Elijah stands up. “He did no such thing, and you know it.”
I do, but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t complain about that motherfucker.
I glance back at Elijah.
His smile is gone.
“Say it,” I mutter, jamming my foot into my sneaker. “Whatever wisdom you’ve got brewing in that bourbon-soaked brain of yours, just get it over with.”
He brushes off his knees like this is some kind of ritual. “You’re scared.”
I scoff. “I’m not scared. I’m skeptical.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it’s not.” I toss the towel onto the bed, dragging my hand through my damp hair. “Listen, I get you wanting to keep Gabriel in the mix. He’s family. He matters to you. Okay—he matters to me too. And you’re going to pretend you didn’t hearthat.” I pin him with a sharp stare. “But I’ve got a whole damn library of reasons why this is a bad idea.”
Elijah steps closer, fingers brushing mine. “You think this is about playing house. It’s not. It’s about shelter. About giving that kid—Noah—a safe place to land.”
I exhale sharply, not from frustration, but because I hate that he’s right. Again.
“And Gabriel?” I ask, voice tightening. “Is this about shelter, too, or is this about something else?”
Elijah doesn’t answer right away. He walks over to the window, stares out over the city like it might offer up a simpler version of this mess. When he finally turns back, his voice is softer.
“He wants to help. And truthfully, I think we all could use some healing. Plus… he wants to be closer to us.”
“You,” I snap. “He wants to be closer toyou.”
Elijah exhales, slow and patient, like he’d been expecting this. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Alex. Gabriel is a family man. You know this already. Okay, yes… of course he wants to be near me. Like I was saying, there’s history. A daughter…ourdaughter,” he says, looking me straight in the eyes, making sure I understand that I’m included in the truth of it. He takes a few steps closer, searching my face. “But he also wants to be around Emilee. You. And now… Noah. All of this, every messy piece of it, he wants to be a part of. A family, Alex. And deep down, I know you love him too.”
Knowing he’s right, but refusing to let him win that easily, I mutter, “Don’t get any ideas about them sleeping in our bed.”
Elijah chuckles. “Well, Gabriel’s certainly going to be disappointed, but?—”
“I’m being serious.”
He closes the space between us, grabs the back of my neck, and crushes my furious mouth with his. It’s the kind of kiss that steals breath and thought—swift, silencing.
When he pulls back, his voice is low, firm. “Do you really think I’m going to let Gabriel sleep in our bed?”
“You did last night.” I bite back.
“That was your doing,” he counters. “And the second I saw him lying beside you,holding your hand, I woke his ass up and moved him into his own bed—with Noah.”
“Okay,” I relent, sighing like I’m agreeing to adopt a Chihuahua, not two grown men. “They can live here. But Gabriel better keep his stupid remarks to himself.”
Elijah walks to the door, already grinning. “Now,thatI can’t promise you.”
44
ALEX
“Well,look who finally decided to show up,” Gabriel calls from behind the counter as I step into the kitchen. He’s sticking candles into what looks suspiciously like a birthday cake.
I glance at Noah, then back at Gabriel. “Don’t tell me this is supposed to be your welcome home party? It’s a bit much, don’t you think? You never actually moved out.”
This is just bad timing. I needed a little space—time to get out of my head. I’d imagined us sitting down, talking through everything that surfaced over the last few days. But as usual, Gabriel makes light of everything.
