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“You really did go above and beyond. I shouldn’t have accepted your proposal, but I do appreciate everything you did.” I pause, pressing my lips together. “We confused our feelings. It was so easy. I’ll be forever grateful, but let’s just give each other closure. Forgive each other.”
I meet his gaze head-on, defiant. After a tense moment, he nods. “You’re right. It’s time to forgive each other. We’re older and more mature.”
“Glad we can be adults about it.”
He smirks. It’s as if he just won something. “So the imaginary restraining order is over?” he confirms.
I wave a hand. “Sure.” I mean, it’s not like he’ll suddenly start appearing everywhere.
We’re ending a cycle, getting closure and moving on. And why is it that I don’t feel any lightness in my heart? There’s something off about this moment.
“Glad we got that out of the way. Now, I’ll rearrange my schedule so I can take you to see Izzy,” he announces. “Your room is upstairs. The second one down the hallway. If you need a car, let me know. There are several in my parking garage.”
I gawk at him. My frustration boils over. “Are you even listening to what I’m saying?” I challenge him.
“Yes, I am.” Gabe’s hands clench and unclench as he tries to maintain his composure. “Isadora reached out to you because she probably needs something. You’re alone, and I want to be there for you. Also, you have forgiven me, and confirmed that the imaginary restraining order has been lifted,” he says, and the asshole dares to smile.
What the ever-loving fuck?
I shake my head, this can’t be happening. “Please, don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?” Gabe’s eyes narrow. “You don’t want me to help you?”
“Exactly. I want to do this on my own.” The words tumble out. “This is why I tried to avoid Lyric. But she wouldn’t let it be. She had to switch her ticket to coach to sit with me, to ‘catch up.’”
I hate how ungrateful I sound, but being close to them and the memories is overwhelming. Each recollection stings and brings back the pain that’s too deep, too raw.
“Why is it so hard for you to accept help from others?”
“Why are you so insistent?” I counter, my voice rising slightly.
He looks at me intently. “I have a bad feeling. This whole thing feels weirdly familiar,” he admits.
I scoff lightly, trying to brush off his concern. “Sure, like when Mom called. Maybe, but this is probably different, and you won’t have to marry me.”
He laughs, rolling his eyes. “We would have to divorce in the first place, sweetheart.”
“Well, then maybe you should sign the fucking papers when I send them to you instead of mailing them back.” My voice comes out too forceful, even bitter.
Gabe gives me a challenging glare. “Let’s make a deal. You let me be with you while you deal with Izzy and then we’ll call my people to handle our marriage.”
I narrow my gaze studying him. Somehow, I feel like there’s a trick behind this proposal. “Why are you so fucking stubborn?”
“I have my reasons.” He shrugs one shoulder.
“Like?” I prompt him, hoping there’s more than making my life miserable for the next five days.
“Last year Cedric came to see me.” His lips press together tightly. “He had some genetic testing done. PGD testing . . . As you recall, it can look for gene mutations that can lead to cancer. He had so many questions, something about it happening to too many women in his family.”
“Why would he do that?” I frown. “That’s what they did with us, isn’t it? In the fertility clinic so the embryos wouldn’t have any birth defects or . . .” I don’t finish the sentence. I can’t because it’s too much to remember.
Gabe nods a couple of times. I remember it all too well. They retrieved the eggs right before the surgery and began to do a lot of testing on us before I began the TMZ treatment. I wish they had done it later to . . .
Stop remembering the past, I order myself.
“Is Cedric okay?” I ask, focusing on a different subject because I don’t want to discuss us or our past anymore. If we get to the painful part, I might break in front of him and I refuse to do so.
“Yeah, he’s fine. But now I’m wondering if he was also talking about Izzy and didn’t mention her,” Gabe explains. “What if he’s referring to Izzy having cancer?”
