So what Alexis’s dad’s deal was, I did not know, except he was a man, and they tended to do unreasonable, damaging crap on the regular.
“I have a few cakes to make and deliver tomorrow, but if you’re around tomorrow night?” I suggested.
“Totes!” she replied. “I’ll pop over around six.”
“Great,” I returned.
And, whoosh, the cupcake box was out of my hands because Gabe was there.
Before I could turn a glare on him, I watched Jacob grin knowingly, and Alexis beam happily on a little jump and clap of her hands.
Someone save me.
“Later!” Alexis cried.
“Later,” I mumbled with a wave in their direction and followed Gabe to his Jeep.
I saw the boxes carefully laid in the back seat and I would not express how grateful I was that he treated my work and livelihood as it should be treated. I also did not express gratitude as he waited until I got in to hand me the last box. After he rounded the hood and got in beside me, I further did not express gratitude that I did not have to take three trips to my own car to load up.
No, I balanced the box on my knees as I buckled in and kept my silence.
Gabe started the Jeep and asked, “Where to?”
I gave him the address.
He programmed it into his GPS, and we were on our way.
I was about to launch in about how he was going to bring me home after the delivery, and I was going to go with how tired I was.
So, yeah, it was an excuse, but it was also true.
But putting him off to fight another day sounded really damned good right now.
Again, I did not get that first word out because Gabe beat me to it.
“Okay, getting you’re not there yet, so I’ll start.”
Bewildered by this statement, I turned my head to look at him.
He kept us safe by keeping his eyes on the road, and he started.
“Luke and I are first cousins.”
At this intro, my heart started squeezing again.
Because I wanted to know this.
All of it.
And I so did not.
I didn’t have a choice because he kept going.
“My dad was a late baby. Gram and Gramps had him when they were in their early forties. He was a surprise. Adding to why Luke and I have a big age gap, Dad liked to joke he wanted to play the field, but mostly, I knew, he was scared he was going to be a dick like his brother. So Dad married Mom when he was older.”
I pressed my lips together so I didn’t say anything, because I knew if I said something, it would expose how totally fascinated I was with all he was saying.
He kept saying it.
