Chapter Twenty Six
DIANE
"Oh, it's so good to have a day together," Celia murmured.
We were both at the house, doing an indoor spa day, as I liked to call it. We put on face masks, and I even sliced cucumbers. We also made a honey mask for our feet and put on cotton socks so it soaked into our skin better.
My sister didn't have much time before her next shift, but I was happy that we could just hang out.
When she sighed loudly, I took off a cucumber, glancing at her.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing, I'm just wondering how we got so lucky. You know, that we live in the same city and can randomly meet on a Saturday morning and do face masks."
“I'm so happy I moved to Boston even if it was because of Chuck.”
She scoffed. I’d told her that he’d come to the house for his computer and what a jerk he was. "I still can't believe he had the nerve to ask you for that old, outdated laptop."
"It feels like he just needed a reason to meet and put me down some more.
He wanted his old punching bag back so he could feel better about himself.
" Too bad for him he got someone completely different.
Ugh. Seeing him that day put 100 percent closure on that whole relationship.
“Although, I did do a bit of stalking. He is indeed starting a new business.”
"I still don't get why you told him to come when Gabe wasn't home."
I put my hand on my chest, biting my lower lip. "I'm not sure why either.”
“Gabe would have punched him into the next century. Which he deserved.”
“But that’s the thing. I didn't want to hide behind Gabe. I wanted to finally give him a piece of my mind, and I didn't want Gabe to have to face him. It was my issue. Somehow I felt like he would taint Gabe with his ugliness if he ever met him."
"Right, well, at least that's over, and now we know Gabe is a bit of a jealous guy."
I laughed. "Oh yeah, you could say that."
Celia removed the cucumber slices off her eyes. "Want to talk about it?"
I frowned. "Not sure. I mean, it pissed me off when it happened, but then he explained, and we made up.
" I blushed, not wanting to share any intimate details with my sister.
"And I have to say, part of me also understands why he reacted like that.
I didn't stop to think how I'd feel if the reverse were true.
If I knew he'd let an ex come to the house on purpose when I wasn't here, I'd be jealous too. "
"Yeah, I would not be chill either," Celia agreed. Then again, she was never chill.
She smiled at me. "Oh, if only I knew we'd end up here when you moved in with Gabe." She wiggled her eyebrows. "I guess that's close proximity for you, huh?"
I lifted my head. "Yeah."
She pointed at me. "You look worried."
"I just wonder what will happen after I move out."
Celia frowned, sitting up straighter on the bed. "What do you mean?"
“Well, his house is going to be ready soon, so he'll move out of here, and I’ll have to find another place to live."
"Oh, I'm going to kick his ass," she said and started to stand up.
If Gabe were home, I'd jump to stop her, but he was with his half brothers this morning.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because he's asking you to move out."
"No, he's, uh… We didn't discuss it," I stammered.
"What do you mean?"
"He simply mentioned that his house was ready soon."
Celia cocked a brow, but she relaxed against the mattress. "And you didn't talk about your next steps?"
"No. He didn't mention it, and I didn't want to bring it up."
She folded her arms over her chest. "I don't get it. Why not?"
"What exactly would I say? 'Hey, Gabe, so as you know, I’m renting this attic.
What's going to happen once you move out?
Are we taking our relationship to the next level and moving in together, or should I move somewhere else?
'" I shook my head. "I can’t ask him that.
What if he point-blank says he's not ready to have me move in? Or he just agrees because I ask him, but deep down doesn’t want me there.
I don't want to make the same mistake again. "
"What are you talking about?" Celia asked. She was using one of the wet cloths I'd put in bowls between us to clean her face.
"After I broke up with Chuck, I kept trying to figure out where I went so wrong, and I think it was when I moved to Boston for him. I can't remember if he actually asked me or if I was the one who suggested it and then made all the plans."
"Diane, this isn't even remotely the same thing." She was removing her socks, wiping the mask off her feet.
"No, it’s even worse. Because I'd been with Chuck for a long time, but Gabe and I are just at the beginning.
So no, I won't even suggest moving in together.
It needs to come from him; otherwise, I'll live in constant fear that I'm pushing too much.
That's if he doesn't just outright shut me down, of course. "
Celia was silent for a few moments, then spoke slowly. "Diane, I've known Gabe for quite some time. He is not like Chuck."
"I'm not implying that. Not at all. I know he's not. Chuck was a double-faced bastard." And Gabe is everything I need. I grabbed my cloth, too, and began wiping off my face.
"You and Chuck were together for years, and he never proposed. He never wanted to take the next step. It wasn't about you. It was about him. Gabe isn't like that. He's a decisive man."
"Precisely.” He'd been so decisive with Maddox and their new property and hotel that I couldn't help but think that if he wanted to move in with me, he'd go about it the same way: straight to the point.
"Do you want me to talk to him about it?"
"God no. Why would you even ask that?"
Celia frowned. "I want to help, but I don't know how."
"Well, I made a few appointments to look at apartments on Tuesday. You want to join me?"
"Sure."
"I'd like your opinion. You know this city much better than I do."
She tilted her head, then asked, "What if you move in with me instead? I feel like this is a bad time for you to start looking for a new place, what with starting your business and all that."
Truly, it wasn't the best timing, but I didn't want to be a burden. "No, that's fine. I want my own space, especially since I'm also tutoring from home." I took off my socks too.
"Why don't you just stay here?" she asked.
"I don't want to share this space with someone else." It would feel weird after doing so with Gabe. I didn't want to room with a complete stranger.
Celia looked at me intently. "I still think you should talk to Gabe about it."
"I will, but he’s got an important thing on Tuesday. I’ll talk to him after we look at apartments.” I wiped my feet, then looked for my sandals.
“I think he’s into you. Remember how he mobilized his entire family for the tour?”
I moved next to her. Now that we'd both cleaned our faces, I could hug her. "I know. Which is why I don't want to make any wrong moves and ruin what we have."
She sighed, giving me a hug. "Damn. That motherfucking Chuck did a lot more damage than I thought. You've always been a go-getter."
"Hey, I still am!"
"And you've never been afraid to say what was on your mind."
"Not afraid," I assured her. "I’m just being cautious."
"It doesn't sound like that to me."