‘Why aren’t any of you married?’ George said, big round eyes taking in each of the men at the table, who all slugged back a mouthful of beer.
‘Yeah, you’re all old,’ Reggie said.
Walker spluttered a laugh as the youngest of the group. ‘Cheeky monkeys,’ he said. ‘I’m only thirty-six.’
‘That’s ancient.’
‘Maybe we haven’t found the right women yet,’ Fox said.
‘Or we have, and they don’t know if they want to marry us yet,’ Etienne said.
‘What about you two?’ Walker challenged. ‘Why aren’t you married yet?’
Reggie pulled a face and George laughed.
‘Girls are disgusting.’
‘Yeah, girls suck.’
‘Don’t say it,’ Fox muttered to his friends as they all laughed into their beers. He pushed his chair under the table.
‘First one in bed gets first choice of TV tomorrow.’ The boys ran whooping towards the stairs and Fox followed them out of the room. Etienne’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket, his face lighting up when he saw the name on the screen.
‘Bella, baby,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’
Etienne let himself out the bifold doors and Walker watched his expression soften and smile as he talked to Isabella. A minute later, he was leaning back in his patio chair and laughing softly into the phone. From all appearances, the wedding was back on.
Walker pushed his plate to the side and sighed quietly. He was happy for his friend, who had found his match and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. Happy for Fox, moving on and finding global success. Happy for Alex with his big music break. But to be honest, he was drained. He was constantly tired and now his feelings were hurt as well. The nightmares were getting more frequent. He felt like he was carrying a heavy weight, and he didn’t know how to put it down.
And there was nobody to help share the load.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Gabi
Papà: How are you, Gabriella? Do you need anything?
For some reason, this morning’s monthly message was even more annoying than normal. She glared at it and formed a response in her mind.
Actually, Pops, I’m worried about my scan next week. I’m worried my broken bone is not going to have healed and I’ll never work again.
She pulled a face.
Or,To be honest, Dad, my feelings have been hurt by a hunky hero who seems to hate the fact that I like to rely on myself.
She rolled her eyes.
Finally, she typed,
Gabi: I’m fine, thanks. And no, nothing at all.
Why did he keep bothering when it was obviously just a duty message every time? She recalled his messages when she was younger, every week the same questions. How hopeful she felt when his name appeared on her screen, and how her heart dropped with disappointment with every message that didn’t include a plan to meet up, or an invitation home for the summer. He never asked her more than the bare minimum to know that she was alive, so what was the point? You’d think he’d get bored of it, his questions, her reply. Nothing changing for better or worse. The same frozen state of relationship for more years than she could remember. She stared helplessly at her own words, then pressed send and threw the phone on the bed.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she had a sense of déjà vu. Another party at The Bolthole. Another night trying to prove to Walker McBride that she didn’t care what he did or said. And this time, she wouldn’t give in to him even if he begged her.
He couldn’t just go around making out she was somehow emotionally detached just because she didn’t want to throw herself into a full-blownrelationshipwith him. She wasn’t going to be here long enough for more than a few casual hook-ups so what was his problem? Well, it was his loss.
She checked her outfit. The warmer weather gave her the chance to wear less. Her black short shorts almost met her bralette, and her belly button ring shone through the gap. She dusted some highlighter on her shoulders and cleavage. She mussed her hair and drew on eyeliner, smudging it purposefully to give herself a slightly doe-eyed, sultry look. She added heavy mascara and was done. Take that, Walker. See what you could have taken home tonight. She grabbed her crutches and swung herself out to show him exactly what he was missing. Fuck Walker. Fuck her dad. She didn’t need any of them.
