After that, the bastard strolled out of the restaurant.
I sat there in a daze. Even after I handed the waitress my credit card to pay for the drinks we’d ordered. Over and over, I ran the different scenarios in my head.
I could ignore Nate’s threats and dare him to follow through with his bluff. But I knew he wasn’t bluffing. I knew this could get bad for Gabriel and his company.
If Nate knew it, then he would use it against Gabriel if he had to.
I ran my hand across my forehead, knowing I was the only thing that stood in between saving Gabe’s business and Nate’s complete and total disregard for anyone but himself.
I’d brought this into Gabriel’s life. Even though I thought I managed to escape it, I’d brought drama into Gabe’s world. His mere association with me had put his business and livelihood in harm’s way.
There was only one way I could fix this. I would have to go along with Nate’s wishes.
Chapter 30
Gabe
“Bro, I only agreed to this because you’ve been unfocused at work all day,” Preston said, irritation lacing his voice as we stood in the middle of the jewelry store.
“You’re doing this because you’re my best friend,” I countered. “And like it or not, you have a better eye for jewelry than I do,” I admitted.
Yes, we were in the middle of a jewelry store after ending our last meeting at three-thirty with another newly signed athlete. I was looking for engagement rings.
The morning after my birthday, I opened my eyes with Lena by my side and knew it was time I finally bought the ring. More than nine months earlier, at Micah’s wedding, I declared that Lena would be my wife. It was time to make that declaration a fact.
“How about this one?” Preston asked as we stood over the glass counter, pointing at one of the rings in the case.
I stepped next to him.
“Ah, that is a beautiful ring,” the owner of the store announced, stepping behind the counter.
But I shook my head. “It’s cool, but it’s not Lena. It’s too gaudy.”
Preston nodded, staring down at the rings. “You’re right.” He looked up at me. “For a superstar, she’s pretty down-to-earth. She wouldn’t want something that big on her hand.”
I chuckled. Though she was precisely as Preston described her, Lena wouldn’t dare call herself a superstar. She was to me, though, which was why I wanted this ring to be unique.
I swallowed as I thought back to that morning. Lena had been somewhat strange and distant the past few days. When I asked about it, she told me it was nothing. She was feeling some stress as she came to the end of writing the songs for her album.
Shit. Maybe it was me who was the one acting strange, and I was projecting. For days, I looked in different jewelry stores, trying to pick out the right ring to ask her to marry me. Finally, that day, I broke down and asked Preston for his help. I would’ve asked Jodi, but she was ready to pop, and Micah didn’t want her on her feet.
I didn’t feel like putting up with his questioning ass, so Preston it was.
“You said her middle name is Jade, right? Like the stone?” Preston asked.
“Yeah. It means protection.”
He gave me a look.
“Yes, I looked it up. Say something, and I’ll knock you the hell out.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “I’m trying to help him, and he’s threatening me,” he said to the owner. “Anyway, do you have any diamond rings that pair well with jade?”
“I don’t have any on hand, but I can design one.”
I looked at my friend and back to the jeweler. “He is good for something.”
We spent the next half an hour designing the perfect engagement ring for Lena. I walked out of that store feeling lighter than I had in a while. Within the month, I’d have the ring.
