“Sheisdifferent. There was something about her that got to me,” I say as I start to pace in circles. “But there isn’t going to be anymore. And I have to accept that.”
“Not going to be anymore?” Linc says. “You do remember that she lives in town, right? Her bakery is three miles from here. We could go right now.”
He starts to stand up, but I hold my hands up to stop him. “I appreciate you wanting to be my wingman right now, but it’s more complicated than that. Believe me, I’ve wanted to go see her every day since I’ve gotten back. I’ve had to stop myself a few times. But then I remind myself that she left without leaving a number. Or the green light for me to contact her. That was on purpose. Take it from the guy—who as you pointed out—is a proof the morning disappearance: there’s always a reason why you do it.”
It didn’t take me too long—once I got over my initial sad boy feelings—to realize what Gabi’s reason was. And it wasn’t because it was a mistake, despite what my playlist was telling me. Our night together was a whirlwind, and from the little bits she told me, so is her life right now. She wanted it to be one night. To put an exclamation point on her weekend celebration. A true mark to the next chapter of her life. I get it. I respect it. But that doesn’t change how I feel: that I wish I could have had that night, the next morning, and a lot of mornings and nights after.
But it’s not what she wants, and if I’m a man of anything, it’s of respect and consent. My mother, grandmother, and older sister, didn’t raise a fucking bum. a.k.a., they made sure I turned out nothing like my father.
“I’m guessing her reason is because of the divorce?” Linc asks.
“I’d bet my season-ending bonuses on it,” I say. “When my mom was divorcing my dad, dating was the last thing on her mind. She was trying to get back into the work force; making sure my sister and I were everywhere we needed to be; pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t. From the little bits Gabi told me, this divorce is a complete restart for her. I’ve always prided myself on being able to read the room, or in this case the note. And with the clues I have, her life right now doesn’t include dating the football player she met in Vegas.”
“I still can’t believe that asshole posted the video of the two of you on his social media,” Linc says. “Like my man, get over it.”
“She told me a few other things he did. He’s a real piece of shit,” I say, my blood starting to heat when I remember the look in her eyes when she told me about his feelings on her singing. “I’m going to guess that when she woke up, real life came backand smacked her in the face. And that leaving was easier than saying goodbye.”
“That all makes sense, but that doesn’t suck any less for you,” Linc says “I know I was giving you shit earlier, but every one of us could tell that she was special. Even Ainsley was already talking about double dates and having a new WAG in the suite next year.”
Oh God I never even thought of seeing her in my jersey. The thought makes me horny and sad all at the same time.
“I’m so sorry,” Wyatt says, holding out his hand has he stands up, bringing me in for a back slapping hug. “But you need to know, you not pursuing her, that’s an honorable thing you’re doing.”
“Look at me, Maddox Gallagher, the good guy,” I joke.
“You are, and you know it,” Linc says. “I know it sucks now. But believe me, you’re doing the right thing. And who knows, maybe it’s a case of right person, wrong time, but one day it will be?”
I laugh. “Really? When did you turn into one of those hopeless romantic types?”
I know the answer. It was the day he ran into Ainsley Banks. Literally.
“All I know is that there’s timing to things in the world,” Linc says. “If I had met Ainsley at any other point of my life, I don’t know if it would’ve worked out for us. Someone, or some thing, was pulling the strings the night we came together.”
“Are you saying that her being in Vegas at the same time as us was meant to be?”
Linc shrugs. “If I don’t believe in that, then I don’t believe in anything.”
I nod and try to give a smile to my best friend, who really is trying to make me feel better. “Thanks man. Sorry again I wasn’tin the celebrating mood today. I hope I didn’t bring the team down.”
“Nah,” Wyatt says as we start walking back toward the crowds of people. “No one probably knew other than us.”
“Good,” I say, feeling a little better now that I’ve talked all of it out, but overall still sad. “Thanks for listening. I really appreciate you both.”
“Anytime,” Linc says. “Is there anything else we can do? Anything we can get you?”
“Besides the one thing I can’t have?”
Linc laughs and shakes his head. “Okay what’s the next thing to make you feel better?”
It doesn’t take me long to think of what would make me feel better. And if Gabi is the one thing I can’t have, this is probably number two.
“A bear claw.”
CHAPTER 9
GABI
“Gabi, darling, can you grab us some cinnamon rolls to go? With the weather getting colder the next few days I don’t know if we’re going to make it in, and I don’t know if I can go two days without a cinnamon roll.”
