“You were?” I asked.
He shot me a hard look. “Bet your ass, I was freaked out. That shit was fucked up.”
Since he wasn’t wrong, I had nothing to add to that.
Then I blurted, “But pizza? Really? It just seemed so damned easy for you to drop off my brush and go get a slice.”
“Honey, we didn’t go get pizza at all—”
“Yeah, Cecilia made that clear. I guess I was thinking of how easily you ditched other women.”
His hand squeezed my leg. “Well, stop that shit right now, because you are not other women. You’re my only woman.”
“You sure?”
“Daughtry, you do not need my reassurances at this point.”
I put my hand over his. “It never hurts, Gabe.”
He turned his head to me. “So noted, baby.”
We lapsed into silence, until he asked, “You weren’t going to listen to the CD?”
I sighed. “No, but Cecilia did her best, I can tell you that. When she figured out I wouldn’t listen to it, she made the case for at least speaking to you, and then she brought me to the offices.”
“Listen, I was gonna inundate you with flowers and shit, but I knew that wasn’t your speed. Dad said whatever gesture I made, it had to matter. And it’s like I told you, Cassandra, music always matters.”
33Only Good Version
Gabe
MY BREATH CAUGHT WHEN she violently turned to the window as “I Can Still Feel You” played. Part of me wanted to be thrilled at the reaction, but I knew better. When I paused the song, she looked back to me.
“Why’d you do that?”
“Pause the song or put it on the disc?”
“Both,” she whispered.
My lips tipped up as I turned back to the traffic. “I paused it because of your reaction, and I wasn’t sure if it was a good one or a bad one. Jury’s still out on that, by the way, honey.”
“Not sure I know myself, Gabe.”
“Okay. Well, I put it on the disc because you’d pushed me away. I had been a supreme jackass to you, and even when I was at home, those words rang true.”
I braked for a tourist moving from the left lane to the far right in order to exit at the last minute. Orlando traffic was not for the faint of heart, that was for sure. My hand went to her leg as our exit approached.
When the song changed, she glanced at me. “Now you just want to be friends?”
I snorted. “You pay attention, my dear, he’s advocating for more than friends, but Michael Franti’s nothing if not smart as hell. A man’s gotta start somewhere with the woman he loves.”
As if on cue, Franti sang about making out and realizing they were more than friends.
Cassie grabbed my hand. “You’re right, Sullivan. I’m so glad we’re friends.”
I shook my head. “Don’t flirt with me when I can’t fuck you because of your wounds.”
She giggled, but cut it short. “Don’t make me laugh, Gabriel.”
I shrugged. “Do what I can, honey, but I’ve always been a funny guy.”
We were motoring through the apartment complex parking lot when “Wild Horses” started.
“I can’t believe you even have this song,” she said.
Before I could say more, she added, “How hard was it to add that song? And you didn’t puss out by finding a cover version.”
I squeezed her leg. “It’s the only good version of it, you know.”
“I never told you this, but this is my favorite version because it’s raw, gritty, and you can easily hear Keith’s vocals.
“Like I said, only good version.”
She slugged me in the bicep. “Shut up. I’m just amazed you overcame your disdain.”
Once I swung the truck into a parking space, I turned to her. “I don’t have disdain for them. They’re just not rock gods. But, parts of this song are completely true, too. No way I was gonna let you slide through my hands,” I tucked her hair behind her ear. “You get that, don’t you?”
She leaned into my touch. “Yeah. God, you can be so freaking lovable.”
“For you, I always aim to please. Now, stay put and I’ll carry you upstairs.”
She opened her mouth to argue and I shot her a reproachful look.
“Fine,” she muttered.
Her weight wasn’t a burden, but carrying her reminded me of the first time I did it, and I wished I could drape her over my shoulder again. That had been a lot of fun.
I set her on her feet in front of my door. “Have to say, Daughtry, the last time I carried you was more fun, but we’ll do that again soon enough.”
She shook her head while she walked into the apartment. “You know if Cecilia’s coming back anytime soon or not? If I’m staying here, I need her to get some stuff for me.”
I closed the door, and chuckled. “I can run over to your place too, you know.”
She smiled at me. “Not so sure I want you pilfering through my bathroom items for feminine supplies. Like I told you, Sullivan, you’re not a soon-to-be daddy after all.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “Did you really think you were pregnant?”
Her eyes widened when she shrugged. “I really won’t ever know, but I’m normally within a day or two of my target and Monday I was already a couple days late. Tuesday wasn’t looking so good either, but a gunshot wound is quite the trauma for anyone.”
I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her loosely. “Yeah, we don’t need any more of that shit.”
She gazed up at me. “No. We don’t.”
Her eyes seemed more hazel than green today, but I knew that was the lighting. “You gonna kiss me, baby?”
“No,” she whispered. “You’re gonna kiss me, G-Rock.”
“Damn right.”
Cassie
WHEN GABE KISSED ME, the feeling was all the sweeter because earlier in the day, I didn’t think we would kiss again. His hold was gentle but his kiss was even gentler. I wasn’t sure if I liked that or not, and I kissed him back with force.
In his loose hold,
