“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Tommy says what I’m sure we’re all thinking, and I kind of love him for that. “They weren’t fucking. They were sitting side by side and watching a movie with the rest of us.”
“With a blanket over their laps! Fuck you, Tommy. Why are you even commenting on our relationship?”
“Well, I guess that’s the end of our night,” Santa says.
“Yep.” Logan grabs his beer and stands.
Mace watches on as if this is more entertainment than he’s seen in a long time. He doesn’t bother to even feign disinterest or embarrassment when his eyes finally meet mine.
“I’m going to bed.” I set the popcorn on the coffee table and stand, kicking off the blanket in question.
“Oh, sure.” Annie scoffs. “Make a mess of my relationship and walk away after you’ve burned everything down.”
My blood boils. I’ve put up with a lot of bullshit from her since I first formed a friendship with Gabe, but this is the final straw. I shove past Gabe’s protective shoulder and stand in front of her. She’s much taller than I am, and I probably look like a gnat confronting a giraffe, but I don’t give a shit. I’ve had enough of Annie and her psychotic breakdowns. “The only one making a mess of your relationship is you, Annie. You, with your distrust, your insecurities, and the way you treat Gabe like shit.”
Her eyes narrow as she folds her arms across her chest. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
“I’m his goddamn best friend. I’m the one who deals with the fallout when your insecurities have robbed him of all the joy inhis life. I’m the one who’ll be there for him when he finally gets tired of your crazy bullshit. That’s who the hell IknowI am.”
“Lo. That’s enough,” Gabe warns.
I throw my arms up and turn on him, finally letting him see how it tears me up inside that he continues to stand by her, to come to her defense, when I’m the one who continually puts everything on the line for him. His gaze is racked with guilt, but it’s all too much. I can’t do this anymore. Not tonight. “I’m going to bed.”
I storm off, snagging a couple of beers from the kitchen as I make my way up to my room. Gabe doesn’t come after me, and I don’t know if it’s because he’s just doing damage control and attempting to smooth things over with Annie, or if it’s because he’s finally giving her a breakup speech that’s long overdue. I was an idiot to get my hopes up. I was a fool to kiss him back, and to see more here than there really is.
A few moments later, the heavy thud of feet on the stairs and doors closing down the hall set my teeth on edge. That hell beast has driven all of us away, and no doubt, Gabe is having to talk her down from the fucking ledge because that’s her favorite brand of manipulation. A meaty fist knocks on my door, and I wipe away my tears of frustration and say, “Come in.”
I’m sure my disappointment is written all over my face when Santa pokes his head around the heavy maple. “Just me. I know I’m not who you wanted to see, but ... can I come in?”
“Yeah, of course.” I scrub at my tired face, unfazed that with my mascara running I’m giving a great impersonation of a panda bear.
“Ah, baby girl.” Santa gives me a pitying smile.
I shake my head. “It’s fine. I’m okay. I’m good.”
He walks across the room and snags one of the beers I placed on the dresser. He angles it against the rough-hewn wood and flips off the top before handing it to me.
I take it from him with a sad smile. “Thanks.”
Santa does the same with the second bottle but brings it to his lips.Beer-napping bastard. “You’re not fine, and neither is he.”
“We’re just friends, Santa.”
“You’re not friends. Friends don’t look at one another the way you two do.”
I roll my eyes. “God, what is it with you Family Business, guys? Tommy said the same thing on the drive up yesterday.”
“Because the only people who don’t see it are you two idiots.” He gives a humorless laugh. “Why do you think that harpy down there is raving right now? She can see it, just like we all do. You and Gabe aren’t friends, darlin’. You’re soul mates. And right now, your heart is tired of pretending.”
I set my beer down untouched and flop on the bed beside him. My chest hurts from holding in my tears. Right now, I want to sob. I want to wail and scream, and pitch a fucking Annie-sized fit, but I can’t, because these walls are so thin everyone would hear.
“I never meant to fall in love with him,” I whisper through my tears.
“I know, darlin’. I know.” Santa shifts on the bed beside me and pulls me into his huge body and something in me just snaps. I don’t know why I’m being such an idiot. Gabe could be breaking up with her right now. He told me he was done. He said it wasn’t fair to continue on with her when he felt something for me. He should have sent her away the second she arrived, but he didn’t and the pause in their fighting now causes my heart to sink.
I don’t know how long I cry into Santa’s chest, but the fact that I’m alone in my room with a single ex biker who could easily overpower me never even enters my head. Santa’s my friend—in actual fact, he’s the dad none of us ever had. And when hebrushes my hair back from my face and tells me I’m going to be okay, a part of me even believes it. The other half knows I’ll never be okay, because I’ll never get over my best friend, my soul mate.
CHAPTER NINETEEN