Chapter Fifteen
Sloane
“Did you know they were going to be here?” I asked Gabriel as soon as we sat down at our table. I didn’t like this. It felt like an ambush.
He sighed, looking guilty. “Ben did mention it earlier, but I didn’t realize until we passed by that it was right near the restaurant we were heading to. I thought they’d be gone by now. It’s been almost two hours since I last talked to Ben.”
“You should’ve told me before we went in,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “Now you’ve put me in an awkward position.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “I realize that now. I’m sorry.”
I was angry at him, and my mood was shot. I didn’t even want to be here anymore.
He leaned in, lowering his voice. “I said I’m sorry.”
I nodded, but I wasn’t looking at him. My jaw was tight. I was doing everything I could to not snap.
“You really are angry...”
I pressed my lips together, then finally looked at him. “Let’s just... order a drink.”
Gabriel didn’t say anything at first. I could feel his eyes on me, searching for a crack, some sign that I’d let this slide. But I didn’t have it in me tonight.
“We’re just friends, having dinner and a drink,” he said carefully. “There’s nothing to be worried about, Sloane.”
Yes. Just friends.
I agreed to this dinner on a whim, thinking it might be nice to get out for a bit. But now, sitting here, it didn’t feel right.
Cameron was right there, still looking at me, and I was across the room with another guy.
I pulled my phone from my coat pocket and stared at the screen, avoiding Gabriel’s eyes as he looked at me.
I texted Cameron, needing to explain.“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be here.”
His reply came almost instantly.“I know. It’s okay.”
I stared at the screen, my heart softening. Why wasn’t he angry? He had every reason to be. To him, it must have looked like I was doing this on purpose, rubbing it in.
My phone buzzed again.“Did you have a nice dinner?”
God, Cameron. Don’t do this.
You’re making it more complicated than it already is.
I typed back:“I did.”
A moment later, his reply came.“Good.”
Then I stole a glance at him. He was talking to Ben now.
I took a closer look at him. He’d lost a lot of weight, and the shadows under his eyes had deepened. I’d been noticing it more and more lately.
Was he sleeping at all? Had he been eating properly?
Was someone taking care of him—Evie, maybe?
Cameron stayed with Anita the night he was with Harper, and I could only hope his mom had made sure he ate something on those nights.
