Jamal threw his hands in the air at the sound of Gabby’s voice behind him. “And why does she always sneak up like that?” he asked me.
“I’m not sneaking up. I came here to meet my friend for dinner only to find my good name being dragged through the mud—again.”
I lowered my head and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning. Gabby’s dramatics and Jamal’s frustrated sighs were entertaining.
“I was just telling it like it was. You attacked me for no good reason the last time we saw one another.”
My head volleyed back and forth between the two as they threw verbal jabs at one another. Jamal, either growing frustrated or tired of the back-and-forth tossed me a departing nod over his shoulder before glaring at Gabby and walking away.
“I cannot believe you were talking to your cousin about me again.”
I held my hand up in a surrendering fashion. “I just asked why there’s so much hostility between the two of you. That’s it. I wasn’t asking him about your business or anything. But, I mean—”
“No, don’t even go there. There isnothingbetween your cousin and me,” Gabby stated adamantly.
“That’s what you say, but even given your tendency to be a little dramatic, I’ve never seen you get so worked up over a man you hardly know. Are you sure—?”
“What did I just say?” Gabby held up her hands to cut off any further protests from me. “Look, that relationship stuff is fine and dandy foryou.Don’t try to put me in one.”
“What do you mean, for me?”
“I meant exactly what I said. You did a real good job the years we were in L.A. pretending that you weren’t the relationship type and you didn’t want to settle down and all of that, but I’ve seen you over these last few months. You’re happier, your skin is glowing, and you’re just more at ease with yourself. And yes, counseling andwhoyou’re in a relationship with has a lot to do with it. Granted. Xavier is great for you. And when you finally decided to stop fighting the inevitable, you flourished. I don’t personally think everyone is meant to be in a relationship or partnered for all of eternity. But you? I always knew there was someone out there for you.”
I stood there, stunned, speechless. The years I spent after my breakup with Ethan, I actively ran from anything close to a committed relationship. I had talked a good game, claiming that I just didn’t want to be hurt like I had before, and I didn’t want to be tied down or end up like my mother. I’d done a good job of convincing even myself that that was my truth, and Gabby, being the good friend she is, played along until it was time for me to give that up.
“How…?” I cut myself off when I looked over Gabby’s shoulder to see Xavier coming toward us from the back office. My insides warmed all over at the smile he gave me,accompanied by that one dimple on the left side of his handsome face.
“See what I mean?” Gabby muttered as she caught the look between Xavier and me.
“This discussion isn’t over,” I retorted.
“Yeah, it is,” she answered back, just as Xavier’s hand met my waist, pulling me to him for a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, baby girl. Gabby. Sorry, to hold you up. Got caught on another call. Let’s sit,” he welcomed us, extending his arm for us to take our seats in the booth.
The rest of the evening went by pretty quickly as the three of us caught up on each other’s days. It didn’t feel awkward or like an intrusion to have Xavier there at a dinner that was originally supposed to be just Gabby and me. I was grateful to have a friend as supportive as she was, who didn’t mind changing plans to include my man every now and again. But I did make a mental note to find time the following week just for her. I never wanted to compromise my friendship because I was in a relationship. I’d done that in the past and learned my lesson. But I didn’t have to worry about that now.
Chapter Twenty
Xavier
“You’re sure he’s out of the country?” I questioned Quincy over the phone as I sat on my bed, half-dressed.
“Positive. Ethan hasn’t been back since he left Florida two days after you beat his ass. And I found out more on his whereabouts over the last few years. After Chanel left him, it seems his life took a downward spiral. Drinking, gambling, women, et cetera. About a year and a half later, he was accused of attacking a woman, left her with a couple of broken bones. To keep her from pressing charges, his father paid her off as well as some higher-ups, but he was required to go to a treatment facility for six months. That was about three years ago. He relapsed a couple of times after that, it looks like, because he was in and out of different facilities, but by all accounts, he’s been clean and sober for almost two years now. It looks like him coming back to apologize to Chanel was part of his recovery process. I think it’s one of the steps. Anyway, for the last year, he’s been traveling back and forth between the states and Central America doing some freelance legal work and carpentry or building furniture.”
“Furniture?”
“Yeah, apparently he’s good with his hands and has been making and selling some pieces here and there. He’s mainly been living off his trust fund, though he’s not spending excessively.”
“So you’re saying he’s not a threat.”
“Nah, Ethan is no longer a threat to Chanel from what I can tell. Of course, if you want, I’ll keep an eye on him, but I think he’s moved on with his life.”
“Yeah, I still want you to. Thanks, Quincy.”
“No problem. Good luck in Vegas this weekend. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, bruh.”
