Ever since my date with Travis—ever since I told him no to a second one—Gabriel has been the only thing on my mind. Sadly, I must not be anywhere on his. Because he hasn’t made a single effort to contact me. Not a text. Not a knock on my door. Nothing. And that’s despite the fact that I’m sleeping under his roof and have texted him twice now with no answer.
I pull up our last text messages again, reading through them like maybe something will look different this time.
Alessia: Hey. Will you be home tonight?
Alessia: Hey Gabriel… I’d really like to talk again. Let me know when you’re free. Please.
But before I can spiral too far into that, another notification pops up. It’s a message from some guy on the dating app that Natasha downloaded onto my phone. I look at my inbox and see that makes fifteen now.
They’re probably nice guys. Attractive. Successful. The kind of men who could prove to me that not every relationship is destined to fall apart and end in heartbreak. That love can be steady. Stable. Safe. That all men aren’t cheaters. But the truth is… I don’t need that proof anymore.
Gabriel proved that and more to me after just one night together. And now, I don’t want anyone else. I only care about him. He’s the only one who has made me feel safe, worshipped,looked after.
I sit in silence, rolling those thoughts over in my head until the sun sinks below the horizon and the room is cast in shadows. When I glance at the clock, it’s already close to seven and I have no idea how I’ve gotten here.
My stomach grumbles with hunger and my eyes burn from staring at my phone screen.
I look at the text messages again. A new one has come in from my grandma.
Abuela: Mija. Can you come over for dinner this weekend? Bring Gabriel. Eduardo wants to show him his antique car collection. XoXo.
I read the message twice. I don’t have the heart to reply and tell my grandma that I don’t think Gabriel wants to go anywhere with me. But then my eyes catch on the part about her boyfriend. I read that line a third time.
Since when have Eduardo and Gabriel been talking? They had dinner together once last weekend when he was there to fix my grandmother’s sink, but Eduardo barely said a word the whole time. Eduardo doesn’t speak English and to my knowledge, Gabriel doesn’t speak Spanish.
With a sigh, I shut my laptop, pack up my bag, and decide to make the short drive home. I’ll reply to her text tomorrow when my mind is clear and I’m back in Natasha’s home. Travis is finishing the electricity in the morning, which means this is my last night in Gabriel’s house. My last night being close to him. Except he’s been nowhere to be found for almost a week.
When I pull into the driveway, his motorcycle is parked, but his car isn’t. Which means he took the train into the city and hasn’t made it back yet.
A strange feeling tugs at me—something restless and uneasy that says this isn’t a coincidence.Where is he? Why is he avoiding me?
I head inside, change out of my work clothes and decide to make myself dinner. By the time I finish eating, wash my dishes, and leave out leftovers for Gabriel and Eden, he’s still not home.
I move to the shower, letting the water wash the tension from my muscles. I take my time, shaving, exfoliating, smoothing lotion over every inch of my skin, like I’m preparing for something without realizing it.
When I step out, my reflection in the mirror stares back at me. It’s flushed skin from the hot water, damp hair, lips slightly parted. My first thought is thatI look different. I’ve changed since moving to Brookhaven. But beyond that, I’ve changed since moving in with Gabriel. I look happier. The frown lines that were starting to develop in my forehead since my divorce have almost disappeared. And though I’m still worried about Gabriel, and worried I ruined a good thing, I still look… softer.
I blink, shake the thought away, and slip into a pair of thin sleep shorts and a matching top. It might be freezing outside with another blizzard blowing in, but Gabriel tends to keep the heat running on high throughout the night casting the whole home in a cozy, warm glow.
When I finish, I lay back on Rhiannon’s bed and stare at the ceiling. Wondering if I’ll ever get some rest.
By nine o’clock, I pull out my laptop, respond to a few last emails from parents, and finally start to feel tired. I slide under the covers and drift off—only to be jolted awake by a flash of lightning so bright it burns behind my eyelids.
A crack of thunder follows, deep and rolling, shaking the windows of the Carpenter home. I sit up, heart hammering in my chest, trying to figure out what’s going on and how long I’ve been asleep.
My phone screen is black. No charge which means I forgot to plug it in again. I fumble with the charger and get it into thewall just for it to do nothing. I flip on the bedside lamp, but that does nothing too. The power’s out and I have no idea what time it is.
Through the silence of the house, I hear a noise.What the hell?Then Gabriel’s voice follows, low and frustrated. “Motherfucker.”
Firm footsteps echo across the upstairs hallway, then down the steps like he’s headed in the direction of the kitchen. I peek out the bedroom window and see that the snow’s blanketing everything in white. The cars are completely concealed from view, and the streets are empty. I had to have been asleep for hours.
I jump out of bed and push open my door, peeking into the darkness of the house.
“Gabriel?” I call out.
There’s a quiet pause.
“Down here,” he sighs.
