Chapter Twenty-Seven
Good luck tonight, Gabriel typed into a new text message to Reid, wanting him to know that he wasn’t mad, that he didn’t hate him.
That he wasproudof him.
And that he wished things were different. That he wished he was braver.
Reid wouldn’t want to hear from him. He couldn’t be what Reid wanted, what hedeserved, and there was no point in bothering him now.
He was meeting with Thom tomorrow to talk about the job offer, and he intended to accept it more or less regardless of the conditions.
Leaving Reid alone was the best, kindest thing Gabriel could do for him. The last thing he needed was a boyfriend he had to keep a secret, to be dragged back into the closet along with Gabriel.
That wasn’t a fair thing to ask of him, and Gabriel wouldn’t do it.
He loved Reid too much to ask that of him.
It was going to kill him to walk away, but...
A knock on the door startled Gabriel out of his thoughts.
What was thepointof having a security door on the building if people just let anyone in? If this was 302’s nightly takeout delivery again, he was keeping it this time. Ever since he’d learned that it was pre-paid, he’d been tempted.
“The apartment you’re looking for is on the other side of the-”
Gabriel paused as he took in who he was looking at.
Reid.
All dressed up and… for some reason, standing outside his door.
“Pretty sure this is the apartment I’m looking for,” Reid said.
“Reid.” Gabriel wet his lips. “I was, uh. Just about to wish you good luck for tonight.”
The fact that he’d decided not to didn’t seem entirely relevant right now.
It was also starting to feel like the wrong decision.
Reid washere. Gabriel hadn’t expected that at all.
“You think I could come in?” Reid asked.
Gabriel nodded, backing away from the door. What was he doing here? He had way more important places to be.
He stared at Reid as the other man came inside, closing the door behind him in silence.
“You’re more important to me than an award,” Reid said before Gabriel could ask what the hell he was doing there.
“But… but it’s a huge honor! I looked it up, they only give out one of these a year, it’s practically the Nobel Peace Prize of physiotherapy,” he said, sure that was a slight exaggeration, but still impressed with Reid’s achievements. He deserved this. He didn’t deserve to be dragged down by someone like Gabriel.
Besides, the award wasn’t what mattered here, not really. It was theprinciplethat mattered.
Now that Reid was standing in front of him, Gabriel was having trouble remembering exactly what the principle was.
Even now, Reid made him feel safe. All the anxiety that had been tying his stomach into knots moments ago was gone, completely forgotten about. Reid made everything seem okay.
He looked great in a suit. Neat and tidy but, just a tiny bit nervous and vulnerable, like he wasn’t used to wearing one. He probably wasn’t. Gabriel had never seen him in anything less casual than a button-down with the sleeves rolled up and the top three buttons open to reveal a t-shirt underneath.
