LAUREN

 

“Hey buddy,” Gabe greeted me when he walked in that afternoon.

Butterflies flitted across my chest at the sound of his voice, but I mentally squashed them, breaking the wings that hovered against my heart. “Hey, yourself,” I replied.

He grinned and I couldn’t help smiling back, even though my head ached and my eyelids felt like they had been exchanged for sandpaper.

Stepping closer, he put his face in front of mine. “Ouch,” he said, reeling back from me. “You look like shit.”

“Why thank you,” I replied sarcastically. “It’s partially your fault, actually.”

Gabe’s eyebrows shot up. “Taking in the fact that you look like you barely got a wink of sleep, I’m wishing it was.” He laughed and then held up his hands under my hard glare. “Lighten up, buddy.” He winked and pulled himself up onto the counter, ignoring Mark’s hypocritical look of disapproval.

“Peta will shoot you if she hears you were sitting on that damn counter again,” Mark said, folding his arms and standing in the doorway.

“Well, let’s hope nobody tells her then.” Gabe turned back to me. “So, do tell me, how is this,” he circled his hands in my direction, “my fault?”

“Stupid zombie programme.”

“You watched it?”

“I had to go to the video store for the second season.”

“I told you you’d like it if you just gave it a go.”

Gabe kept chatting away for most of the night as the customers rolled through the door. Tuesday nights were always quiet and by eight o’clock the café was empty. Mark was in the kitchen, cursing, and cleaning the oven while Gabe and I restocked the flavour shots. He kept up his chatty demeanour until we were alone.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, stepping close and lowering his voice. His scent was intoxicating and I had to physically stop myself from leaning over and inhaling him. “It hasn’t been the same here without you.” His eyes flicked over to where Mark’s backside was visible, poking out of the oven. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Gabe,” I said, gently scolding him but at the same time wishing he would reach out and do it again. My cheek burned where his finger had brushed it.

He stayed close but didn’t touch me again. “How is it going, anyway? Are you, Derek, and the man-stealing-bitch happy?”

I rolled my eyes and tried to hide the fact that after a week together, things were not going well. It was just a temporary glitch though. Derek and I would make it back to where we had been. Maybe.

I decided the best way to handle the Gabe situation was to pretend that nothing had ever happened, so I plastered on a smile. “You mean the lying-man-stealing-bitch?”

Gabe’s eyes widened. “One extra word?” And then it dawned on him, the meaning of the first. “No way!”

I nodded and couldn’t help the thrill that passed over me when sharing the gossip. “Yep, all a total lie.”

“So he comes crawling back to you and you accept that?”

“It’s not like that,” I said quietly.

Gabe’s eyes moved over to Mark again and he stepped even closer. He took the flavour shot bottle out of my hand, laid it on the counter, and then tipped my chin so I was looking up at him. “I want you back,” he said.

I closed my eyes, certain that if I looked into his for much longer my resolve would melt and I would sink into his embrace. “You never had me, Gabe.”

“Yes, I did. I don’t care if I ruin your chance at fixing your relationship. I don’t care if people call me the devil. I will have you again.”

“Please don’t, Gabe.” I was begging him to stand back, let me go, because I didn’t think I had the strength to do it myself.

“Look at me,” he said and my eyes rose, despite my resistance. His gaze was scorched with lust and I longed to satisfy it. But instead, I pulled myself away and held my hand to his chest to keep him from following.

Gabe’s eyes slipped down to where my hand lay planted against him and pain flickered across his expression. My ring stood out prominently against his black t-shirt. He swallowed and his chest rose and fell. “You’ve got his ring back on,” he stated quietly.

I nodded and withdrew my hand. My heart pounded in my chest. I wanted to rip off the ring and toss it away, but for what? A boy who slept with me over a bet? A boy who only wanted me now because I was the forbidden fruit?

“I told you I was back with him.”

“You told me that you were giving him a chance. I just didn’t think you would really go back to him. I thought I was still in with a chance too.”

“Gabe, you know we can’t actually be together.”

His brows formed a frown. “Well, why were you so upset then? Why did you talk about trust and hurt if you never thought we could be together?”

I sighed and leaned against the counter. “I guess I just got caught up in the fantasy. You’re so…” I raised my eyebrows, trying to think of the right word. “Well, look at you, Gabe. You’re gorgeous. And I guess I kind of got drunk on all the attention you were giving me. It wasn’t until I found out why that I realised it was nothing but a fantasy.”

“But it doesn’t have to be, we could be together now. Just say the word. Kick the lowlife lying-man-stealing-bitch-believer to the kerb and be with me.”

“I’m years older than you.”

His gaze was direct and he took a step closer. “I don’t care.”

I sighed and struggled to find the right words. “It just wouldn’t work. What would people say about me?”

“So, you’re saying you would be embarrassed to be with me?” The hurt in his eyes cut at my heart.

“No.” I shook my head. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Gabe took a step away, his eyes clouding over. “So you only slept with me because you were physically attracted to me, nothing more,” he said. “I thought you were different, Lauren. I thought you saw more of me than that. All my life that’s the only thing people have said about me. I guess the tables have turned now.” He walked backwards a few steps, his eyes burning holes in mine. “Tell Mark I had to leave early.” And he walked out the door.