I loved the way Gabe saw me, and it reminded me to be less critical of myself.
I wondered what this all meant for the building. I still wanted it…but I wanted him, too. It made me uneasy, because I didn’t want it to come between us, but I also didn’t want to step back. He likely felt similarly, but I didn’t want to ask.Not yet, at least. Maybe Hal would put us out of our misery and make a decision soon. Hedidsay he’d know by the start of the new year, although Hal had a tendency to be cryptic for a reason.
“What do you say about getting away this weekend?” Gabe murmured, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I raised my brows, curious what he was thinking. “What’d you have in mind?”
“I was thinking”—he ran his knuckles along my arm—“that we spend the day in Milwaukee visiting a bunch of different cafés.”
My lips parted, and I nodded eagerly. “Y-yeah, I would love that,” I stammered through my excitement. Not only would it check another item off our list, but he remembered what I’d said during our dinner at Pasta Fresca about wanting to visit other cafés to get ideas for my own. “I’m so excited. Can I see your apartment, too? And meet your cat?”
He chuckled. “You can definitely see my apartment. As far as meeting Beans, my friend Liam has been watching him. He started by stopping by my apartment, but since I’ve been herelonger than anticipated, Liam brought Beans over to his condo. He bought him a whole new setup, and I’m worried my cat won’t want to come home once I’m back in town.”
“I’m sure you could win him back with lots of treats.”
Gabe leaned over the side of the tub, grabbing his slacks and pulling his phone out of his pocket. He brought up a text thread with Liam and showed me a series of photos of a sleeping Beans on a new cat tree, him playing with new toys, and the two of them snuggling on the couch.
“Ah.” I nodded understandingly. “I stand corrected. You have your work cut out for you.”
“The two of them didn’t even like each other before I left.”
“A lot can change in a month,” I pointed out.
Gabe nodded. “A lot can change in a month,” he repeated.
45
GABRIEL
Thankfully,the winter weather cooperated with us this weekend, so Lily and I could go to Milwaukee as planned. We left early Saturday morning to ensure we had plenty of time during the day to visit various cafés. I’d planned out our route but encouraged Lily to see if there were other places she wanted to stop.
By early afternoon, we’d visited three cafés, and Lily had a number of conversations with employees and managers. I loved seeing her in her element. The way her eyes brightened when someone happily agreed to talk with her. How she bit down on her lip as she was taking notes on her phone. And how she beamed walking over to me to tell me everything.
If I could, I’d make her this happy every day. But we both knew my time in Golden Falls was wrapping up soon.
The past week had been brutal at work, to say the least. My father was giving me extra work and incessantly texting and emailing me that I needed to be back in the office. I responded to his business questions but ignored the personal ones.
On New Year’s Day, I felt optimistic that I could leave Nelson Group, and while that would be ideal, it was starting to feel lessand less possible. What was I going to do forfive yearsas I waited for my non-compete to expire? I needed to work, and I wanted to have my career in development—just not the work I was doing for Nelson Group.
Maybe I could figure out a plan, but I needed to be back in the city, back in my routine. I loved being in Golden Falls and spending time with Lily, but it was prolonging the inevitable. I was leaving, and I needed to figure out what to do about my career. I also couldn’t keep avoiding my father, especially since he was still my boss.
As excited as I was about my ideas for the building, I was increasingly skeptical that it would change anything with my father. His behavior made it clear he simply wanted the building for himself. He didn’t care about my plans for it.
I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if Hal decided to sell the building to me and, somehow, my father got his hands on it. That building belonged to Lily. Plain and simple.
“Hey, isn’t this the restaurant?” Lily called out, and I realized I’d walked right past it while in my daze. I brought Lily to Half Day Pub, one of my favorite places in the city and where I always stopped by with Liam.
“Yeah, that’s it. Sorry, I was on autopilot.”
“No worries.” Lily smiled, opening the door for us. “This has been such a great day. Thank you for bringing me to the city and for showing me around. I’ve learned so much already, and I can’t wait to get back to Golden Falls.” Her smile widened. She then turned to the hostess and asked for a booth for two.
As we were walking, Fiona spotted us and waved. “I didn’t realize you were in town,” she said with a grin and then turned to Lily. “You must be Lily!”
“I am,” Lily said slowly, looking between the two of us.
I stepped in to explain. “Liam and I often come here for dinner and sit in Fiona’s section. I assume Liam has beencoming by while I’ve been in Golden Falls and filling Fiona in on what we’ve been up to.”
Fiona pushed her bangs out of her eyes, a warm smile on her face. “I’ve gotten Gabe and Lily updatesandBeans updates. I think Liam’s been here about every other day. The guy misses you, so hopefully, you’ll be back soon.”
