Page 44 of Gabriel's Salvation

“No thanks to you,” I say, pushing him. Gabe stumbles back, losing his balance and falling into the wall.

“For fuck's sake Gabe, how much have you had to drink?” I ask, helping him to his feet.

“Get off me,” he slaps my hands away as he steadies himself before storming back outside. Lighting a cigarette he slumps down on the grass.

Heading over to join him I sit down. “What happened tonight, Gabe?” I ask, this time much calmer than before.

“Nothing!” he snaps. “Well something happened because Riley called me crying, begging me to come and save her,” I reply. I mean that's not exactly true, she called Harper, who just so happened to be with me and Bella. But he doesn't need to know that yet.

“And why the fuck did she call you?” he slurs. “What gives you the right to rescue my girl?”

“Your girl? Really Gabe? That's not how you should treat any girl, let alone ‘your’ girl,” I reply, feeling the anger bubbling back up to the surface.

“What would you know? You’re a fucking virgin; you’ve never even had a girl,” Gabe snaps back, voice laced with venom.

“Just because I haven't had sex with anyone doesn't mean I don't know what it means to devote myself to someone.”

“Oh yeah I forgot, Princess fucking Isabella.” I hate the way he says her name like it's some sort of joke to him.

“Yeah, and I've been much more loyal and devoted to her than you could ever be. I'd never make her cry, I'd never hurt her the way you did Riley tonight. Riley’s a good girl, she deserves a good guy…” I say before Gabe interrupts.

“And you don't think I know that? You don't think I feel guilty about taking her virginity?” he snaps. “You think I don't realize that's supposed to be something special? Everything would have been fine if it wasn't for that whore, Kelly.”

“Kelly? The girl from the other week. The one we went to dinner with? I thought you said she didn't mean anything to you? Wasn't she just a friend?'' I ask, feeling confused wondering where she fits into this whole thing.

“Friends isn’t really the word I'd use,” he admits. “More like an easy lay I call when I’m horny and desperate.” He must see my face screw up in disgust because he adds, “It works for us both. Neither of us cares for the other - we fuck each other, and we fuck other people. It works.”

“If you say so,” I shrug, not really wanting to hear anymore.

“How was I supposed to know she’d go and tell Riley?” Gabe questions.

“Tell Riley what?” I ask, feeling more confused by the minute.

“That I fucked her and her friend just last night,” he says matter of factly.

“Wait, you had sex with Kelly? And her friend? Both of them? Last Night? Then you went on a date and slept with Riley tonight?” I gasp.

“Yes, fucking hell Nate, keep up,” he huffs, rolling his eyes at me like I’m the problem. “Me and Kelly are… friends with benefits shall we say. We meet up for sex when we feel like it. Last night she invited me out and we went back to her place for a threesome…”

“You're disgusting!” I spit, feeling genuinely disgusted to be his brother at this moment.

“Oh grow the fuck up Nate. As I was saying, I had fun with Kelly and her friend last night. Came home. Then I met Riley, although I thought her name was Stacey at that point, I assumed it would be just sex again but it kind of evolved.

“Evolved?” I ask, confused by his sudden vagueness.

“I don't fucking know what you call it. We met up, had fun, talked, shared shit, laughed…”

“So you went on a date,” I clarify.

“Whatever, we went on a date.” Gabe rolls his eyes, using air quotes like the word ‘date’ is completely made up.

“Yeah, then we fucked. Well we didn’t really fuck, well I guess we technically did. But we didn’t just fuck I guess…” Gabe mumbles as he takes out another cigarette and begins smoking it. “...Yeah, we did that, then I tried to be nice to her - like care for her and shit.”

“Gabe, how many people have you slept with?” I question, not really wanting to know the answer. But wanting to confirm my suspicion.

“What like this week or this year?” he asks, sounding confused.

“Okay, how about this, how many people have you dated?” I ask, taking a deep breath.

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