I take a sip and set my glass on the table. “Yeah…something like that.”
He looks down at his cup and his eyebrows pinch. I can hear the thoughts bouncing in his head from here. “Yeah, believe it or not, it’s a little more complicated than that.”
I blow out a deep breath. “Morecomplicated? Damn. That’s crazy.”
“Yeah,” Gabe chuckles lightly.
“Well, does this person treat you well?”
Gabe shakes his head sadly. “They don’t treat me like…anything.That’s the problem.”
I try to make sense of what he’s trying to tell me, but only end up more confused. “I’m afraid you’ve lost me.”
Gabe nods simply. “You and me both.” He eyes his glass, sighing deeply. “What do you do when you want something you don’t deserve?”
My eyebrows shoot up. Damn. He’s really putting the words in my mouth for me. “I…don’t know. I wish I did. I just…I’ve kind of been wondering the same thing," I admit, taking a sip before pouring more into both our cups, even though he hasn’t touched his yet.
“You?You and Elijah seem like a perfect match.”
I huff out a laugh as the guilt of what I’m keeping from him bubbles under the surface. “We’re good…when he’shere.” I confess. “I don’t do so well when he’s not around.”
Gabe cringes. “Damn. I didn’t know.”
I scratch the back of my neck. “Yeah, I don’t really talk about it, I guess.”
Gabe leans back in his booth, propping his feet up on my booth and folding them over each other. “Well, go on. Talk to me. I can be your therapist or whatever.”
I shake my head, laughing. “I don’t even talk to myowntherapist.” Which reminds me how long I haven’t picked up her calls. I should probably do that…
“Anyway, you’re the one with the split lip.” I point at his face.
“And you’re the one with the split eyebrow.” He points at mine.
My hand shoots up to rub over the scabbed over cut. Dammit. I almost forgot about that.
The sting still feels fresh.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to…” he shifts uncomfortably.
I hold up my hand, cutting him off. “No, it’s fine. It’s…true.”
“Did Elijah do that?”
“No.” I rush. “He’d never lay a hand on me like that.Ever.” I want to make that clear as day. Elijah is the most gentle, kind soul that’s ever touched me.
Gabe takes a moment. His eyes zoning into my scar. “Then who did?”
I shake my head, lowering my gaze. “I fell.”
He leans in, folding his arms on the table. “I’ve seen all types of cuts and bruises in my day.” He points to my eyebrow. “And that is a wound that’s only inflicted from aggression.” He leans back in his seat stretching out his arms across the back of the booth. “Let it out. It’ll feel good once you do.”
I grapple with myself. It may be the booze on an empty stomach, my lack of sleep or simply feeling lonely, but I actually want to talk to him about it. After all, I don’t have to tell him a lot. Just enough to feel less of this weight on my shoulders.
I swallow my fear and lick my dry lips. “It was…my biological father.” I roll my eyes, my stomach twisting at that connection. “I don’t even like calling him that. Derrick.” His name tastes like venom on my tongue.
Gabe’s eyes widen. “Holy shit. DerrickVoss?”
Shit. I nod.
