“Who said I’m nervous?”
“Nerves make you ramble.”
I frown and flick a crumb off the table. Gabriel is here, on my turf. It was different when I was in Sugar Creek. Having him here, in Gem, unsettles me. It feels like he was missing from this scene all along.
I choose not to respond to Gabriel’s question, forging ahead with the reason he’s here. “The outside area is gorgeous. You can’t see it from the street, but I promise, it’s worthy of a small wedding ceremony.”
Gabriel adjusts his sleeves, pushing them up on his forearms. I toy with the charm on my necklace.
“So,” I start, folding my hands together on the table.
“How have you been?” Gabriel says at the same time.
We laugh awkwardly. “Go ahead,” Gabriel says.
“I’ve been good. Writing a lot. Putting the finishing touches on Cam and Dani’s bridal shower. That’s one of the things I was supposed to be doing in Sugar Creek.” I give him a sideways grin, a slight heat building on my cheeks.
The corners of his lips tug, the tiny grin knowing and mischievous. “But something distracted you.”
“Something distracted me.”
His fingertips land on the crook of my elbow, sliding down the inside length of my forearm. My toes curl, my stomach tightens. He asks, “Are you almost finished with the book?”
“I’m three quarters of the way through.”
He clears his throat. “Are your hero and heroine going to get back together?”
A loaded question, if there ever was one.
“I’m not sure.” I avert my eyes, as if looking away from him will decrease the pain seeping into my chest.
My phone, lying on the table between us, lights up with an incoming call.
“Sorry,” I apologize, reaching for my phone. “My air-conditioner is misbehaving, and I'm waiting on a call back from the repairman.”
Gabriel takes back his hand from my forearm, gesturing at me to answer.
The call is from Bayer Heating and Cooling, telling me a technician will be at my address in approximately twenty minutes.
“I’ll be there,” I confirm, hanging up.
“I can probably fix whatever it is,” Gabriel offers. “If you'd like.”
I clear my throat. I've become accustomed to calling out for home repairs, but there was a time when Gabriel fixed whatever was broken in our home.
Except for himself.
Has that changed? He certainly seems capable of fixing everything, including himself.
“Next time,” I answer, scooping up my purse and jamming my laptop in its case. “I need to get going.” I step away from the table, but Gabriel’s arm shoots out, stopping me.
“Can I see you again?”
I look into his eyes and there it is, in vivid detail. Our shared history. Not just our marriage, but our time in Sugar Creek. That too, has been written into our story.
“Yes,” I answer. Feelings of overwhelm have me hustling out of Gem, pausing once I reach the exit because I've realized I haven't given him my address.
I guess it's on me. The ball is officially in my court.
