AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How is he? Still dizzy?”
“Your dad is feeling better,” I say as I bend over to reach into my bag, just wanting an excuse to not look at her and for all the blood to be rushing to my face.
“You guys ready to go down to the waterfront?” Gabe’s at the door to the room, and I turn to look up at him.
My breath catches in my throat. He’s wearing an old pair of jeans and a tee, his hair’s still wet and slightly slicked back, but the way his arms fold over his chest as he leans against the doorframe is doing things for me. His warm brown eyes dance over me before they return to Gin, and he smiles at her. The kind of smile that melts hearts and panties, and I have no idea how I never really looked at this man before—reallylooked at him.
“I’m ready,” Gin answers. “We don’t have to if you’re not feeling well.”
“Nah. We gotta take Aurora down to get some of that good mac and cheese.”
“And a coffee.”
“And a mid-afternoon coffee because apparently, she can still sleep with all that caffeine in her system.” Gabe shakes his head at me.
“I’m special like that,” I sass back.
“Oh I know you are.” He grins.
Gin’s eyes dart back and forth between us, and I realize we need to reel it in. We always made jokes, but this is different. The way he’s looking at me is different. The way I feel is different. It’s all different. And we’re both in huge trouble ‘cause this kid isn’t a kid anymore, and she’s smart as hell. Her eyes narrow on her father one last time, but she follows his request when he tells her to get in the car.
“I just need a different shirt.” I go to find a different one in my bag, but Gabe closes the distance between us and bends down to whisper in my ear.
“Nah. Leave it on. Having my name on your back after hearing you say it like you were. I like it.” He grins at me and grabs my hand, tugging me along.
My heart absolutely riots in my chest and spills another round of butterflies into my stomach. I might have to thank Joss for her advice.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Gabe
I’m lying in bed staring at the ceiling. I can’t sleep because I’m too busy replaying everything that happened today. From going out with Gin and Aurora downtown, getting food, and taking her to the usual tourist stops to everything that happened before that. The way she smiled at me before we left. The way she said my name in the shower.
I have to find time to talk with her. A chance to tell her how I feel. I have no idea what it will mean, especially in the wake of everything with David. I have to try. But obsessing over it and not sleeping won’t help me with my words in the morning. When Gin goes to school, I can skip my morning workout and explain everything to Aurora. But I’ll need to not look like I stayed up all night stressing to convince her I haven’t lost my mind.
Just as I go to close my eyes and try to count sheep, the door creaks open, and I sit up slightly.
“Gin?” I ask, blinking like it’ll help me see in the darkness. She’s been having nightmares lately after she went to a horror movie with some friends, and apparently, even teenagers need reassurance there aren’t poltergeists in their rooms at night.
The door shuts, the lock clicking, and the figure moves across the room toward the bed. I’m starting to wonder if I also need that kind of reassurance when my heart jumps into my throat. I sit up higher.
“It’s me,” Aurora whispers just as she gets to the bed.
“Aurora?”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing?” I ask when my heart starts to race. Because Aurora doesn’t fear poltergeists or need my protection from them in the middle of the night. At least she never has before.
“Coming to talk with you.” Comes the amused response as she climbs onto the bed.
“Gin sometimes gets up in the night,” I warn her.
“I locked the door.”
“Which she’ll find suspicious. We’ll have a repeat of the shower incident.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll go back to my room.” She moves to stand, but I catch her wrist.
