“I…I don’t know. I hadn’t thought much about it.” That was a lie. She had thought long and hard about how to spend her birthday. She just hadn’t thought she’d have company. Now her plan didn’t fit. Gabe at a spa? That would be a hoot.
“We could just go shopping for a present and then go out to dinner,” he was saying. “What kind of food do you like?”
Shopping for a present? She didn’t need anything but his companionship—and maybe more… She could start with the restaurant. “I know we both like Italian food. I like Indian and Chinese food too. What do you like?”
“All of those.” She could see him struggling. “It doesn’t matter what I like. It’syourbirthday. So, what would you do, ideally? Forget about me for a second.”
She chuckled. “Actually, I’d go to a day spa, get a facial and a massage, then grab Chinese takeout and eat at home. After that, I’d probably watch a movie.”
At last, he smiled. “Sure. Let’s do that.”
Her eyes widened, and she burst out laughing. “So you’d go to a spa with me?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I’m secure in my masculinity. A massage after work actually sounds pretty good.”
“I’m picturing you wearing green goop on your face and cucumbers covering your eyes.”
He groaned. “You wouldn’t make me do that, would you?”
Oh, she was tempted. “Probably not.”
“If I can get you to change that todefinitely not, I’ll take you. And Chinese food after sounds perfect. The movie depends on what you pick.”
“Let me guess, you like action-adventure, something with lots of violence.”
“Yeah, but it’s your day. What do you like?”
“Actually, I like lots of different movies, including action-adventure. I can do without the violence, though.”
“Fine. Action-adventure, with no violence. Is there such a thing?”
“I sure hope so.”
* * *
They spent a few seconds staring at each other in silence. At last, Gabe gathered her into his arms and held her close.
He could almost hear his mother giggling.
He didn’t see himself as the most sensitive of his family. That questionable honor fell to Luca. The youngest. Didn’t it? He was the one their mother babied.
Gabe’s mind wandered back to his childhood. His brother Ryan had been raised as his twin. The eldest son had met with a deadly accident at age seven. With a quick explanation to Jayce and Miguel, his parents set Ryan on fire, and he reincarnated out of the ashes. But apparently he didn’t stay in phoenix form long enough to mature to his former age. He shifted into human form right away. Their parents couldn’t stand the idea of burning a baby, so Ryan stayed as he was.
Gabe was just an infant. Suddenly he had a “twin.” He didn’t remember any of it, but the story was well known among family members. A neighbor saw the two babies, so the Fierros decided to raise their eldest and middle child as twins. He and Ryan should have been close. They had a good relationship, but not like real twins.
His first memories were of Jayce teasing his younger brother Miguel and of Ryan trying to join in. Gabe used the distraction to crawl up into his mother’s lap and get some prime cuddle time for himself. To be honest, sometimes he suggested a game and then quit when the others were busy…just to bask in his mother’s love. That didn’t make him sensitive, but he could see why his mother might think so.
Now Misty was all cuddled up to him. He propped his chin on top of her head and stroked her dark, silky hair, cascading down her back. And he liked it.
“Gabe?”
“Mmm?”
“Is this okay?”
“Is what okay?”
“This. Your holding me. ’Cuz if it is, I’d like to stay here forever.”
