“That’s not fair,” I yell, causing a reaction from the snake. It makes my heart stop. “You don’t think I know I made a mistake? Of course, I do, okay? I have to wake up every day regretting that moment, that decision. And you know what else I regret, trying to apologize. You’re an asshole. There, I’ve said it. Now, if you excuse me, I want to enjoy the rest of my day and get out of this cave.”
I walk out into the sunlight, my heart still beating erratically. I don’t know what scares me the most—Oliver and his ambush or the damn snakes.
“Gabriella, stop! Will you stop?” he demands as I walk toward the next enclosure.
“Why? So you can fire more hate toward me. It’s clear you’ve moved on. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come here. I just thought…”
“You thought what?”
“I just don’t want there to be hard feelings between us,” I admit, crossing my arms again to shield myself from the spray of hurt he’s about to unleash all over me.
Oliver stills his movements, his eyes size me up from head to toe.
Can he be more obvious?
I’m not wearing anything questionable, yet his gaze is full of jealousy like I have done something wrong.
“Are you here with someone?”
“No,” I’m quick to respond. “And if I were, what does it matter?”
“What about last night? Who was he?”
“Last night? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I wasn’t with a guy.”
Oliver lets out a loud obnoxious laugh, glancing aside at his own private joke. “Wow! Now you’re going to fucking lie to me?”
“What the hell is wrong with you? I wasn’t with a guy last night. And even if I was, it’s none of your damn business. You have Krystal.”
“Krystal is nobody. She is not a part of my life.”
“Oh, sorry… just a quick booty call for the night, then?”
“No…” he stumbles, uncomfortably. “It was unfortunate you saw her.”
“Yes… unfortunate.”
The nerve of him to question my whereabouts. I need to put him in his place. Just as I’m about to do so, he opens his filthy mouth once again.
“So, you’re fucking older men now?”
I’m taken aback by his rude comment—then it clicks. Miles.
Did he see me with Miles?
Why on earth would he have seen me?
Maybe Chance or Aubrey have told him. Or as far-fetched as it may seem, but wouldn’t surprise me one bit, he might have followed me. What a goddamn stalker.
“You saw me with Miles? He’s my father…”
His jaw almost drops to the ground at the same time his body stiffens, obviously from shock at my revelation.
“Your father? I don’t understand…” he trails off.
“When I left home, my father… well, as I knew him, told me in so many words I was never meant to be in their precious family. My mother confirmed she had an affair, and it explained why Edward hated me so much. Miles is my father. He’s Australian. Last night I met him for the first time. So, now you know…”
Oliver removes his baseball cap, running his long fingers through his hair. I know him well enough to understand he’s trying to process what I’ve just said. It’s now out in the open and our passive-aggressive, back-and-forth emotional game of tennis, should finally end.
“I… I had no idea,” he mutters, dropping his eyes to the ground.
The ache of longing to be with Oliver echoes through the marrow of my bones. My mind wanders to our last night together, reliving the way he felt inside me, the way he touched my skin and buried himself deep within. I never knew missing someone could take over every fiber of your being, and the reality is icy cold when standing only inches away from the man you want so badly.
My fingers desperately want to reach out and caress his face, but the torment of our time apart holds me back.
“I should go…” His face softens, and he pauses, an odd smile playing on his lips. “I promised Chance and Aubrey I would take them somewhere.”
“Right…”
“So, are you joining them for dinner tonight?”
I nod, suddenly falling into silence.
“I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
“Yeah,” I say, keeping my expression to no more than a faint, slight smile. “I guess I’ll see you tonight, Oliver.”
Oliver
The food is served on the table in front of us.
Chance raved on about this restaurant located high above the city in the Sydney Tower. He went on and on about the food being a culinary experience, and what better way to experience the amazing food than with revolving views of Sydney’s skyline.
Thank fuck his rambling took the heat off the tension at the table.
Aubrey is sitting beside Chance, and on her left, CJ is wedged in a small chair. The little tyke is busy on her phone, watching some video which keeps him quiet.
Gabriella is beside me, quiet as a mouse. The corner of my eye gazes at her arms resting on the table. Her skin looks soft, just like I remember it. I can smell her perfume lingering in the air. It is intoxicating and makes it impossible to concentrate. I’ve smashed one bourbon down, the only drink I have allowed myself in the last eleven months. It went down smoothly, instantly relaxing me to a point that Chance doesn’t irritate me anymore with his culinary talk.
“So, this is nice.” Aubrey bares her teeth with a wide smile. “I think the last time we were together like this was when…”
Chance shrugs his shoulders, oblivious to the tension. “The night Olly got pissed ‘cause Gabbo was dancing with that dude at the bar.”
“Chance… enough with the nicknames.” Gabriella cringes. “I gave you Gabbie, although you know how much I despise it.”
I snicker behind my fork, shoving the expensive seafood into my mouth.
“What’s so funny?” Gabriella asks, placing her fork and knife down. “This I’m-Aussie-so-I’ll-abbreviate-your-name is just downright annoying.”
I’m quick to remind her of her newly found heritage. “But you’re half Australian now, are you not? You need to welcome
