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We stared at each other for a moment. Neither one of us ready to speak or move.
Eventually I raised the envelope in the air. “This is why you’ve been so distant lately isn’t it?”
The surprise washed away from her face and was replaced with an impassive look that gave nothing away to what she was feeling.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I stood up and walked over to her. “Why didn’t you tell me that my mother was threatening you? I could have helped you.”
“No, you couldn’t have.” She muttered as she side stepped me. “No one can help me, Gabriel. Not even you.”
“Bullshit. I could have done something about this.”
“And the next time it happens? Will you keep fighting with your family for this?” She gestured between the two of us. “We are in a fake relationship. You can’t keep compromising your real relationship with your parents for a fake one.”
“The hell I can.” I turned to face. “I will walk through fucking fire for you, Brianna. I don’t give a damn who it is I have to fight. As long as it means that you aren’t like this.”
“I’m fine, Gabriel.”
“The hell you are! I don’t know what the fuck she said to you about me but it’s not true. The last time my mother knew anything about me was when I was twelve years old. My parents know next to nothing about who I am as a person. But you know who does?”
The silence around us grew louder as my question remained suspended in the air.
“You do. You know me Brianna because you see me.”
I could see the tears glistening in her eyes.
“We aren’t real Gabriel,” she muttered under her breath. “None of this is real. We don’t even have a word for what we are doing behind closed doors.”
“You are mine Brianna, what part of that don’t you understand? If you want to call me your boyfriend, then fine you will be my girlfriend. If you want to call me your fiancé, then you will be my fiancé. Whatever label you put on us is fine by me as long as you know I want to be with you.” I stepped toward her, closing the distance between us. I dropped the envelopes to the floor and grabbed her cheeks in my hands. I brushed my thumb against her supple skin.
“Gabriel this isn’t real. This is all make believe and we are nothing but—”
“Don’t you dare discredit my feelings for you, Brianna. I know what I feel and I know you feel the same about me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have tears in your eyes. You wouldn’t be looking at me like your whole world is imploding in on you.”
There was a brokenness in her eyes that I had never seen there before. It ruined me.
I wanted to gather every single shattered piece of her and put it all back together.
I leaned my forehead against hers. I closed my eyes and breathed in her sweet scent.
“I love you, Brianna Scott.” The words I had been guarding so close to my chest for weeks now finally found their escape.
She leaned her head back and looked into my eyes.
“Gabriel…”
“Don’t say anything. I just needed you to hear it. I just needed you to know.” I brought her face closer to mine and kissed her soft lips. “I will fix this. I just need you to trust me and give me some time, okay? Please.”
Brianna looked at me. Her eyes roaming my face for something. When she was satisfied, she nodded her head slowly and pulled me into her embrace.
I was about to rain hellfire on my mother and anyone else who aided her in this stupid ploy to get Brianna away from me. I already had a rough idea who would be so sick and twisted to do such a thing.
21
UNEXPECTED GUEST
Brianna
He loved me. When the words had left his lips I hadn’t even fully believed him. Until I saw the look in his eyes. There was no faking that.
