We made our way over to a table in a quiet looking corner, a bartender following us. He took Gabby’s order for a double vodka on the rocks.
“So, what brings you back to the Bu, Gabby?” I figured I may as well get straight to the point.
“It was brought to my attention that you’d met someone… that it was serious, and,” she took a deep sigh that made me worry for her modesty, “well, I realized that if I was going to apologize to you for what I did, it needed to be now.”
“Gabby. We fucked and we ruined our careers. What else is there to say?” My jaw set. As far as I was concerned she was just wasting my time here.
“We had something, Jayden. Something good.” Her hand reached across the table for mine and she squeezed my fingers. I withdrew my hand to take a drink, severing the connection.
Her eyes narrowed at my action though she carried on smiling. I was transfixed by the fact her forehead stayed smooth as a baby’s butt. It was entirely unnatural.
“You took my virginity. I’d argue I was in lust, not love. In fact, I don’t recall those most important words ever coming out of either of our mouths.”
The bartender returned and laid out Gabby’s drink on a mat. I shook my head at the suggestion of a replacement beer and the bartender walked away.
“Jayden. I was scared by my feelings for you. I was fifteen years older than you. Fifteen. You know what they said about me in the press. I was extremely lucky that Andrew wasn’t interested in my past…”
Andrew Barr. The man she’d met shortly afterward. A property millionaire, he’d stuck by her side and they’d been married within a couple months. I had no idea what had happened past that, not being interested.
“So what happened to Andrew?”
“He passed away of a heart attack a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” I uttered my fake condolences.
“Don’t be. Our marriage was a sham. Andrew was gay. We had an arrangement—He had a cover, I had money. It was as simple as that. We both learned to be very discreet with our lovers and it worked well for us both. When he died his money went to me and I made sure his real partner was taken care of.”
“God, you’re a saint.” I said with a snarl.
“I never forgot you, Jayden. Never. When I saw you were dating Serena… well, I just didn’t understand why you’d want to share a woman when you could have the whole of me.” She ran a hand down the side of her neck, over her cleavage and down toward her groin. I felt sorry for her, seeing such desperation.
“Gabby. We had a good thing, but it was over a long time ago. I have no feelings left for you at all.”
She tossed back her vodka. “There’s no need to be such a bastard about it. It’s bad enough if you’re rejecting me. Don’t insult me too.”
I ran a hand over my scalp exasperated. “I don’t know what else to say. Our relationship was in the past but I don’t regret it if that’s something.” I took her hand in mine feeling I needed to let her know I meant my words. “I was very fond of you, Gabby. You were beautiful, hot, and I couldn’t get enough of you.”
She smiled.
I moved my hand away.
“But that was then and the truth is I’m head over heels in love with Serena, and I love what we all have together.”
“But she’s not entirely yours…”
“She is. Look, I don’t expect you to understand but I don’t feel like I have a part of Serena. She gives us everything. She is all that I need. All that we need. I’m sorry, but we were over a long time ago and there’s no going back.”
Gabby nodded. “Well, I tried. I’m happy for you, Jayden, I truly am. But I had to come here. You understand that, don’t you? To see if there was any chance. Any chance at all.”
“There isn’t.”
“I see that now.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat.
I settled the bar tab, and we left the hotel. As I went to kiss her cheek in goodbye, she turned her head and smashed her lips on mine. I pushed her away.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to show you what you’re missing. Can’t we go back in? There are rooms. We could have one last fuck for old times sake?”