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“Are you sure?” he looks at me curiously.
No, but I don’t want to be the one to bring it up. I already went through the weeks of insisting that the first time we had sex was a mistake.
“Yeah,” I grunt.
“Huh, okay,” Is the response he gives me before returning to the page opened in front of him.
I grit my teeth, struggling with impatience. Do I really have to do it? I mean, he’s been forward this whole time, teasing me. When I told him that we were never having sex again, he made it a point to show me that it would be challenging.
“Is this some kind of punishment?” I ask.
He gives me his full attention this time around. “What punishment?”
“Are you punishing me?” I ask because it is the only reason I can think of for his silence. That Gabriel is taking revenge for the weeks I spent pushing him away. I don’t want to believe it is what is happening, but if I am right, then he is an asshole.
He’s a flightless, stubborn bird, I assure myself.
Gabriel looks confused after I ask him the question. “Why would I punish you? You…that’s an odd thing to assume, Harper. For various reasons. One,” he ticks it off his fingers, “that is a form of manipulation, and I would never do something like that to you.”
“Two, even if you did something wrong here, I would call you out on it. I might have a habit of wanting things to go my way, but I am not that rigid. I wouldn’t do that to you. And if you feel like that is going on in any way, please feel free to point it out.”
I was right.
Gabriel Everhart isn’t that petty.
Now that we’ve dealt with that aspect, I am even more confused. Why is he not saying anything then? Is he giving me some space to figure things out?
“If you,” I start after clearing my throat to get his attention again, “did something to or with someone. Something significant—you would want to talk about it, right?”
He nods.
I snap my fingers. “Right. Even if the person doesn’t bring up the subject, the fact that the significant thing was never acknowledged makes it worth talking about.”
He nods again. “Yeah.”
Then why won’t you talk about the fact that we went on a date together and ended up having sex in your apartment? It wasn’t as quick as the first time, and some words were left unsaid as I left in a hurry.
I should ask.
What’s the big deal in asking?
But when I open my mouth, the words do not come out. I try again and again before settling on an exasperated sigh. Gabriel glances at me.
“Do you need anything, Harper?”
“No,” I respond a little sharper than intended, my voice laced with exasperation. “I need to get back to my office, that’s all. There’s a lot to be done, and I am behind after spending the week at my parent’s house.”
Gabriel smiles, and it both pleases and annoys me. I’m pleased because…well, his smile is infectious, but I am annoyed that what is running through my mind isn’t affecting him, and I want it to.
He hands me the document, then withdraws it before I can reach out to collect it.
“This is my copy, right?”
With everything going on, I forgot to print an extra copy, but I’m in a hurry to leave his office, so I nod.
“Yeah, it’s yours.”
“All right then.”
