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“I needed to keep an eye on you. As for where I slept.” He pointed at the too small couch and a sliver of guilt wormed its way into my heart. “And before you worry about lover boy being out in the wild, I made a call to the authorities. He was picked up and dealt with.”
“Dealt with?”
He blinked at me blankly. “Do you want the details?”
His voice was brittle and full of ice. With every word, I could almost feel the jabbing pointy edge of an ice shard. Lover boy, as he called him, was locked somewhere dark and cold and would not be given the opportunity to slip punishment. Gabe had made sure of that. I cleared my throat. “No. I don't want to know.”
“Fine. Drink the vitamin solution. Or will I have to make you?”
The quiet question sent a shiver through me, becauseI had no doubt from the tone in his voice that he would absolutely pry open my jaw and force me to drink it. “I'm not a baby. I can manage.”
His gaze narrowed on me. “Brilliant. Then start making some good decisions. Next time, try not to simulate shagging someone on the dance floor, and maybe you won't get yourself in trouble.”
Despite my headache, my reflexes were fast. Unfortunately, his were faster and he dodged the pillow I aimed at his head.
But one question lingered as I heard him humming in the bathroom and turning on the shower. Just who had gotten me undressed last night? There was no point in trying to sleep anymore. I’d likely be plagued by dreams of Gabe.
2
Gabe
The following day, Tabatha was still throwing me narrowed eyes. I didn’t care. She was safe, my team was intact, and that was all that mattered.
Did you have to take her to your room? Put her in your bed?
The satisfaction I got from seeing her in my bed was something I shouldn’t look at for too long, so I turned my attention to the door blocking my view of my sister.
For some reason I was bloody nervous.
I wasn't the one getting married, the one tying myself to another human being for the rest of eternity.
And I knew it would be the rest of eternity because I had warned Lachlan King. If he broke my sister's heart, that would be the end of him.
Tabatha stepped into view, draped in a soft heather-gray gown. The fabric clung to her figure before giving way to a short train, the strapless neckline leaving all of her sand and honey-toned skin exposed. My gaze fell on her freckles and the curls atop her head that begged to be touched.
Diamonds glinted from the dangly earrings in her ears, but the sparkle didn't compare to the excitement in her gaze as she smiled at me.
“Wait until you see her. She looks amazing.” Her eyes were bright and dancing. And like a fool, all I could do was stare at her.
You look amazing, is what I should have said, but my breath stalled in my lungs and I remained speechless, just nodding my head.
I'd seen Tabatha dressed up countless times before, but never had I wanted to yank the pins from her curls so desperately to let them drift past her shoulders as I pulled her against me, molding our bodies together. I knew better than to do such a thing though, and instead remained still, racking my brain for an appropriate response.
“I’m sure she does.”
“I'm getting her some ice. You know where you’re supposed to be after you walk her down the aisle?”
“Yep. I’ll take a seat in the front with Nissa.”
No one had really told me much, just to stand there, wait for Saff, and then walk her down and hand her off to my future brother-in-law.
I ignored the deep, aching twist in my gut. The flood of emotions I couldn’t really name threatened to overwhelm me.
Ever since I'd come to live with the Abotts, I’d been Saff’s protector. She'd been a little scrawny thing then. Mostly ashy with knobby knees. Mum was always running after her with lotion.
I’d loved Saff from the moment she marched up to me and said, "You're my brother now, okay?" She hadn’t added foster, no disclaimers or caveats. Just her enthusiastic acceptance of my new role.
She’d been so sure, so certain in her acceptance of me. I didn’t know how she could do it, so readily embracing a stranger in her life.
