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“It’s fine,” I said before spinning on my heels and quickly making my way out of the Drivas house.
I needed air.
I needed to think.
MY HEART WAS pounding in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was from hearing Gabi say she only had distant family in Italy or the fact that she had seen a text come through from Scarlett. Who in the hell was Antonio? The uncle who owns the bakery now?
I kissed my mother, Kilyn, and Phoebe goodbye. Shaking my father’s hand, I ignored my two brothers and rushed out the door to follow Gabi.
She was walking as fast as she could toward my truck. Her phone was in her hand.
“Gabi.”
“Don’t talk to me, Nic.”
“Jesus Christ, don’t do this.”
She stopped and faced me. Her eyes filled to the rim with tears she was fighting to keep back. “You told me there was nothing between the two of you. Yet, she is texting you. What does she miss, Nic? Your cock?”
Anger raced through my veins. “No, I asked her to do me a favor for work. She knows someone who owns a travel agency and one of the guys needed plane tickets. I asked if she could get her friend to help out.”
Holy fuck. That lie came way too easy.
Gabi’s face softened. The beginning of the message must have been making sense to her as she put the two together.
“What does she miss?”
Pinching my brows together, I asked, “What?”
“In her message, she said, I miss . . . That was all it showed.”
I knew I had to tell her the truth. One, because I didn’t want to lie to her any more than I was, and if she asked to see the text, she’d see that was what it said. “She said she missed me.”
“Do you miss her?” she asked in a trembling voice.
Placing my hands on her arms, I looked directly into her eyes. “No. Not one bit.”
Her shoulders dropped slightly and she let out the breath she had been holding.
Closing her eyes, she softly said, “I’m sorry. I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I overreacted again.”
I drew her in close to me. “It means you care.”
Her arms wrapped around me tightly, as if this was the last time she would ever hug me. “I more than care, Nic.”
My head pulled back. I wanted to ask her what she meant when she said she wasn’t sure how much more she could take, but I let it go. She was probably overwhelmed by my family. “Let’s go back to my place.”
She smiled. “I have to work in the morning. I’m leaving the next day for Italy and there is so much to do before I go.”
My gut cramped. Who was she talking to on the phone? “Are you looking forward to seeing anyone in particular when you go to Italy?”
Her body tensed. “Um . . . no. Why would you ask me that?”
Shrugging, I replied, “I don’t know, just wondering if there was a family member or someone you were excited to see.”
Gabi forced a smile. “No. It’s been so long since I’ve been there.”
I nodded. “Gabi, if there was something wrong, you’d tell me.”
She swallowed hard. Her eyes searched mine and I could see she wanted to tell me.
“This trip is about letting go, Nic. There is something I need to take care of and it’s . . . it’s complicated.”
I could easily ask her if it was Antonio she was letting go . . . but I couldn’t do it. I didn’t trust that she wouldn’t put up a wall.
“Let’s go back to your place so I can hold you in my arms tonight.”
Her body relaxed and she smiled. “I think that sounds like an amazing plan.”
Gabi stood at my truck and gave me a sweet smile. “I’ll miss you.”
A strange ache filled my chest.
“I’ll miss you too,” I said. All I really wanted to do was pull her into my arms and beg her to tell me what was going on.
Lifting my hand, I placed it on the side of her face. “I love you, Gabi.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she covered my hand with hers. “I love you too.”
She opened her mouth as if to say something else, but closed it.
There was no doubt in my mind, she was keeping something from me and I was hell bent on finding out what it was.
Why couldn’t I just ask her? Because I was afraid of the truth.
What good would come of me following her to Italy? Nothing, and I knew that. It said I didn’t trust her.
I forced out my next words. “I should probably head out.”
She nodded. I hated lying to her about having to go to work.
Leaning down, I kissed her. It started off slow and sweet, but she soon had her arms around me and her body pressed against mine.
