Charlotte
I sip on the tequila I ordered and regret it. I should have just went with the beer, but I needed the hard stuff to get me through this night. Our text exchange from the other night is still fresh in my head.
I told Caryann to text me in a couple of hours, to make sure I was okay and mostly because I needed a good swift kick in the ass to make sure I didn't let Gabriel come home with me tonight. Having an empty nest now, means I could easily allow him to, but the last thing I need to do is give in to my primal urges of Gabriel Gavinwood.
The kids are coming back late tomorrow afternoon and Gabriel wanted to have this dinner, just the two of us.
The waitress brings me another tequila and I immediately am brought back to the first time I ever tasted it back in high school. We went to hangout on a friend's boat that was docked near the beach. Gabriel brought a bottle of the cheap stuff, he got with his fake ID.
“Come here,” says Gabriel, “You’ve had too much to drink. Just lay down,” he says, as we lay in the makeshift bed on Johnny’s boat.
“Your fault,” I slur.
I cuddle up close to him, but his cologne turns me on. His smell is changing, he smells like...a man. I run my hands down his chest and down to the waistband of his pants, but he stops me.
“Charlie,” he whispers through gritted teeth. “Everyone is sleeping around us, stop it,” he scolds me.
“I have to pee. Come with me, I don’t want to go by myself,” I say, getting up from his embrace.
He sighs but follows me off the boat and onto the dock. We start to walk towards the bathrooms, but I pull him to the side, by the outside showers. They’re hidden now in the dark and I push him against the wall of one.
“Charlie, what are you--”
“Shut up. Unzip your pants Gabe, I want you right now,” I say, pulling his neck down for a kiss.
He groans and turns us around, pushing me against the wall. I watch as he lowers his zipper and I smile.
“You’re crazy,” he says against my lips.
“I am. Crazy for you, right now, right here.”
I unbutton my jeans and pull them down, along with my thong.
I turn around and brace my hands on the wall of the shower.
“I don’t have a condom,” he says, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Pull out. I need this now,” I say, reaching behind me and grabbing his hard length.
He groans and pushes my hand to the side as he pushes inside me. I moan loudly, and I feel his hand cover my mouth.
“Quiet or I stop,” he whispers in my ear, biting my earlobe.
I groan in protest shaking my head. He takes his hand off my mouth.
“Don’t you dare,” I whisper.
I brace my hands on the wall in front of me as he pounds into me from behind. The sound of our bodies smacking against one another, mixing with the crash of ocean waves is my undoing. Gabriel moves a callused hand around my front and pinches my clit, dragging out my climax even more.
I bite down on my lip to contain my moan and I hear him let out a low growl, as he pulls himself out and empties onto the floor next to us. My body is still riding out my orgasm, clenching around nothing and I sigh.
I'm so swept up with bliss, that I don't notice him turning on the shower and soaking me to the bone.
“You jerk!” I yell.
I pull his arm so he's under the water with me and he laughs.
“I had to clean up our mess,” he says shrugging.
I grab the back of his head and crash our lips together, as the water rains down on us.
I will never get enough of this boy, even if I have him for the rest of my life, it will never be enough.
A clearing of a throat snaps me back to reality. Right there, in the flesh, is the man I can't stop fantasizing about. His white t shirt clings tight to his broad muscled chest. His mountainous biceps are being suffocated by his leather jacket. His brown hair hangs loose around his ears, just begging for me to run my hands through it as he devours my soaking pussy like he used to. His jeans hug his hips tight and when he turns to slide in the booth, I get a quick glance at his tight ass. God, I am such a goner.
I should have used my old trusty vibrator before I came here tonight. The flush in my cheeks has to be obvious, because as soon as Gabriel's gaze snaps to mine, his expression changes from friendly to animalistic. His look alone could make me gush through my panties, come to think of it….shit, I'm soaked. I squeeze my thighs together and I'm sure he notices because he gives me that smile, showing off his irresistible dimple, the one I used to love to lick.
“Stop lookin’ at me like that baby cakes. I’m not a piece of meat,” he says quietly, leaning forward across the table.
His low chuckle sends a heat down to my belly, especially when he uses the pet name only he ever called me.
“I...I don’t know what you’re talkin’ ‘bout,” I say, stumbling over my words.
I break eye contact and look down at the menu. He laughs again and takes his menu too, motioning for the waitress.
“What can I get y’all?” asks the cheerful teenage girl.
“I’ll drink whatever the lady is drinkin’ and I’ll have the bacon burger. Medium, please,” he says, giving the menu to the girl.
“I’ll have the same, thanks,” I say, smiling up at her and giving her my menu too.
“So…” he starts, as the girl returns with his tequila.
I finish mine and motion to her for another.
“You better take it easy, Charlie. I was serious about what I said. I wanna talk, but not if you’re gon’ block me out with the hard stuff,” he says, sipping his tequila slow.
I make eye contact with him above his glass and nod.
“Fine, last one. Start then...I’m listenin’.”
“So, I'm gettin’ on good with Bella. She's a lot like you, ya know.”
“I know,” I smile.
“I just...I guess I've been doin’ a lot of thinkin’ since all this and I wanna make it right. I wanna have a fresh start. Eighteen years is a long time ago and I--I'm a different man now and I plan to show you that. In more ways than one,” he whispers.
My breath hitches and I lean into his promises.
“Oh yeah? Do tell,” I whisper back.
“You have grown into an absolutely stunnin’ woman, Charlotte. You are the picture of perfection and you should be treated as such. I can treat you like that now.”
His voice is low and raspy, his bedroom voice. Don't swoon, Charlotte, don't you dare swoon.
“Since when did you get so good with words?” I whisper.
“Hey Charlie, I thought that was you,” says a voice, interrupting our intimate moment.
Oh for fucks sake, just what I need.
Brantley Henderson leans down over the table and kisses me on the cheek, before turning towards Gabriel. Really, Brantley? I have a feeling I am going to be right in the middle of a pissing match, very soon.
“Gavinwood. Didn’t realize you were gracin’ this little ol’ town with your almighty presence,” Brantley sneers.
“Henderson,” growls Gabriel back, through gritted teeth. “Been a long time.”
The romantic gentleman is gone and in his place, is the possessive beast.
“What you doin’ sharin’ a drink with my lady?” Brantley asks, moving closer to me.
“Brant…” I try and diffuse the situation.
“Your lady, huh? Last I checked I was the only one in this town that rocked this pretty little thang’s world,” Gabriel laughs, crossing his arms over his chest, looking from me to Brantley.
My face reddens and I look up at Gabriel. His smile drops, and I can see the jealousy dripping from those beautiful blue eyes. Only they aren’t the passionate blue I saw when he walked in here. Nope, now they are a dark, fierce blue, that wants to rip apart Brantley Henderson, limb by limb.
“Brantley, it was nice to see you but...we were kinda in the middle of somethin’,” I say, smiling up at him.
He nods his head and bends down to kiss me right on the mouth. I back away quick and shoot daggers in his direction.
“Brantley,” I warn.
He smiles and walks away, winking at Gabriel. I can’t turn back to the table and face him. I know what I'll find there. The jealous teenage hulk that hides behind that sexy body, is still there and I can feel it.
Gabriel just stares at me for the rest of our meal and I can’t bring myself to even speak. We pay the check in silence and make our way outside, still silent. I don’t know how to start the conversation, but thankfully he takes control. He grabs my hand, pulls me behind the pub and slams me into the wall.
“Tryna rile me up again, like ya did with Bobby Hyde?” he says, in a low, menacing voice.
“That wasn’t my fault and I told ya that a million times. It was a lifetime ago Gabriel, get over it,” I say, shaking my head.
“Tryna get me to fuck you, as hard as I did that night? In my jealous rage, watchin’ him kiss my woman? Draggin’ you out of that party, after I smashed his face in? You couldn’t even make it in the car, you almost let me take you right there, on the street, my filthy girl, you remember that?”
His lips touch my ear and my breath hitches as I remember that night. We were at a party, his teammate Bobby was drunk and planted a kiss on me, right as Gabriel walked into the kitchen. It was so stupid and bad timing. I was about to push him off, when Gabriel grabbed him by his hoodie and punched him right in the face. He grabbed my wrist and we made our way to the street, to his truck.
“You’re mine,” he growled as he pushed me against his truck.
“I know. It wasn’t my fault Gabe, I’m yours, you know that. Only yours,” I said breathlessly.
My heart still hammers, remembering how he fingered me, furiously, on the street and I begged him to take me against his truck. He buckled me in the front seat, we parked at the nearest lake and fucked until the sun came up. I've seen the possessive, jealous Gabriel but he was on a whole new level that night and it made my pussy clench. Just thinking about him and how he was now, right in front of me, promising that same rough touch that I begged for that night.
“You’re thinkin’ about it, aren't ya,” he says, breaking me out of my spell.
His hands grip my waist and push me harder into the wall. I groan, knowing I won’t be able to say no, no matter how hard I want to.
“Tell me,” he says again.
“I am,” I say out of breath. “I’m thinkin’ about it.”
I close my eyes, embarrassment reaching my cheeks.
He kisses my neck and I let out a moan. He finally captures my lips and I fling my arms around his neck. I pull him closer to me, not wanting there to even be an inch between our bodies. My tongue meets his in a familiar dance and all of these years float away. It is just him and me and the passion that could never be extinguished. He breaks the kiss and looks into my eyes.
“Did Brantley make you shiver like I am right now?” he asks, kissing the sensitive spot behind my ears.
“Gabriel…” I plead.
I did not want to talk about Brantley right now.
“Did he soak these panties like I do?”
He pushes his hand down the front of my leggings, proving his words true. His strong fingers flick my clit and it makes me jump.
“Gabe...stop it!” I say, trying to push him away.
“Tell me, Charlie, god dammit. Tell me that bastard is lyin’,” he says, looking into my eyes.
I try to break his gaze, but he grabs my chin to look at him.
“I…it was one time, Gabe. It was a mistake...I was drunk,” I say, shaking my head.
He drops his hand from my chin and takes his other hand out of my pants.
“When?” he chokes out.
“Two years ago..I went to the pub to drink because the kids were off at their first high school dance. I was emotional and alone and he...it was a mistake...he wasn’t...”
He wasn’t you, I wanted to say. I couldn’t though. The words didn’t come.
I look up at Gabriel, disgust in his eyes and that was it.
“Don’t!” I say angrily, pushing him away from me. “Don’t act like you were a saint for eighteen years, for God's sake, Gabriel. I’m thirty six years old. Eighteen years ago you left me with a giant hole in my heart. Frankly, whatever I did to numb the pain all this time, is none of your goddamn business.”
“Oh, it’s not, huh? Who else have you fucked in this town? I swear, if Devin didn’t have my eyes or Bella didn’t look like my sister, I would have to question-“
I slap him right across the face.
“How fuckin’ dare you?” I hiss. “The first time you accused me of that, I barely let slide but to throw that at me again? Besides you, Brantley was the only other man I slept with!”
That shut him up real quick. I can’t stop myself from continuing, though.
“I was supposed to wait around for you, Mr. Arrogant Asshole? Funny thing, because I did! Sixteen years without a man’s touch and I gave in one stupid night, that I barely even remember. Tell me you’ve been celibate these past eighteen years and I’ll shut my damn mouth!” I say, putting my hands on my hips.
He is silent again.
“That’s what I thought. Thanks for the burger and tequila!”
I push past him and walk to the parking lot.
I hold back the tears until I reach my truck and as soon as I am inside, I let them flow. How could I have let my body, overtake my mind like that? I was a woman for Christ's sake, I wasn’t a teenage girl, unable to control my desires. That passion we shared, was so real and felt like no time passed, between our teenage selves and now.
I can still taste his lips, feel his fingers digging into my waist. The bad part of all this is, if he didn’t push about Brantley, I probably would have let him take me right there, against the pub wall.
We couldn’t control ourselves when we were younger, fooling around and fucking, wherever we damn well pleased. I was just hoping now, as adults, we could control ourselves a little better, but I guess not. It seems our bodies wanted to pick up, right where they left off.
Not allowing myself to be with another man, or at least one I could remember, was really messing with my libido at the moment.
I realize I probably shouldn't be driving home, so Caryann comes to pick me up. We drive around the town, for God knows how long, not wanting to go home to my empty house, yet. We stop at Mikey’s, so I can vent some more and then finally, in a haze, she drives me home.
We pull into my drive and I notice a figure, sitting on my porch. My heart hammers in my chest, as the figure comes off my steps and walks towards the car.
“Is that…”
“Yes,” I say, through gritted teeth, cutting of Caryann.
I recognize the defeated walk and get out of her car, slamming the door.
“Thanks Car..I'll call you tomorrow,” I say to her, through her open window.
She nods and pulls out of the drive as I whip around to Gabriel.
“Didn’t cause enough damage tonight, you came back for round two?” I yell, walking past him and to my front porch.
“Charlie…” he says behind me, defeated.
I can smell the alcohol pouring out of him and see him stumble to catch up to me.
“I fucked up…” he slurs.
He gets to my porch and plops down on the porch steps.
“Are you drunk?” I ask, opening my front door.
“I fucked everything up, Charlie,” he says sadly, laying down on my porch.
“God damn, Gabriel, get the hell up,” I say, walking over to him, trying to pull him up from the ground.
His body is massive, and I can’t move him if I tried.
“Just leave me here. I don’t deserve your kindness, baby cakes,” he says, rolling over on his back and cupping my cheek.
My heart melts at the pain in his eyes.
“Just come on. Let me make you some coffee,” I say, putting my hand on his cheek.
He closes his eyes at the touch and then slowly pulls himself to his feet. He stumbles a little and I catch him, putting his massive arm up and over my shoulder. I wrap my arm around his waist, to steady us both.
“You smell like a man,” he says, trying to muster up some anger.
“I was with Caryann and we stopped at Mikey's,” I say, wondering if he even remembers him.
“That bastard,” he spits out.
“That bastard was one of your best friends, Gabriel. He still is mine. Don’t be an ass.”
I walk him to my kitchen and I feel his body go rigid.
“Still…” he slurs, “I don’t like him putting his hands on my woman.”
“I haven't been your woman in a long time, Gabriel.”
I plop him on one of the kitchen chairs and he slams his head down on my table with a loud, thunk!
“Gabe!” I run to his side. “Get up!”
I shake him and he lifts his head slowly, locking his eyes on mine. Sadness and hurt swarm in those gorgeous blues.
“I used to do this all the time Charlie, anything to numb the pain. I see someone, a therapist. That day...I never forgot it. I never forgot the look on your face...”
“Gabe, it's okay it was--”
“It’s not!” he booms, “I love you, Charlie,” he slurs. “I always loved you. I was such a dumb fuck to ever think throwin’ a ball was ever better than you and those kids. I fucked it all to hell,” he says, shaking his head.
I see a tear drip down his cheek and my heart breaks all over my kitchen floor. As much as this man broke my heart, left me to fend for myself for eighteen years, I can’t entirely put the blame on him.
“Listen to me,” I say, slapping his cheek to keep him awake. “It is not all your fault. I never gave you a chance to be a father, Gabe. I told you I had the abortion, we broke up and you left. I never told you about the kids, you don’t know that you would have left us if you would have known, you hear me?” I say, looking in his eyes.
More tears fill his eyes and he closes them, as I watch the tears fall down his cheeks. I brush them away and kiss his forehead.
“Come on, screw the coffee, let’s just get you to bed.”
I pull him up from the chair as we walk through the hall.
“Always the perfect southern belle,” he drawls.
We get into my bedroom and he pulls me down onto the bed, wrapping his arms around my waist. He buries his face between my breasts and sobs.
“I missed it all, Charlie. I missed their whole life. You told me to go to hell the day I left and I did. I've been in hell. I hoped you'd get your happy endin’,” he says, in between cries.
I run my hands through his hair to soothe him and his breathing starts to slow.
“Shh,” I soothe. “Just sleep.”
Soon enough, I hear his steady breathing and his quiet snores I remembered whenever he drank too much. I smile, settle myself in the bed and let sleep overtake me. We would figure out this shit storm in the morning.
Gabriel
I wake up with a splitting headache and a sour stomach. The only salvation is the incredibly warm and soft pillows my face is buried in between. Pillows or breasts. I smell her scent, vanilla mixed with lavender, it's still the same and I open my eyes.
My face is buried in between her cleavage and her mouth is open slightly, as she makes cute little snoring noises. My arm is wrapped around her waist and her arm is draped around my back, with the other one covering my forearm.
I hear a noise from down the hall and stiffen. I don't remember anything from last night, apart from the disastrous dinner, so it could be one of the twins, or it could be someone breaking into her house.
My question is answered when I see shaggy, blonde hair, poke through the door and a look that could murder me where I lay. In between his mom's tits. Dammit. He's gone before I can sit up, but my movement wakes Charlotte.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I say, sitting up.
"No, it's fine. The kids come home this afternoon anyway, I have to get up and moving."
She straightens out her shirt from last night, pretending she wasn't affected by our cuddle session.
Her hard nipples poking through the fabric says differently.
"How are you feelin’?" she asks, breaking me out of my ogling.
"Like shit," I grumble.
I rub my hand down my face and try to stand from the bed
"Do you remember anything?" she asks, looking over to me, with hope in her eyes.
"Not much. Aside from the fact, that I owe you a very big apology...again, I don't remember much after you left.”
Her expression shifts to disappointment for a split second but then it's gone.
"I am sorry, Charlotte," I say, walking toward her. "I was way out of line with the things I said last night. Just...thinkin’ of you with another man, kills me. I know it's my own fault and I think that's why I got so angry. I'm angry with myself, not you. I guess I didn't grow out of that jealousy stage like I thought I did."
I smirk but she just nods and goes towards her dresser, rummaging for clothes.
“Are you an alcoholic Gabriel?”
Her words stop me in my path towards her.
“No I'm not. I may have drank a lot in my younger days, made stupid decisions, but I ain't an addict.”
“Drugs?” she asks turning to face me.
“Those were all the tabloids. I never touched a drug in my life,” I say forcefully.
“You said you saw a therapist I-”
She turns away from me not finishing her thought.
I walk over to her and put my hand on her lower back. She jumps and I move my hand to her waist.
“I see a therapist because I didn't know how to handle my emotions and grief. I drank and slept around and needed to deal with it, instead of run away from it.”
She nods and I move her long hair to her shoulder, exposing her neck.
“Can we try this again, Charlotte?”
“Try what?”
I kiss her neck softly and turn her around to face me, motioning between our bodies.
“Us.”
“I…”
I move slow towards her and brush her lips softly, cutting off whatever protests she was going to throw my way.
Before we can deepen the kiss, we hear a commotion in the kitchen. She jumps back, looking up at me with a panicked expression and I let out a sigh.
"Devin kind of...walked into the room and saw us."
"Shit, he's home? He wasn't supposed to be home until late this afternoon. Shit, shit, dammit," she says, pulling out a t shirt and pants. "Let me just change then you can use the bathroom. Advil is in the medicine cabinet, I'll meet ya in the kitchen," she says, sweeping towards the hallway.
I sit on the bed with my head in my hands and try to recount the events of last night. I remember being so hurt and angry when Charlotte left. I went back into the pub and...tequila, lots and lots of tequila. Shit.
I hear the bathroom door swing open and barely see Charlotte, as she dashes down the hall to the kitchen. I walk towards the bathroom but stop when I hear her and Devins conversation.
"We come home early to surprise you and we see that! He had his face buried in your tits Mama, how could you, after what he's done!" Devin yells.
"Devin John, you better lower your voice, I don't allow yellin’ in this house," Charlotte says, through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry, Mama," he grumbles.
“For the record, I didn't see nothin’,” Bella says.
"Not that it's any of y'alls business, but nothin’ happened. We had dinner to discuss everything, it didn't go well, and I came back to him on our porch. Whatever I do on my own time, is my business."
"You mean, whoever you do?" Devin retorts.
"You wanna try that again?" Charlotte snaps.
"Mama, I get y'all had something back in the day, this epic love story, but now? Eighteen years he missed Mama, he wanted us gone. Why are you defendin’ him?"
"Because he is your father, Devin John and whether you like it not, he’s gonna be in your life. Now it's ‘bout time you accepted that because he ain’t goin’ nowhere!”
I smile, remembering how strong Charlotte's accent got when she was angry. Sometimes I would rile her up just to hear that strong southern drawl.
“He left once, he can do it again,” Devin says.
The fear in his voice slays me.
“Just give him a chance Dev, he's a good man. If you took your head outta your ass for 5 seconds, you'd see y'all ain't so different,” Bella snaps.
“Bella,” Charlotte warns. “He was a kid, Devin. A kid that was told he had no responsibilities holdin’ him to this town and he left. You wanna hate him for leavin’, then fine. God knows I hated him enough for all of us. But then throw some of that hate my way for lyin’ to him and pushin’ him to go. It's ‘bout time we all got past this and started to move on as a family, no?”
There's silence and I hold my breath for their next words.
“I'll think about it,” Devin says quietly.
“I'm happy y'all are home. Go and get washed up for some breakfast," she says, dismissing them.
Devin sighs and I hear footsteps coming closer, so I shut the bathroom door quickly. I sink to the floor with my back against it and let out a breath. How the hell am I going to fix this with my son?
Charlotte
I huff out a breath and turn to the fridge to start on some breakfast. That could have went worse but it could have went better. Devin is going to be a hard one to crack but at least it seems like Bella is on our side. Our side. We're a team now, I guess. I hear a throat clear behind me and turn quickly.
“How much of that did you hear?” I ask Gabriel, wincing.
“Enough,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.
I walk over and pat his shoulder and he grabs my wrist in his hands. I look at him questioningly.
“Thank you, for defendin’ me,” he says softly.
He moves my hand up to his lips and gives each knuckle a soft kiss. My breath hitches in my throat and I close my eyes.
“You're...you're welcome,” I stutter.
He smiles and moves his hand down my slender neck, to the chain hanging around it. He pulls the necklace out from underneath my shirt and I close my eyes, chastising myself for still wearing it.
“You...you still kept this? You wear it, after all these years, after…”
His voice breaks and he moves his lips to brush mine quickly. His kiss is soft but my body reaches out for more.
“Gabe…” I moan, reaching my arms to hook around his neck.
My body is corrupting my brain, fogging it up with lust.
“We don't want to make him madder. Bad old dad corruptin’ his innocent mama in the middle of the kitchen will get me another bloody nose.”
I giggle and nod, reluctantly untangling my hands from around his neck. I turn back to the stove and crack eggs, as I feel his warmth against my back. He lightly pushes his body into mine and I feel his hard ridge against my back.
“Don't mean I don't want you though, baby cakes,” he says against my ear.
He kisses my neck, underneath my ear, in that spot that drives me wild and I slam my hands down on the counter.
“Gabriel John, don't tease me, dammit,” I say with frustration.
He laughs a low rumble and the vibrations tickle my neck, making their way south.
“Teasin’ means I don't plan on followin’ through.”
He kisses my neck again and we hear footsteps coming towards the kitchen. He backs away from me quick and the movement makes me wobble and two eggs crack on the kitchen floor.
“Dammit.”
I go to bend down to clean the mess, but Gabriel is already there. He looks up at me and winks.
“Always tryin’ to get me on my knees, baby cakes.”
My mouth drops, picturing this scenario a little differently. The kids aren't home and I'm wearing a little less clothing. He crawls over to me, slowly trailing his tongue up my bare leg and up to my--
“Mama, we have any more orange juice?”
Bella's voice interrupts my dirty thoughts and I shake my head. I look over to Gabriel and he chuckles. I stare daggers at him.
“Uhh..I was plannin’ on goin’ food shoppin’ this mornin’, before y'all got here.”
My voice is strained, and I clear it, looking away from Gabriel. Bella eyes me curiously and smirks, obviously noticing my blush. Curse my pale skin.
“Okay,” she says smiling.
She sits at the table, watching Gabriel clean the eggs by my feet, occasionally stealing a glance at me.
I turn back to the stove to hide how flustered I am and finish making breakfast as everyone takes their seat at the table.
“So...everyone excited for Thanksgiving tomorrow?” Gabriel asks, breaking the silence.
“Do you love Mama or not? I ain't in the mood for this back and forth crap, so you either love her or you don't. Are we expectin’ you at all family holidays from now on or only when you wanna warm her bed?” Devin seethes.
“Devin!” I snap.
“What? I may not live here at the moment, but I still consider myself the man of this house and no one is gonna disrespect you like that, even him,” he says, pointing his fork at Gabriel.
“Devin, you are my son. I love you with all my heart, but my private life is none of your business,” I say sternly.
“Well I got a right to know if he's gonna be stickin around or not,” he says, slamming his fork down.
I look over at Gabriel and his eyebrows are drawn together.
“Devin, I'm gonna have to earn your trust, I get it, but you don't need to be buttin’ into your mama's life like that. I'm sure she don't grill you about all the girls warmin’ your bed, does she?”
“Oh, so it is like that, huh?” Devin laughs bitterly.
“Shut up Devin, it's Mama's business!” Bella snaps.
All of the sudden everyone starts talking at once and voices grow louder. My face heats up and I ball my fists and grit my teeth. I am so sick of this damn fighting, it ends here.
“Enough!” I yell, standing from the table.
All eyes snap to me and the yelling stops. Everyone's mouth hangs open, waiting on my next move.
“Devin...Bella...I'm a grown woman and what I do on my own time is my business. You are both old enough to know when to butt out. That man over there ain't a stranger, that's your father. If he and I wanna spend some time together, that is what we're gonna do. Now I am done with the fightin’ and y'all are too. The past is in the past and let's just all move forward. Gabriel wants to be a part of this family, so let him,” I say, slamming my napkin down on my plate. “Now finish your breakfast and Devin, you're on clean up duty.”
I hear Devin start to protest and I hold up my hand.
“I don't wanna hear it.”
I see Gabriel smirk out of the corner of my eye.
“Gabe, you can help him. Bells and I are goin’ to the supermarket, then I gotta run into the office for a couple hours. Y'all decide how this is gonna go, but so help me God, if there is blood on my carpet when I get home, I'm carvin’ up you boys for Thanksgiving tomorrow.”
I walk towards my bedroom to change but I hear whisper yelling in the kitchen, so I stop to listen.
“Stop hittin’ on her in front of us, it's disgustin’,” Devin whispers.
“I'm not.”
“Just stop. Bells and I are goin’ out in town tonight, just save it for later. Mama never had a man, it's weird okay? Just...save it.”
“I'm your father. A father can't kiss the mother of his children?”
“No, it's nasty. Just don't.”
I smile and shake my head and walk into my room to change.
I come out a few minutes later and walk into the kitchen. Devin and Gabriel are still sitting at the table, just playing around with their food.
“Be good, boys,” I say, patting Devin’s head.
Gabriel smiles and reaches for me, wrapping an arm around my waist. He kisses me hard on the lips and I gasp, gripping his shoulders for balance. He breaks the kiss and I see him wink over my shoulder. I slap his chest.
“You ball buster,” I whisper.
I walk out the kitchen, towards the front door and hear the arguments start up again in the kitchen. I swear if arguing was a profession, those two...like father, like son