CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE – GABE
Gabe’sfingershoveredoverIvy’s number as he sat on their balcony. He wanted to call her, to ask how she was. He selfishly wanted to share what he had learned at his psychologist’s appointment.
He consciously took a deep breath, filling his lungs slowly. He exhaled. It had been three weeks since Ivy had left for her parents. She told him she needed space. So he had done what he thought was right and gave it to her. They agreed to talk on the phone and text, but it wasn’t enough.
Gabe knew Ivy wouldn’t be surprised by Dr. Laktur’s findings, that he had PTSD from the army, but it compounded his PTSD from his childhood and was more involved than he ever thought. For the past couple of weeks, he went to therapy to understand his anger and his tendency to emotionally detach.
His assignment for this week was to pick up a guitar and reclaim some interest in a hobby that had nothing to do with the army or his job. Gabe took in a deep, cleansing breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Dr. Laktur, in her soft, lilting accent, also told him that anger was valid. Anger, she said, served him well on the field because it wasn’t the apparent crystal calm or just the calm. The anger gave him the power to see and assess the situation clearly and efficiently.
What did one do when they had their mind shaken? Go for a run. Grab a drink with Nick later. And get through the rest of the day until he could talk to Ivy again.
She needed to figure out what she wanted, as much as he had to put his own head back together.
He hated being alone. Last year, when he had told Ivy to get out, he was so entrenched in his anger that he hadn’t realized how lonely he had been, not really. He had longed for her, but he hadn’t missed her like he did now. He needed her.
Seeing her French Press machine at the side of the sink made his heart well up. He would ask her what she thought of them starting over. Maybe she could move back and find a job here. He only had one more week of seeing Dr. Laktur before he could resume with Team Stealth. He was just out of the shower when his phone buzzed.
“Ivy, is everything okay?”
“Gabe, sorry! I couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Is it all right?”
“You can call me anytime. You know that.”
“I got offered the job! Executive PR Strategist. Can you believe it?”
He grinned, picturing her glowing eyes, her hair glowing and her gorgeous smile across her face. Damn, he wished he had his arms around her right now.
“Yes, I can believe it. That’s my girl.”
“I’m going to go celebrate with some work colleagues here. Tomorrow I have a full day of meetings. I’ll call you when I get back to the hotel.”
“The hotel?”
“Yeah, it’s getting a bit much at my parents. I’ve been booking myself a room in the city.”
“We’ll have to celebrate soon.” He swallowed, wondering what she’d say.
“I’d like that,” Ivy said. “Talk to you tomorrow.”
He stared at his phone in his hand as if it could give him some answers, then he looked around their condo.
There was no way Ivy was coming back to him. To this. To them.
He called Nick.
“Hey, can you meet me soon? I need…” He bit his lip. How the hell did he say he needed company? “I just got off the phone with Ivy.”
“I’ll come over in half an hour,” Nick said. “I’ll bring the good stuff.”
His phone rang, and he had a flash of hope that it was Ivy calling him back. But no, it was another call he wouldn’t answer from his father. After Ivy left for her parents, he sent both him and Cole a message saying he never wanted to talk to them. He’s sure his dad is chalking it up to Gabe’s feeling of being hurt or something, but damn straight, his feelings were hurt. Xander had people looking for Cole but hadn’t found him yet.
Ivy was a great girl. She deserved so much better than him. She deserves someone who had their shit together. Someone who didn’t have fucked up family.
He had nothing to give her. He reached above the sink, took down a bottle of whiskey and poured himself a drink.
“She’s not coming back to this, man. They offered her some kind of senior executive position out there. What is this to her? It’s nothing.”
“It’s just a condo,” Nick said. The man had his suit jacket undone and lounged on the chair, shaking his head at Gabe.
