“What did she mean by that?”
I take a nervous sip of beer and swallow hard. “What?”
“Not like you’d let her.”
“Pfft. I don’t know. She’s Clem. She’s crazy.” I press my lips together, so I’ll promptly shut up. His knowing smile sends ashiver down my spine, despite the heat. “I really am sorry you’re hurting.”
“I know.”
“Was it ... was it mutual?”
“Not exactly.” He stretches his long legs out on the coffee table. “I just ... I didn’t want to do it anymore. It was too hard, you know?”
I nod, like I have some clue as to what it was like dating Annie. The bitch is next-level crazy. I wouldn’t even put it past her to show up here and demand that I end my friendship with Gabe. I know that’s what she’s been gunning for the entire time I’ve known him. I also know that him sitting beside me on this couch, and not being with her right now says so much about our friendship. I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. “I kind of like knowing I have you all to myself now.”
“Do you?” Gabe’s voice is thick and gravelly as he pokes his finger at my ribs, making me squirm.
“Yep. I think it’s time for us to face facts. You’re stuck with me.”
He chuckles and leans his head against mine. “There’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with, Freckles.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lo
Two months later
Iwalk through the doors of The Family Business just as Gabe is settling the register.
“Happy birthday! I brought cake and all your favorite liquors.” I offer my cheek. He gives me a quick peck and peers inside the box I set on the counter.
“See? There’s a reason I left you in charge of the birthday celebrations and not Mace.”
“Hey, fuck you,” Mace says in his Aussie accent and salutes the birthday boy with his middle finger. “She bought booze and cake. I coulda done better than that. Open a few tinnies, throw a couple sangers on the barbie, Bob’s your uncle.”
I lean my hand on my elbow and smile at Mace like he’s an adorable puppy, a hot, adorable puppy covered in tattoos ... who swears a lot. “I just love it when his inner Aussie comes out. I have a question though, I thought you putshrimpon the barbie?”
“Do not encourage him, Lo,” Gabe warns. “For the love of god, he’ll let the pretense drop completely and we’ll all be talking like Crocodile Dundee.”
“Oh fuck off, cunt features. No one actually talks like Crocodile Dundee, and we don’t put shrimp on the bloody barbie. It’s prawns, alright?”
I laugh and glance at Gabe. “He’s like an angry little koala bear.”
“They’re not a fucking bear. They’re a marsupial”—he throws his hands in the air and heads to the back of the parlor— “I don’t even know why I’m talking to you idiots.”
Gabe chuckles and scrubs a hand over his face. “Jesus. Is it wrong that all I want is to go upstairs to bed?”
“Yes. It’s very wrong. Everyone will be here in an hour to celebrate your birthday. You can’t bail on your own party.”
“Why do I feel so goddamn old?”
“Shut up. If you’re old I’m old. And I am not old.”
“I don’t know,” Gabe points to my face. “I think I see a few crow’s feet there.”
My jaw drops open and Gabe chuckles. I punch him in the arm. “Birthday or not, I will hurt you for saying shit like that. I am twenty-seven. I do not have crow’s feet. It’s you who is practically ancient.”
“Ifeelancient. But hey, if you hurt me, do I get out of this damn party?”