Gabriel pulls into the driveway and cuts the engine. He shifts in his seat so he can face me. At first I think he’s going to keep talking about Nash, but he takes me aback when he says, “About moving in together?—”
I wave my hand. “You were giving your mom a hard time. I know. It would be crazy to move in together so soon.”
Gabriel’s quiet at first, then says, “Would it?”
“Um, yes?” I don’t sound sure. Quite the opposite, actually.
“What if we didn’t pay attention to arbitrary rules about when things are supposed to happen? Your house burned down and you went to stay with your dad, except he showed up out of nowhere with a fiancée. It feels a little like”—he shrugs—“fate.”
“Fate,” I echo. I like the idea of ignoring timelines that say when we are supposed to do things in relationships. Going with my gut, following my heart, listening to my soul. However it’s termed, it sounds a lot better than hearing my dad and Lara having sex.
The more I think about it, the more I love the idea of living with Gabriel. I want to wake up to him, place my toothbrush next to his, add my favorite salad dressing to his collection in the fridge door. There is one detail though, that I have to mention.
“I’m not going to be able to contribute financially. Not much, anyway. I didn’t pay rent at Sabrina’s house, just my share of the utilities.” I cleaned the house, too, because I felt bad about not paying rent.
Gabriel’s shaking his head before I finish speaking. “I’m not worried about that. I’m serious about you. About us. You’re starting your career, and I want to support you. Financially, and in every other way.”
“Are you sure?” I glance at Gabriel’s house. “This is a big step.”
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m not afraid of big steps. Why stop with moving in together? Let’s get a dog, too.”
“Hah,” I laugh. “No dogs. No way.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows lift. “Are you telling me you don’t like dogs?”
“Is that a deal breaker?” I grin.
“No, but…do you really dislike dogs? I’m genuinely curious.”
“Dogs are fine, I guess. I’ve never had one as a pet. We had a neighbor who had an awful dog who humped my leg a lot and even bit me twice. His name was Baxter.”
Gabriel’s eyes light up with recognition. Before he can ask, I say, “That’s why you’ll hear Cam call me Baxter every once in a while.”
Gabriel laughs, and the sound fills the truck. I love it so much, I want to tuck it away and save it for another time when I feel sad.
“That’s enough,” I say, pointing a stern finger at him. I push up onto my knees and crawl over the console. He adjusts himself in his seat to accommodate my body. My leg swings over, and I straddle him. “Do you promise you want me to move in? It’s your space. Your home.”
He shakes his head. “Not anymore.”
“Then let’s do it. Let’s move in together.” Excitement fills me and I squeal with my mouth closed, the sound coming from my throat. Gabriel’s chuckle vibrates against me.
The mood in the truck has swung from somber to euphoric.
The air conditioning blasts against my back, making me shiver, but his grin heats me up. “So you still love me as much as you did before you met my mom?”
“If anything, I love you more. All I saw tonight only helped me to understand you better.” I kiss his temple, run my hands through his hair. “Everybody’s family is a unique brand of fucked up, Gabriel. That’s what I’m learning.”
Gabriel’s thumbs graze my sides, up and over my chest. He leans in, the tip of his nose fluttering over my jawbone.
His hands drop to my hips, and his tongue slides over my jaw. “You taste sweet. And you smell like something I want to bury myself in.”
Outside, the moon is nothing more than a sliver. The front porch lights are off, bathing the driveway in total darkness.
Gabriel’s eyes flicker to the backseat, then up to the house. “Let’s go inside,” he says.
I leave my stuff in the truck, and we hurry through the front door. We’re a tangle of limbs, and I slam the door closed with a hip. We make it to the living room, where we drop to the carpet.
Gabriel presses his face between my thighs, and in a few short minutes there are starbursts behind my closed eyes. He crawls up my body, smiling at me and running his tongue along his lower lip. “A Verysweet treat,” he says, looking pleased with himself.
