What the hell just happened?

That question kept playing in my head as I moved through the room. As I thanked people for coming, took final orders, and said my goodbyes.

When I finally closed the doors, only Gabe, Zoey, and Jasmine were left, and it took every ounce of my energy to keep my mask in place, when all I wanted to do was rage, scream, and crumble on to the floor.

What is Kylie’s problem, and how the hell could Jed believe anything she’d said?

“You guys don’t have to stay,” I told my cousins and Zoey, wanting them to leave so I could. “I’m going to save any cleaning up for tomorrow. Thanks so much for coming.”

“Rena, are you okay?” Jasmine asked, looking at me a little too closely.

“Yeah, just tired,” I lied.

“I’m sure you are, you did a great job tonight,” Gabe said, and I managed a small smile for him. “What I have to say will just take a minute.”

Shoot, I’d forgotten he wanted to talk to me tonight.

“So, I hope this makes you happy, and not mad,” Gabe began, rubbing his hand behind his neck. “I didn’t set out to deceive you … It just … well…”

“Just say it, babe,” Zoey encouraged, elbowing Gabe in the side.

“Right,” Gabe said, rubbing his side. “So…”

“What is it?” I asked, getting worried over Gabe’s awkward delivery. Gabe never fumbled his words, and I couldn’t imagine him ever deceiving me, or making me angry.

“It’s about the gallery … It’s mine. I own it,” he said, shocking the heck out of me.

“What? But … I don’t understand…” I honestly didn’t. Couldn’t even wrap my head around what he was saying.

“I bought the building and had the idea to turn it into a gallery in order to persuade you to come back to town. Permanently. I worried that you’d see it as a hand out, and would say no, so I came up with the idea to approach you about it as more of a silent investor,” Gabe said quickly. “Look, I’m sorry I lied. Every time I’ve seen you since you’ve been back and didn’t come clean, I felt awful. But, I can’t say I’m not happy with the results. Not only did you move here, but you’ve done wonderful things with the gallery, and I know it’s going to be a focal point of Main Street.”

I was flabbergasted, although, I had to admit that I’d rather work for my cousin, than a drug lord or crime boss.

“I don’t like that you lied,” I admitted, but the concern on Gabe’s face had me leaning in to give him a hug. “But, you’re right, I probably wouldn’t have wanted you buying property just to give me a job, I would have felt guilty about it. That doesn’t mean I never would have moved back, it just may have taken more time. I hope me you’ll still give me free rein when it comes to the gallery though, even though I now know you own it.”

Gabe chuckled and shook his head.

“No, you won’t give me free rein?” I asked.

“No,” Gabe replied. “After tomorrow, I’ll no longer own it.”

“You won’t?” I asked. “You’re selling it? Why? To whom?”

“Not selling it, giving it … to you.”

I looked up at my cousin, then at Zoey and Jasmine, before swinging my head back to Gabe.

“You can’t give the gallery to me. It’s too much,” I protested.

Gabe looked pointedly at me and said patiently, “Serena, I’m retired from the NFL, I have more endorsement deals than one man needs, and my kick-ass wife is a rich and famous author.”

“Thanks, honey,” Zoey said, then took my hands in hers and added, “What my darling husband is so crassly saying, is that it’s not too much. This is something we thought about and discussed at length, and we both really, really want to do this for you. If it truly makes you uncomfortable, we can stay on as silent partners, but our intention was for you to have it … as a gift.”

“Reardon has all the paperwork ready, we just need to meet up with him to go over it and sign, and the gallery is yours,” Gabe said softly. “What do you say, Rena?”

“Take it,” Jasmine encouraged.

“But,” I began. “It’s totally amazing and sweet of you both to want to do this for me, and I’m completely grateful, but it doesn’t seem right for me to accept the gallery as a gift. I’d want to give you something in return. It’s just, I don’t have the kind of money right now that this place would cost…”

“We don’t want your money,” Gabe protested, but Zoey put her hand on his arm.

“What if we give you the family discount, and work out a payment plan?” she asked.

I thought about it, then looked at Gabe and narrowed my eyes.

“The family plan would have to be reasonable, you can’t sell me the property for a hundred bucks,” I told him, causing Jazzy and Zoey to laugh when he scowled.

That was totally something Gabe would try to pull.

“Deal?” Zoey asked.

“Deal,” I said with a grin.

Wow, I can’t believe it. The gallery is going to be mine.

“Yay,” Jazzy said, then looked at me with her serious face. “Now, what happened between you and Jed?”

“What do you mean?” I asked coyly, my stomach turning at the memory of the way he’d looked at me. Like I’d betrayed him.

“He disappeared after not leaving your side all night, and you were obviously upset. What happened?” she asked again.

I sighed.

“Just a misunderstanding. We’ll work it out,” I said, hoping I was right.

“Do I need to kick his ass?” Gabe offered.

“No,” I said with a small laugh. “Please don’t. We just need some time to cool off; it’ll be fine.”

“You know what you need?” Jasmine asked. “A girls trip. A day at the spa, night at a hotel, and relaxing by the pool. You’ve been working like a crazy person, and now that the gallery is open, and your show is over, you need to take a break.”

“I volunteer as tribute,” Zoey said.

“I don’t know,” I began, thinking of all the things there still was to do.

“You deserve it,” Jasmine said, putting her hands together in prayer. “We all do. Let’s get away from work, men, and babies, and enjoy each other. It’ll give you the space you need to figure things out, and Jed a chance to get his head out of his ass and miss you.”

I looked at both women and laughed at their matching pouty expressions.

“Okay,” I agreed. “Let’s do it.”