Page 92 of Knot What I Expected

“Who said anything about casual?”

Her breathing changes.

Mine does too.

There it is.

That fucking pull again.

I take one step towards her. She takes one back.

Not afraid. Never afraid.

Overwhelmed maybe. Which is exactly how I fucking feel.

“Gabby—”

“No.”

She shakes her head.

“I can't.”

“Can't what?”

But she doesn't answer.

“Come on, Matteo.”

“Already?”

“Now, baby.”

The kid hears something in her voice and immediately obeys. That tells me more than I want to know.

He grabs his backpack and runs over.

Gabriella takes his hand.

“Gabby.”

She starts walking.

“Gabriella.”

Nothing.

Fuck.

“Gabby!”

She stops. Doesn't turn. And for a second, I have a thousand things I want to say.

Tell me what's wrong.

Tell me what you're running from.

Tell me why your kid carries his whole fucking world in a backpack.