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Gabriel said, “I feel bad complaining because I know he was only trying to help, but this is what he does. He makes decisions for me and goes totally overboard.”
“He really cares about you, though. He’s actually the one who called the Dombrusos and sent them to help me with Simeck.”
“He’s a good person with a heart of gold, and I hope he finds someone who absolutely loves and appreciates him.”
“He will. Somewhere out there is a man who’s looking for a take-charge kind of guy,” I said. “It’s just a matter of time before he and Roger find each other.”
When we reached Sawyer and Alastair’s building, we parked in the underground garage. Gabriel winced as he put his shoes on, and he was limping a little as we walked to the elevator hand-in-hand.
We knocked when we got to the apartment. A few seconds later, a slender, blue-eyed blond in a white polo shirt and khaki shorts threw the door open. Then he tackled Gabriel in a hug and exclaimed, with a posh English accent, “I’m so glad you’re alright!” He kissed Gabriel’s cheek before letting go of him, and then he stuck his hand out and flashed me a dazzling smile. “You must be Riley. I’m Alastair.”
I shook his hand and said, “It’s great to finally meet you.”
Alastair led us into the apartment as he asked, “Why’d you knock, did you lose your keys?”
“No, but now that you’re back, we didn’t just want to barge in,” Gabriel explained.
“Our home is your home,” Alastair told him. “You know that.”
We reached the living room the same moment Sawyer did. He whooped with delight and grabbed Gabriel in a hug, lifting him off his feet as he exclaimed, “I’m so glad you’re back! We were worried about you.”
“I’m really sorry,” Gabriel said, as Sawyer put him down again. “I really didn’t mean to worry anyone.”
Sawyer draped his arm around his friend’s shoulders and gave him a squeeze as he said, “We know.”
Gabriel turned to Alastair and asked, “How are you feeling? Sawyer left a message saying you had food poisoning.”
“I’m much better, although I’m sticking with tea and toast for the time being. The thought of anything else makes my stomach wobbly.”
They chatted for another minute, and then Gabriel told them, “I really need a shower and a nap, but after that I want to hear all about your trip and everything that’s going on with both of you.”
“Yes, we’ll catch up soon. In the meantime, a nap sounds like a brilliant idea,” Alastair said, as his husband put an arm around him. “I think we should do the same.”
While Gabriel was in the shower, I changed into a clean T-shirt and sweats. Then I plugged in my phone and sent messages to Emory and Beck, letting them know all was well. Emory actually had no idea about Gabriel’s brief disappearance, but I’d promised to check in and wanted to let him know we’d worked it out. I figured Sawyer and Roger had contacted everyone else by now, but those two guys wouldn’t have been on their call list.
Beck sent back a message asking where he’d been. I thought about how to answer that, and then I replied: He went to visit an old friend. That was technically true, even if his former roommate hadn’t been there when he’d gone looking for him. Even though Gabriel had said he was going to be open about what had happened, that really wasn’t my tale to tell.
My next text was to Roger, which said: Thanks for calling the cavalry. I really appreciate it.
He responded with: No worries, mate. I spoke with Dante and heard it all went splendidly. Thanks for your earlier message letting me know Gabriel had been found. Is he really okay?
I wrote: Yeah, he is. He’s about to take a nap, but I’m sure he’ll talk to you soon. I need to ask one last favor. Could you please tell Vincent his SUV is in the parking garage of Sawyer and Alastair’s building? I don’t actually know how to get in touch with him.
His next text said: Consider it done, mate. Happy to help. If there’s anything else you think of, just let me know.
Gabriel emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later wearing his most comfortable pajamas, which were midnight blue flannel and a bit oversized. He was holding a box of bandages, and he muttered, “I’m never wearing those shoes again. They ripped my feet to shreds.”
I took the box from him and said, “Let me help.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, and I knelt at his feet and carefully covered his blisters. When I looked up at him, he was watching me with the sweetest expression. “I really love you, Riley,” he said. “Not just as a friend. I really, truly love you.”
