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She makes a noise of disbelief then turns around again.
“I got a triple and a run on my first at-bat. I’d call that pretty amazing.”
“You broke your hand and risked injuring it further. I’d call that pretty idiotic.”
Grinning, I bring her in closer. As much as Gabi gives attitude, she also cares deeply. I remember more than a few occasions when she got upset with me because I’d been so stupid and could have gotten hurt. Good to know that instinct is still there.
“So…your hand will be okay, though?” she asks after a few minutes have passed.
I nod. “Yeah. It’ll be okay. The doc said the break was clean and I should regain full mobility. I just have to be really intentional about physical therapy if I want to be back to my full strength.”
There’s a long pause again, but unlike just a second ago when it felt like we were simply here together in the silence, this one feels heavy with something, like Gabi has disappeared into her mind. I don’t understand where her thoughts have gone, but the easy quiet from before is absent. I can tell the lazy, post-sex haze has officially evaporated, at least for Gabi.
I could stay here for the rest of the afternoon, holding her, breathing in her scent, but I don’t want to push too hard. Gabi isn’t someone who likes to be rushed when it comes to anything. She moves slowly, needs time to think about things. Us falling into bed together today was probably not anything she was prepared for, so the best thing I can do is try to talk to her about it or give her the space to think it through.
That’s what it’s like with Gabi: one step forward, three steps back.
I press a kiss against her shoulder and then her neck, squeezing her tightly before releasing her and pushing out of bed to grab my clothes.
“Why don’t we get dressed and go get a drink, huh?”
I tug on my boxers and reach for my jeans as Gabi rolls over and looks at me.
“Or we could get some dinner. Maybe a sandwich from the deli?”
She watches me for a long moment, and I know she’s going to turn me down before she even says it.
“Bishop…” she starts, rising up onto one arm and tucking the sheet across her bare chest.
I sigh, giving her a resigned smile.
“Figured it couldn’t hurt to ask,” I tell her, buttoning my jeans then crouching down in front of her. “You take all the time you need to think about shit, Gabi. I’ll always give you time, but we’re going to talk about this, and I’d like it to be soon.”
She nibbles on her cheek, assessing me for a beat before nodding her head.
I press a kiss to her lips. Then another one. And another one. Until she swats at me playfully, and I grab her hand. Her breath catches as I turn her arm so her wrist is exposed then press a gentle kiss to the soft skin there.
It’s something I used to do all the time. I did it every time we said goodbye, whether it was between classes or after school or at the end of the night. It was a quiet ‘I love you’ until I was brave enough to say the words, so when I do it now, I hope she understands what I mean.
My lips pressed against her skin is a promise.
A promise that we’ll get there again.
If she’ll give me a chance to remind her just how good it can be.
chapter eighteen
Gabi
“You slept with Bishop!?”
Nicole’s shouted response is the exact reason why I didn’t have this conversation in public. The girl can keep a secret like a steel trap, but doing so with others around would require that ‘megaphone’ not be her default setting. In a small town like this one, where everyone is listening and word spreads like wildfire, there was no chance in hell I was taking that risk.
“Are you fucking serious!?”
“Look, I would appreciate it if you could lower your voice.” I rub at my right ear and then return my hand to the steering wheel. “I’d like to not go deaf today.”
My best friend just stares at me, likely waiting for the full story. I know I’m right when, a beat later, she waves a hand between us and says, “Well? Are you going to spill or what?”
