I could deal with my dad because he wasn’t really in my life. From what I could tell, he didn’t have any friends. He didn’t have a woman. Two of his three daughters fleeced him for everything they could. But he was a wallet they could dip into, not a man they treated with love and respect. I barely saw him, often didn’t take his calls because I was busy or not in the mood and having him in my life at all was a combination of duty and pity, and I had a feeling he knew it.
After years of fighting and scratching, for her and for me, my mom was in the perfect place. She had a part-time job she loved, a friend posse as cool as mine and a husband who thought the world of her. Their life was quiet and laid-back. They didn’t need for a thing, they didn’t want for much, and they weren’t only happy, they were content.
Kevin was long gone, and even if he came back, he’d never be back.
I’d loved him, and he’d played me.
But even Glorious Gabriel Stark had someone play him.
It happened.
It was part of the process of finding the one.
And I’d found the one.
He was rough and ready, like Robbie, and as easygoing and easy to be with too. He was into me. He was sure of that. He was protective. He was smart. He had a great job.
And straight up, even if I sucked in bed and he had to train me, I’d be down with that.
Or vice versa (though, I already knew that wasn’t going to be the case on Gabe’s side of things).
I felt safe with him.
I knew who I was with him.
I was that girl in the cute tee and baggy jeans and sneaks, and that was all I needed to be because I didn’t have to find my style, I already had it. That was me. I bought clothes I liked and felt comfortable in. The end.
And Gabe wanted me.
I had the bestest best bestie in the world and a friend crew that couldn’t be beat.
And now, when I said yes to Tex and Tito, I was going to have my dream job.
I never doubted it, honey, Dreamer cooed in my ear. It was always just going to take hard work and a little time. You gave it that, and here we are.
Yeah.
Here we were.
So, when I recovered from understanding all of that, wiped my eyes and came back into the room, I saw Luna, Tex, Tito, Otis and Lucia all staring down at me, and I was still being held in Raye’s arms.
Here we are, My Heart chimed in.
“I accept,” I said Tex and Tito’s way.
Tito’s bushy Santa Claus beard tipped up in a smile.
Tex grunted, “No shit?” and trudged out.
Raye’s arms tightened around me.
Luna handed me my phone. “Gabe’s still on the line. I think you need to talk to him. He’s not at one with hearing you sobbing.”
Oh yeah.
Here we are.
I took my phone and put it to my ear as everyone wandered out.
