I sat up. Her breasts were inches from my eyes. I rested my hands on her hips and smirked up at her. “What if I want something a little different than ice cream?”
“Whatever you want. My day is cleared. For you.”
I slipped a hand underneath her sweater and caressed her soft skin. Her touch did things to me. I breathed out. Relaxed. Focused. Her idea had merit. I pulled her close and rested my head against her breasts, the world’s most desirable pillows. Her fingers combed through my hair. The soft brush of her nails on my scalp sent ripples of tingly sensations along my spine.
“I should’ve seen it coming.”
“You did what you thought was right. That’s all you can do.” She got it. Nigel had warned me, but I felt a loyalty to the firm. Maybe a little guilt that I hadn’t probed further. Realized what was really going on.
Her fingers dug into my tight shoulder muscles, and I let out a groan. My whole world had flipped upside down. But she made it better. Bearable.
I rested against her, letting her fingers work through knots, for god knows how long.
“Get your things. Let’s go back to my place.”
She obediently picked up the overnight bag she hauled between our two places. “Do you think you might want to go out on the boat today? Or flying? What should I pack for?”
“Why don’t you pack a bunch of stuff? When do you have to be out of this place?”
“In a couple of weeks.”
“Get some suitcases. Let’s start getting you moved. What about all the furniture?”
“The place was furnished. So, it’s just my stuff.”
I stood and opened her closet door, scanning the top, searching. Two suitcases filled the top shelf. I lifted them one by one and set them out on the bed.
“Let’s get these packed.”
“I’m not sure about this.” She gazed at the suitcases like one of them might grow teeth and bite her.
“Poppy. You already spend nights at my place. Where are you going to move?”
She chewed on the corner of her lip. I stepped past her, opened a drawer, and packed.
Chapter 25
Poppy
“Gaaaabe!” I screamed, running up the stairs to the main floor. “Guess what!”
A deep, serious tone reverberated through his closed office door. Out of breath from my thunderous jaunt up the stairs, I slowed by the door. He had a business tone I recognized, his words faster and short, monotone. My hand rested on the knob, and I paused, listening.
“I have everything under control… Are you out of your mind? I have lawyers. I don’t need yours… Dad. I’m thirty-four years old. Stop… For the last time, no…. There’s no need. I’ll be back in New York in a week or two… Dad… Fine.” Heavy footsteps pounded, and the floor beneath my feet vibrated. An extended silence passed, and I debated tiptoeing out of the house. “Do you want me to fly up and get you guys? What? Mom said she’d like to fly with me… Fine. Send me your flight details, and I’ll pick you up.”
The door swung open. “Hey.” His brow wrinkled in confusion. “Were you listening in?”
My face flamed, and I zeroed in on the brass knob on his desk drawer.
“It’s fine.” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess you heard. My parents are coming down for a few days. Do you think you could stay with Luna?”
My whole brain functioned at the rate of a snail on hot asphalt. I slowly followed Gabe into the den. He filled a highball glass with straight bourbon. With his back to me, he swirled the amber liquid absentmindedly as he stared out across his wide ocean view.
I left him to his thoughts. I descended three steps down the stairwell when he called out, “You’re okay with that, right? You don’t need to meet my parents. It’s going to be a shit show.”
My eyes stung, and my throat closed in on itself, but I forced out, “It’s fine.”
Downstairs in the bedroom, I looked at the monitor, still open to the email I’d received. My loan had been approved. And not from any little old bank. I’d applied at Suzette’s bank, Great America. A big bank. It seemed all I needed was to have a partner with successful experience as a part of my business package. With her help, and her small business manager, it hadn’t taken any effort at all, really.
I lightly ran a finger over the screen then closed it. Gabe had brought my two suitcases down here to an empty closet. I climbed up onto a chair and pulled one down, then second guessed packing it. I didn’t want a confrontation. If he saw me packing such a big suitcase, I feared he would figure out my okay didn’t mean okay.
Outside the downstairs bedroom door, the bedroom I’d been using as an office, I could see the door to the outside. The wooden door opened below the deck. I yearned to escape through it. To leave Gabe and his swirling bourbon and his impending parents. I packed my office gear into a backpack, grabbed my pocketbook, and quietly opened and closed the door.
As I drove away, I couldn’t help but think of the similarity. The repeated pattern in my life. Ben hid me, too. That had sucked. Sure, with distance, I saw that he’d been using me for sex. But he’d also come to me as a friend. We spent hours together hanging out, playing games, watching movies. But in the hallways at school, he’d never acknowledge me.
Somehow, finding myself at twenty-five in a repeat situation blew even more. It was one thing when Gabe didn’t think about inviting me out to dinner with his sister and her friend. After all, I wouldn’t have wanted to go. But he didn’t even want me in the house with his parents? Couldn’t say, hey, this is my friend? She’s living here now? I’d like for you guys
