I didn’t have it in me.
It wasn’t because I was tired.
Oh no, it was not.
It was because I was shit scared.
And honestly?
Who could blame me?
SIX
GAMBIT
I woke.
I did it curled into myself.
I did it feeling warm and good.
This time, I did it feeling refreshed.
And this time, I did not deny how I got there, how he got there, and whose hand was curled sweet around the side of my neck.
Last night, terrified by the many revelations I’d sustained at Gabe’s hands, I decided non-resistance was the way to go for the short term.
The company who bought my stuff didn’t mess me about in paying, and that wasn’t due to my scary, built, cake-delivering assistant, but because they were a company and not entitled rich bitches.
We left.
Sitting in the Jeep, Gabe declared, “I feel like short ribs from Beckett’s Table.”
Since any red-blooded human who wasn’t vegetarian or vegan felt like short ribs on any given occasion, I replied, “I wouldn’t say no to short ribs.”
But instead of starting the car and driving us there, he got out his phone, his thumbs swept over the screen, he pushed his phone back in his pocket, and then he started the car.
By the time we got to Beckett’s Table, we only had to wait five minutes for our takeout.
He then drove us back to the Oasis.
In the first stroke of luck I’d had in what felt like forever, no one was in the courtyard to see us together when we returned.
Since Gabe was carrying our food, I opened the door to let us in.
Yes, I did.
No protestations, not a word breathed.
Further without rebuffs, we worked side by side in my kitchen plating short ribs, mashed potatoes, veggies, and Gabe’s outstanding additions of charred brussels sprouts and cheddar bacon biscuits (with apple butter).
I pulled a bottle of beer out of the fridge and held it up to him.
He nodded.
He grabbed the open bottle of red on my counter, found a glass and poured.
“You seen Shetland?” he asked as we walked our plates and drinks to my thrifted olive-colored velvet couch that was a little rough, but it was deep-seated and had a lounge extension, so it was super comfy.
