His muscles were taut with a tension I’d noticed had been more prominent since we’d returned home from Connecticut. Whatever demons he was struggling with, they had escalated. The only people he had invited were his school friends, whom he’d told me he had informed through their group chat. It seemed sad that he didn’t have anyone from his family coming, but it was something I couldn’t remedy for him.
“Get some sleep, luna mia. You had a long day.” And he had just worn me out further, taking me against the wall the minute I’d returned home and then again in the bathroom when I was getting ready for bed. It was almost like he couldn’t get enough of me, and I wasn’t complaining. If this was life with Gabe, I would gladly take the brooding moments for all the amazing sex that came with it.
Chapter 12
Gabe
What is that?” I asked when Tori entered the apartment, a white dress bag in her hands.
“That is my wedding dress.”
My heart thudded at yet another nail in my coffin—invitations, cake, and flower selections, and now a dress. There was no turning back, and yet I still hadn’t broken the news to Liv.
“That didn’t take long. I thought dress shopping took months.” As if I knew anything about it other than what I’d seen in the plethora of bridal magazines that now took up the length of the coffee table and her bedside table.
“I found it when I went shopping with Mom and the girls,” she said, hanging it in the back of the closet.
I leaned on the doorframe as she exited, kicking her heels off. “I picked it up on my way home after they called me today to let me know it was ready.” Reaching up on her toes, she gave me a kiss. “I can’t wait for you to see me in it.”
“Well, try it on now.”
A look of horror crossed her features. “I can’t do that,” she exclaimed as if I’d suggested we rob the local bank.
Laughing, I snagged her waist and pulled her into my chest. “And why can’t you?”
“Because it’s bad luck. You must wait until I’m walking down the aisle for the big reveal.”
I nuzzled her neck, pulling her blouse from her skirt. “Damn. Well, if I can’t see you in the dress, then I guess I’ll have to settle for you in nothing at all.”
She giggled just as my phone rang. Ignoring it, I scraped my teeth over her neck.
“Don’t you want to get that?” she asked, trying to free herself from my hold.
“Over a chance to have you come undone around me? I don’t think that’s even a choice.”
Laughing, she tipped her neck back further. The call went to voicemail, and I backed her into the room. Not two seconds later, the phone started again. Dropping my head to her neck, I groaned.
“Go. Someone wants you.”
“Not as much as I want you,” I said, reluctantly releasing her. I had a suspicion it was Liv, and I wasn’t ready to tell her about the wedding yet. I’d been dodging her calls, and she was losing patience, irritated that I’d stuck to email and texting.
“Go,” Tori said, pushing me out of the room. With an exaggerated sigh, I snatched the phone from the table, seeing that I’d been spot on.
“It’s my sister,” I told her.
“Then answer it, Gabe.”
“I’m going to take it outside. Make sure you’re naked when I get back.”
But her playfulness had faded, and I had a hunch mine would be nonexistent after this call.
“Yeah,” I answered, giving Tori a wink as I left the apartment. She would assume it was because of the rift between me andLiv, the fake rift, but I knew this discussion would be heated and involve information I still hadn’t given her.
“That’s the way you answer me, jerk?” Liv sneered on the other end. “After two weeks of avoiding me?”
“I’ve been busy, Liv.” I ran my hand through my hair and put more distance between me and the apartment, following the sidewalk toward the pond.
“What the hell is going on, Gabe? You’ve got me worried. Is this about that woman?”
