“Once.” Gabe’s eyes softened slightly, his deep voice rumbling as he added, “A long time ago.”
Interesting.“What happened?”
The man shrugged. “Right girl. Wrong time.”
Sensing that was all he was going to get out of the man, Matt refocused on his own fucked-up situation. “I don’t know what to do now.”
Gabe thought a moment. “You could start by getting rid of that giant chip on your shoulder.”
Matt scowled. “I don’t have a fucking chip.”
“No. More like a giant-ass boulder.” The man smirked as he drew in another sip.
“Fuck you, Dawson. You have no idea what it’s been like for me.”
“You’re right,” Gabe agreed. “I don’t. All I know is you’ve spent the past decade working hard and playing even harder and for what? So you can prove yourself to a woman you claim to hate but are clearly still in love with? To give a big fuck you to that same woman’s father who, by all accounts, is a narcissistic asshole you shouldn’t give two shits about?”
Goddamnit, the man was right. And it pissed Matt the hell off.
“I’m not still in love with her,” he lied.
Gabe’s raised brow told Matt the guy knew he was full of shit. “Then why are you so upset?”
“What?”
“If you don’t still have feelings for Katherine, why does this bother you so much?”
“Because I…” He trailed off, not knowing how to answer that question.
“It’s okay to admit you still love her, Matt. Especially now that you know the truth. It’s also okay to want to see where you two can go from here. To hope for a future you thought was dead and buried.”
Matt tipped the bottle back, swallowing its remaining contents to keep from having to respond.
“Look, man,” Gabe went on. “I’m far from being an expert when it comes to relationships. Lord knows, I made more than my share of mistakes with my ex. But it’s obvious this thing with Katherine is tearing you up. Did she hurt you? Absolutely. But you’ve gotta look atwhyshe did what she did. If what she told you is true, that woman saved your ass.”
“Why the hell do you think I left?” Matt strode angrily across the room. “I couldn’t face her, Gabe. I’ve been such a dick to her. Said horrible, unforgivable things because I thought…” His fucking voice cracked.
“So apologize. If she’s the kind of woman who deserves to be with you, she’ll listen. And from the way she looked at you in that conference room, I bet she’ll be more than willing to hear what you have to say.”
“That’s just it,” Matt shot back. “I don’t knowwhatto say to her. I don’t…” He paused a moment. “I don’t know what to do now.”
“What’s your gut say?”
“My gut’s telling me to go to California and beat the shit out of her manipulating jackass of a father.”
“Then what?”
Matt frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Say you do go beat the guy’s ass. What happens after? Between you and Katherine, I mean.”
“I don’t…” He shook his head. “I-I don’t know.”
“Did you sleep with her again?”
Matt shot his friend a look, but before he could deny it, Gabe gave him a knowing grin.
“That’s what I thought.”
