“Can we talk first?”
“About what?” he asked, coming over to me.
I’d been putting this off, but Christmas was a week away. A text from his father on Thursday had reminded me of the deal I’d made with him.
“Do you remember when we talked to your father?”
His disposition turned, his eyes darkened, and I sighed. This was why I’d avoided bringing up the subject, but I was hoping with as happy as we were now, the blow would be easier.
“Yes.” Clipped and sharp.
“Well, I made a deal with him to get the information.”
“Secrets. I was waiting for you to tell me.”
Lips pursed, I tried to disregard the sting of his words. “There hasn’t been a good time. And you won’t like it.”
His hands dropped from me, and he backed away. “What did you offer, Tori?”
Great, exactly why I’d waited so long. “He wants to see Reid, but I told him he had to earn the right.”
He crossed his arms, waiting for more.
“I told him he needs to mend the relationship with you and Liv, particularly you, first.”
His jaw ticked, muscles going rigid. “There is no relationship, and whatever he offers, I don’t want it.”
“Gabe—”
“No, Tori. I have hated that man for years. There’s nothing to salvage and nothing he can do to take back what he did.”
“I know that, and that’s not what I’m asking.”
He tugged his hands through his hair, pacing. “And what is it you're asking?”
“For change. For him to show that he’s a better man, that he can do better with Reid than he did with you, for him to own up to his mistakes and show you he loves you.”
He froze, his head slowly turning to me. “He doesn’t love me or Liv. He loves his money and his power. That’s all he’s ever loved. I don’t want him anywhere near Reid, and after all he did to sabotage what we had, I would think you would want him nowhere near you. I certainly don’t.”
He stormed away, leaving me in the wake of his anger and hostility. The door to our room slammed, and a few minutes later he stalked down the stairs.
“Gabe, can’t we just talk about it?”
I trailed him as he grabbed his coat and put on his shoes. “No.”
“Where are you going?” Fear stalked through me. What had I done? It wasn’t my business, and I’d gone and stuck my nose in it.
“For a walk.” He threw the door open, slamming it behind him and leaving me to regret ruining our wonderful weekend.
After I showered and dressed, I warmed my coffee and sat on the couch, staring out the window and thinking of what I’d done. The more I sat and stewed, the angrier I became because even if Gabe thought it wasn’t, this was my business. It affected the man I loved and my son. It had shadowed our relationship from the start, and Gabe wore his trauma like a cloak that billowed around him.
By the time I heard the door open, my anger had grown to the point where I didn’t even turn around. He needed to face his past, and if he hated me for interfering, then maybe we weren’t ready to move forward with this.
His footsteps scuffed through the silence, but still I didn’t turn.
“I won’t apologize.” I said, my sight on a dune in the distance. “You may think it’s not my business, but it is. You are my business, and what hurts you hurts me. The past hurts you, and I don’t know how to ease it from your shoulders, but if there’s a chance, even the smallest chance, that this does, then I willcontinue to advocate for it. I’m not doing this for your father, Gabe. I’m doing it for you and for Reid. You deserve something more than he ever gave you, and…” I paused, sucking back the tears.
“Tori.” The pain in his voice had me turning, and the sight of him had me jumping from the couch. His shoulders were hunched, his entire demeanor drained. The powerful man I knew was no longer there, and in his place was a wounded boy with tears streaming down his cheeks.
