22
GABE
It’s my day off, which is good because I’m dragging ass today. I didn’t sleep.
Not after Drew and Adam disappeared last night when Santa’s village wrapped up.
Too many of the parents didn’t know it was him in that suit, but I did.
Thoughts of them together churned in my stomach all night, so I gave up around four this morning and let myself wallow in the misery of my own making.
A door slams outside, and I’m at the front window, peeping like some noisy neighbor—let’s face it, that’s exactly what I am—as Adam walks Drew up to her door.
It’s eight a.m., and she’s still in that flowy red blouse and black slacks from last night. Hair a messy bun on her head and makeup smeared around her eyes.
She still looks beautiful.
Adam must think so, too, because he leans her into her front door for a lingering kiss before he retreats back to his SUV, unable to take his eyes off her.
My blood boils. Heat spiking high as my hands clench into fists.
It takes every ounce of restraint I have not to go out there and throw one into his smug face. Instead, I pace around my first floor, through the living room and kitchen and back again.
Greyson is at the Lodge this morning, and I have no distractions.
He didn’t seem concerned last night, but I also know that he’s grown attached to her, too.
And I’m being left behind. I can’t let this happen again. Not after she left me behind the last time. Not after missing out on her life for six whole years.
Not after I’ve finally gotten her back.
The last ten days have been hell without her here. With her upset with me. With my foot fully lodged in my mouth. I couldn’t back track fast enough, and I can’t do this anymore.
I can’t be on the sidelines like this.
I make four laps before I lose the battle and march over to her front door and knock.
Daisy answers with a knowing smile. She’s got the same smartass smirk she had as a teenager, those dark eyes the same as Drew’s—full of feisty mirth. “She’s in her room.”
She points to the stairs and retreats into the kitchen where a steaming cup awaits her.
I nod and go up. Knocking has me greeted by a muffled,“Go away,”but I open her door anyway and freeze.
Drew is sprawled across her bed in these tiny shorts and a camisole. So much of her skin is bare.
She lifts enough to look at me and goes still.
“Gabe? What are you doing here?” She doesn’t even make a move to cover herself up. And fuck, she’s not wearing a bra. The tight camisole highlights the outline of her hard nipples. I have to drag my gaze away, and it takes an insurmountable degree of effort.
Heat rages through me.
I’m dying from desire. Unfreezing, I step in and close the door behind me, leaning against it. “You haven’t come over in a while.”
Drew sits up, blinking, and I can see so much of her. “No. I haven’t.”
“Because of me.” Because I wouldn’t sleep with her. Because I said something stupid that she didn’t deserve. “Drew, I’m sorry.”
She scoots to the edge of her bed, peering up at me like a damn vision.
