Chapter 29
TWENTY-NINE
HALLIE
I thought living with Gabe was temptation before, but now that we’re sleeping together, it’s a million times worse.
Even more so because we have to hide our affection from Abbie, which has led to secret touches and me sneaking down the hall to Gabe’s bedroom once we’re sure she’s asleep for the night.
It feels scandalous and dangerous, and fun. But I also know that not being open about our relationship with his family eats at Gabe every time we run into his parents or one of his siblings.
Just a little longer , I keep promising him.
But time keeps stretching, and the longer we wait, the bigger the omission feels.
I know this, but I still can’t make myself agree.
It feels safer here, existing in our bubble of two.
I’m well aware that it could pop any day, but I cling to the illusion that it will protect me.
As I finish adding the chocolate-covered strawberries to the plate, a familiar pair of tattooed arms bracket me against the counter on either side.
“What’s all this for?” Gabe asks, looking over my shoulder at the spread of food on the island. Along with the strawberries, I bought some fancy cheese and crackers from Sunnyside.
“Clara and Delilah are coming over,” I reply. Then I freeze. “I’m sorry, I should have asked if that was alright.”
He presses a kiss to my shoulder, where my shirt has slipped down to reveal bare skin. I suppress a shiver.
“You don’t need my permission,” he says. “Besides, one of the people you invited is my sister. I can hardly complain about that.”
“It’s your house,” I argue.
“It’s yours, too.” He steps closer, pressing his chest to my back. “So invite whoever you like.”
“In that case…you have to leave.”
He chuckles. “You’re kicking me out?”
I set the strawberry container down and turn, leaning back against the counter. And I come face to face with Gabe’s bare chest. The ink on his skin taunts me, begging for me to trace it with my fingers. And, if I’m feeling brave one night, maybe my tongue.
Cheeks blazing, I meet his amused gaze. “Temporarily. It’s girls’ night, and I know you. You wouldn’t know how to behave if your life depended on it.”
Gabe grins. He lets go of the counter and sets his hands on my hips, squeezing. “I can keep my hands to myself. I think it’s you who would have trouble. You can’t resist me, Foster.”
He’s not entirely wrong …
I playfully push at his chest. He just tugs me closer, trapping my palm against his bare skin. His dark hair is still damp from his shower, and I truly can’t stop my free hand from reaching up and brushing a fallen strand off his forehead.
“See?” he says. “That was entirely unprovoked touching.”
My jaw drops. “You’re the one who won’t let me go.”
He leans closer, his lips still tilted up in amusement. “Maybe we should just agree that we both lack self-control in this relationship.”
Relationship . My heart skips a beat or two. I still can’t let myself fully believe it.
I tip my head up toward him. “Maybe that’s why we fit so well together.”
Gabe hums. “Told you that you were made for me, baby.”
My breath stutters in my chest. His eyes lock on mine, and then the distance between us is getting smaller. Just as our lips brush, a loud knock sounds on the front door.
I jump at the sound. Then my eyes widen when I hear Clara’s voice as she pushes into the house without waiting for someone to answer.
“Go put a shirt on!” I hiss at Gabe, shooing him away.
His hands fall from my sides, leaving me feeling cold. “Relax,” he says quietly. “They aren’t going to suspect anything.”
I cross my arms. “Have you met your sister?”
He throws his hands up in surrender as he heads toward the hallway. “I’m going, I’m going.”
I spin around, busying myself with the rest of the food preparation as I attempt to pretend nothing weird is going on. I have to fan my face to try to tame the redness I can feel spreading.
“Hi, Gabe,” Delilah says. She and Clara are in the kitchen now. They pass Gabe on their way over to me.
Clara wrinkles her nose. “Don’t you own a shirt?”
“Don’t you have some manners?” he counters. “What’s the point of knocking if you’re just gonna barge in anyway?”
She waves him off. “Twin privileges. Besides, you’re hogging my best friend.”
I go completely still. Does she know? But she can’t. We haven’t let anything slip at Sunday brunch. We act exactly like we always have, except our longing glances across the table have a touch more sexual tension than they used to.
Gabe grins. “That’s because she likes me better than you.”
Clara flips him the bird as he saunters out of the room. I try not to, but I can’t help watching him walk away. The tattoo on his right shoulder blade isn’t a bad sight either.
Stop drooling, Hallie . That’s a surefire way to blow your cover .
Delilah holds up a bottle of rosé. “I brought the good stuff.”
I smile. When Clara suggested we have a do-over of the other night, at home instead of the bar, I readily agreed. I’ll take any opportunity to spend time with Clara, and I really want to get to know Delilah better.
I grab three wine glasses from the cupboard and set them on the island. Delilah uncorks the bottle and begins to pour. And pour. The wine is almost to the top when Clara sets a hand on her wrist.
“You doing alright there, Dee?” Clara asks.
“Huh? Oh.” Delilah shakes her head and sets the bottle down. “Sorry, I’m a little out of it today.”
“Late night?” I tease.
Clara grimaces. “I flew too close to the sun with you,” she says to Delilah. “I don’t think I like you talking about banging my brother.”
Delilah laughs, shaking her head. “ Yes , it was a late night, but not like that. I was helping Parker with his project for his science class and we lost track of time. We would’ve kept going, too, if Luke hadn’t woken up for work and made us go to bed.”
Clara picks up the bottle and finishes doling out the rosé. “It sounds like things are getting better between you two.”
She nods. “We’re getting there. Therapy has really been helping.”
I wasn’t here to witness it, but Delilah and her brother went through a rough patch after they first moved to the island. I’m sure it’s not easy to navigate the kind of loss they experienced, so I’m glad they’re doing better.
I take my glass of wine just as Gabe strolls back into the kitchen, looking entirely too good. Who am I kidding? He always looks good. I take a healthy sip of my drink.
“Seeing as I’m unwanted here, I’m going to hang out with Luke,” he says. “I’ll be home later. You ladies have fun.”
The urge to kiss him goodbye is strong. He must feel it, too, because his hand brushes against the small of my back on his way out of the room.
“What’s new with you?” I ask Clara, forcing myself to forget about Gabe for the time being. “How’s the movie shoot going?”
Clara purses her lips. “Fine,” she grumbles.
Usually, my best friend would be all over something like this. She’d be the first to tell us all the details she’s learned from being in such close proximity to the production and its crew. The fact that she isn’t leaves me suspicious.
“You didn’t tell us what movie it was. Does it star anyone good?”
“Debatable,” she replies.
“Clara,” I say, “we’re going to need a little more than that.”
She sighs. “It’s Cooper’s movie, okay?”
I gasp. “ Cooper ? As in, that Cooper?”
“Wait,” Delilah interjects, “I’m missing something. What’s wrong with Cooper?”
“A great many things.” Clara tops up her glass of wine, then takes a generous sip. “I want to poke his eyeballs out with a tiny fork.”
I pause, my own drink suspended halfway to my mouth.
“ Pardon ?” Delilah sputters.
Neither one of us are used to our friend, the bubbly woman that she is, being so hostile. She takes most everything in stride. Except this, apparently.
“I want to poke his eyeballs out with a tiny fork,” she repeats.
Delilah and I share a worried look. When we both turn to Clara, I’m the first to speak. “We heard you. We’re just…surprised.”
“Though you have been kind of violent lately,” Delilah adds. “Are you okay?”
She huffs. “Cooper deserves it. He’s an arrogant, self-centered prick who insulted my restaurant, and he broke my teenage heart.”
I grimace. Clara, who rarely leaves Kip Island as a general rule, drove all the way down to Toronto the day she and Cooper broke up for good.
She stayed in my room in my university residence hall for three days.
They had always been on and off when they dated during high school, but that breakup was different. Permanent.
Delilah’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “This guy is your ex?”
I nod in confirmation. “He grew up with us, but he left the island behind when he started gaining popularity for his acting. He doesn’t even go by Cooper anymore. Now he’s Hudson LeFort.”
“You dated Hudson LeFort ?” Delilah shrieks.
Clara groans, dropping her upper body onto the island, covering her face with her hands. “Not you, too.”
“No, wait.” Delilah reaches out, grabbing Clara’s hands and coaxing them away from her face. “I’m sorry. We hate him. We hate him!”
“We do hate him.” She looks at Delilah sternly.
“No matter how pretty he is, do not fall for it. He left this place behind the second he could, and he stepped on anyone he needed to in order to make it happen. He used his own brother’s notoriety as an NHL player to get a leg up, and they don’t even talk.
Everything that comes out of his mouth is bullshit. ”
“Fuck him,” Delilah says.
“ Fuck him,” Clara agrees.
We all clink our glasses together, and then Delilah artfully switches the subject. With a little assistance from the rosé, it doesn’t take long for our friend to forget all about her stupid ex. With any luck, his movie will wrap and he’ll be back on a plane to California before we know it.
Gabriel
What are the chances girls’ night wraps up soon so we can pick up where we left off earlier?
I told you that you don’t know how to behave!
This is why you had to leave. If Clara saw you touching me, she would know.
Gabriel
Funny. Touching you is exactly what I’m thinking about right now.
My teeth ensnare my bottom lip as I glance up from my phone to make sure Clara and Delilah are both still occupied by the movie.
Thankfully, they’re very engrossed in our screening of 10 Things I Hate About You .
I could recite the dialogue in my sleep, I’ve watched it so many times, so I don’t mind missing a couple scenes.
Gabriel.
Gabriel
Foster.
You’re incorrigible.
Gabriel
I’ll be whatever you want me to be, as long as I get to be buried inside you at the end of the day.
I can feel the flush on my cheeks. Another quick peek at my friends reveals they’re still preoccupied. I slide down lower in my corner of the couch, hiding my phone from them.
This feels wrong on so many levels. But then again, every sinful thing about Gabriel Bowman has this preternatural rightness to it I can’t explain.
Flirt.
What happened to hanging out with Luke?
Gabriel
He’s watching Soph tonight. He’s putting her to bed. Pretty sure he’s conked out on the floor based on how long he’s been gone though.
I have to stifle my giggle at the thought of Luke amidst all the pink and frills in Sophia’s bedroom, fast asleep.
So I’m the cure to your boredom.
Gabriel
No, baby. My mind’s been on you all night. Kitchen, remember?
I remember. Of course I do. If Clara and Delilah hadn’t walked in when they did, I’m sure they would have found more than just Gabe without a shirt.
I chew on my lip as I think about what to say. I’ve never done… this before. But something about it sends heat through my veins. I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it, but I want to try.
If you were here right now, how would you touch me?
I can picture his smirk. The upward curve of his lips is a sight I know well, particularly after the past few weeks.
Waiting with bated breath, I watch as he types a response. My heart stutters, and an ache blooms between my thighs when the message rolls through.
Gabriel
First I’d have you strip bare while I watched. Then I’d have you touch yourself like you do when you’re alone, show me exactly what you like.
That was quick. It seems you’ve given some thought to this.
Gabriel
You have no idea.
So in this scenario, I would be at your mercy. What else would you do?
Gabriel
Why don’t I come home and show you?
Yes, please .
My mind runs away with itself as I reread his texts. Soon, I’m imagining what he’ll do when he gets me into bed. The anticipation is almost too much.
“Hallie?”
My head snaps up as I press my phone against my chest, hiding my screen. My stomach feels like it’s in my throat.
Clara laughs as she stands to stretch. “The movie’s over.” Her head tilts to the side. “Are you okay? You look a little flushed.”
Thank your brother .
Shoving that thought down, I nod. “I’m alright. Must be the wine.”
“I’m feeling it, too,” Delilah says, followed by a yawn. “We should get going. Since someone ’s making me help with the deliveries in the morning.”
Clara whacks her arm with a throw pillow. “You love me and you know it.”
As they both help me bring our dirty glasses to the kitchen, I hear the familiar sound of a door slamming outside. When the three of us make it to the front hallway, Gabe is toeing off his boots.
“Perfect timing,” he says, his eyes landing on me. Then his gaze slides to Delilah. “There’s a very tired fire chief asleep on your sister’s bedroom floor.”
She laughs. “Thanks. I’ll take care of him.”
Clara and Delilah both shrug on their jackets, and then Clara kisses her brother’s cheek before they slip out to Delilah’s car. Gabe has one hand on the door. As soon as her Audi starts backing out of the driveway, he presses it closed.
Then his gaze settles on me, and I know I’m in big trouble.