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“I had to leave,” she says softly, almost apologetically.
“I understand. Even more so after I heard what Pria told you,” I add, my voice growing a bit colder as I mention my mother.
Love Mom, but what in the ever-loving fuck did she do? Like seriously, she didn’t have to stick her nose into my business. We’re going to have a long conversation after I help Ameline deal with Izzy.
“You mean your mom.”
“I’m currently pissed at her,” I say, adjusting the rearview mirror slightly. “Though, if I hadn’t been absent and just shoved you into my parents’ care while I tried to fix our future. . .”
She hesitates before asking, “Why did you . . .?”
“What?”
“Why did you withdraw from me?” she whispers. “After the surgery, after we lost her . . . I needed you.” Her voice cracks.
I take a deep breath, the car slowing as we approach a red light. “Fear, denial . . . I was lost in them. I didn’t know how to grieve, how to be there for you. I wanted to fix everything, stop your suffering . . .” My voice trails off as the light turns green, and I accelerate.
We’re quiet for the rest of the drive. Once I park in front of the apartment building, I finally turn to face Ameline. “In part, it had to do with Leslie. It was hard to deal with her loss—it hurt a lot. When I thought you . . . The moment you coded, I couldn’t breathe. I wanted to die with you. It scared me how much you meant to me, how much I loved you, and I didn’t know how to handle any of it. I was a stupid twenty-three-year-old boy who wasn’t ready for our love or you. I was just trying to ensure that you would be healthy and wouldn’t lose another baby.”
She stares at me for a long moment. The silence between us is deafening. “You’re not supposed to say that,” she claims, her voice tight, almost angry or maybe sad. The fact that I can’t define the emotions makes me anxious. “I liked it better when you didn’t love me. When I had been the only one who loved and lost everything.”
I offer a small shrug, meeting her pained eyes. “I meant everything I said then and everything I said earlier with Lyric. I’ve always loved you.”
Her nostrils flare and without a word, she abruptly exits the car, leaving a void where she sat.
“Talk to me, Ame,” I plead, scrambling out of the car to follow her toward the main entrance of the building.
“No,” she replies sharply, arms crossed in front of herself. “You don’t get to decide when we talk. I need time to process our conversation and deal with my sister’s situation right now.”
I nod reluctantly. “That’s fair. Just let me help you with your sister, please.”
“I should dismiss you altogether.” Her words are clipped.
“Please don’t,” I implore, desperation seeping into my voice as I reach for her arm. She pointedly moves it out of reach, and I drop my hand, stung. “Let me do this for you, at least.”
Chapter Twelve
Gabriel
I carefully put Caleb into his rear-facing car seat as Ameline helps her niece, Cora, buckle up in the adjacent seat. Once they’re safely strapped in, Ameline places the stuffed diaper bag into the trunk while gazing worriedly at the kids.
“Did you see the eviction notice at Izzy’s door?” Ameline mumbles, her gaze lingering on the children, a mix of concern and helplessness in her eyes. “What am I supposed to do with them? I can’t pay her debt. Plus, the apartment should be condemned until someone sterilizes it. I don’t even have a hotel room. I was hoping I could stay with Izzy while I helped her with whatever she needed while working on our unresolved issues.”
I fucking knew it. She doesn’t have a place to stay. But why doesn’t she have money? I recall her working at a very prestigious law firm in New York. Did she lose her job?
That doesn’t matter right now, we need to solve the children’s situation first. Izzy has to sign a paper where she gives temporary guardianship to her sister. Should I call my lawyer or is that something Ameline can handle?
Focus on the kids, Gabriel, I order myself.
“You can stay in the house for the time being,” I offer. “I need to get someone to clean it and do a few updates. In the meantime, the penthouse is available, we have plenty of room. I can give you a hand with the kids too. You heard the nosy neighbor. Caleb doesn’t sleep through the night. He’s always crying.”
Her head snaps up, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. “Why did you move out? You loved that house.”
Leaning against the back of the SUV, near the open trunk, I let out a sigh. “There are too many memories in our place,” I confess, my gaze momentarily drifting to the distant skyline. “It became too hard to breathe there. Jude suggested we buy a new place together—a second home for him to stay in when he’s in town.”
She glances at the kids, safely seated inside the SUV, then back at me. “This is temporary, but . . . would you mind if we stay with you? I’ll pay you for the lodging at the end of the month. It’ll be like Gabe-bnb.”
Reaching out, I gently close the trunk, my eyes never leaving hers. “Everything I own is yours, Ame. And if you needed money, why didn’t you use the credit cards I mailed you?”
