Page 43 of Loving Gabe

“Living it up?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

He shrugs in response.

“I have completed so many articles; I am months ahead, and Gabe is so busy with work. They have been busy since before Christmas and it will take a while for them to catch up,” I tell them.

“You’re bored,” my mom states, staring at me.

I shrug. “Maybe a little. I feel so out of place and like an after thought, but I don’t want to be that needy, clingy girlfriend. I don’t know what the balance is,” I tell them with a sigh.

“I’m sure if Gabe knew how you felt, he wouldn’t think you were clingy. He’s not a mind reader though; he’s only human,” my dad says.

“They are just so busy. Everything will get better once it dies down,” I tell them.

“Communication is important. Don’t forget that,” my mom says while waving a wooden spoon at me.

I let out a sigh. “I know mom. I’m just new at this whole thing. The guys I dated before weren’t exactly running successful companies.”

My dad lets out a laugh. “The men you dated before were boys. Every relationship is different. Don’t wait too long to talk to him,” he says, giving me a pointed look.

“I will talk to him,” I tell them. If he ever comes home early enough that is…

I visit with my parents for the rest of the day and end up in my old room taking a nap since I don’t feel like driving the whole way home.

I look at my phone and notice I don’t have any messages, so I just shut it off.

My mind wanders with thoughts about my relationship with Gabriel as I slowly fall asleep.

I know my parents are right. I need to tell Gabe how I feel, but I don’t want to be a nag. What if I tell him and he thinks I’m just being needy or clingy and breaks up with me? I don’t want to risk anything. I finally just got him. I can’t just throw in the towel because we have one bump in the road.

Everything will work out like it’s supposed to.

I have to believe that.

~

I wake up a couple hours later to my room filled with smoke. I immediately cough and roll off my bed to the ground.

Fuck. This isn’t good.

“Mom! Dad!” I shout through my coughs.

I hear sirens and shouts from outside, but they sound faint. With the sound of the fire burning, everything is very loud.

“Aubrey!” I hear shouted.

“Mom! Dad!” I try to scream, but my voice gets hoarse and I crawl towards my bedroom window.

I lift my arm up and feel the heat in the air, but the fire hasn’t made its way to my room yet so I still have time. I unlock my window and struggle to push it open.

My body feels weak as I struggle.

This can’t be how it ends. I never got to tell Gabe how much I love him; how much I always loved him.

“Please,” a soft cry escapes my lips as everything goes dark.

Gabe

My office door is thrown open.

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