bit earlier.” He paused, then, “I followed up on the investigation into the crash.”
Gen tensed.
“The man who died, the other driver? He was drunk, far above the legal limit. Though the blood alcohol content standards are new and not widely enforced, he’s going to be used as an example as to why it’s needed.
The police may need to speak to you again, but you’ll not be charged with anything. You’re a victim here too.”
At least that was one thing off her mind, though it didn’t ease her grief any. If anything it made her angry again. She wished he’d lived so she could see him punished. Was that wrong? What would Sam have wanted if Gen had been the one to die?
“Are you all right?”
“I don’t know.”
He nodded, and they remained silent for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Eventually, he spoke again. “As for the rest of my work, I rescheduled everything and told everyone not to bother me unless it was an emergency for the next few days.”
She buried her head against his chest. “Oh fuck.”
He huffed a laugh and she liked the feeling of being in his arms when he’d done it. “Why are you cursing now?”
“Because everyone will get ideas about us now. It’ll be in the gossip columns tomorrow. ‘Future king spends day in bed with unwed girlfriend’. What will your parents think?”
He was silent for a moment. “You called yourself my girlfriend.”
“Aren’t I?” Even though he’d just told her he loved her, maybe he’d changed his mind.
Since her father died, the only constants in her life had been Sam and Diana.
Now Sam was gone and Diana would leave for college soon, and she’d be all alone again.
She was used to people either leaving her or people who stopped loving her.
“Of course you’re my girlfriend.”
The tension left her body, only to go back up a moment later.
“But you’re so much more than that, my dear.” He kissed her temple. “So much more, and you always will be. I’m a man who keeps a promise he makes, and that’s my promise to you.”
Could she trust him? She wanted to. Oh fuck did she want to.
Maybe she’d lean on him through the funeral, and see if he kept his promise.
Fuck, she hoped he kept his promise.
GENEVIEVE
Gen didn’t want to leave him. Didn’t want to leave the hot and decadent showers and heated floors and staff that brought her scrambled eggs and toast for a late lunch.
But now, dressed in some of Agnes’s fine clothing, she was in the car with Gabriel on the way back to her house.
He was dressed casually today, similar to his picnic outfit, and she was curled into him in the back seat.
He was gently rubbing her back, as if sensing her tension rising with each turn in the road that brought them closer to her mother.
“Would you like me to go in with you?”
She shook her head against his chest. “No. I need to face her on my own, and if you’re there she’ll just get…well, you know.”
“I do. I’ll stay in the car though, for a few minutes, just in case you need me. We’ll stay out of sight of your mother, don’t worry.”
“Thank you.”
As they pulled up just out view of the gate to the house, she took a deep breath.
She’d left Sam’s clothes and purse with Gabriel, because her mother would just throw them out.
She did want to return Sam’s ID to her parents when the time was right, so she had that with her.
But for some reason she couldn’t bear to part with the remaining random items in Sam’s purse: Sam’s favorite shade of lipstick, her compact with a shade that would never suit Gen, a phone number from some guy who had given it to her who knew when, a hair band, and a few other things.
She knew all those things would be safe with Gabriel, and not here where she’d lived her whole life. It was a sad and sobering thought on many levels.
If this house wasn’t even safe for Sam’s things, how could it ever be safe for Gen anymore?
Mentally, she knew it wasn’t, but now it was time to emotionally let go of this place, and her mother, forever.
She had to let go of her father; he wasn’t in that house anymore, not even in pictures since her mother removed most of them, and she needed to stop pretending that the memories of him could sustain her through the abuse.
With Sam’s death, everything had changed.
Everything.
“The Kaurs won’t do a funeral like we would because of their faith, but they’ll have people over to their house. I’ll see you then?”
“If not before. Please call me or Agnes if you need anything. I’ve had the phone lines secured to your house for now, so that no one can listen in. Well, except our security staff if needed. Keep that in mind.”
“I will.” She gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Yes, you will, my dear. I love you.”
She smiled and had to admit to herself that maybe she was believing him a little more with each time he said it.
At the door, she took a deep breath before unlocking it and stepping through. For a moment there was total silence and she was relieved. Though her mother’s car had been in the driveway, perhaps she’d gotten a ride from someone else and left the house.
In the next moment, however, there was the sound of thundering steps from above. Both her mother and Henrietta appeared at the top of the stairs, anger on their faces.
Her mother’s screeching voice made Gen wince. “Where have you been? You’re shameless! Completely shameless! No doubt with some boy. Do you think the prince will have you now?”
He would even if that were true, not that I’m telling you that. She gestured to her bandages. “I was in an accident last night.”
Her mother scoffed as she came down the stairs, Henrietta following and mimicking their mother’s scorn. “A likely story.”
Gen was soooo close to losing it. “Samira Kaur is d-dead.” Her voice choked on the last word. She hadn’t said it out loud and it made everything feel more final.
“What? You killed her?” Her mother’s hand slapped her face hard, Gen’s already bruised body protesting as she tried to shield herself.
“You-how dare you? Do you know what this will do to my social standing?”