Page 45 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Dated? None. I don't date,” Gabe says incredulously.

“Gabe, '' I say quietly. "You met up with her and spent the whole evening chatting, laughing, and getting to know each other. Then you had sex. And don't even try to lie and tell me she's not the girl I've heard you talking to late at night. Tonight was definitely a date.”

“Wait, did she think that?” Gabe gasps as if the idea had never even occurred to him.

“Gabe, she came all the way to meet you from work. You did everything else we spoke about. And then had sex. She one hundred percent thought it was a date." I say, giving him a playful push. How can he be this clueless?

“Is that why she let me, you know?... She's a virgin like you, well, I guess she was before tonight,” he laughs while shaking his head in disbelief.

“Gabe, I'm not talking about that with you. She's my friend. Plus it's just no,'' I say, shuddering. When the fuck did I become the big brother in this family?

“Fine then, would YOU sleep with someone? Just a random person you weren't dating?” he asks, eyeing me up.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “And neither would most people.”

“Ooh,” he says, taking out his phone. “Should I call her? Or text maybe?”

“Maybe a text would be better since you're slurring your words,” I suggest while rolling my eyes. “But be nice, Gabe. Riley’s a good girl and she doesn't deserve to be hurt.” I gently remind him.

I watch him text then obviously delete and start again. “Arrgg! I don't know what to write,” he says finally.

“Just keep it short, apologize and explain,” I suggest.

“Fine, but I need to piss first.”

He heads inside, coming out a few minutes later with two opened beers.

“Here,” he says, offering one to me while taking a sip from the other.

“I don't drink, remember.”

“Oh shit, yeah. Weird. More for me then.”

He goes back to messaging while he drinks his beers. I text back and forth with Bella a few times, making arrangements for our date tomorrow. I'm interrupted by Gabe tapping me on the shoulder. “How's this?” he says, thrusting his phone into my face.

“Let's see,” I say, taking it from him to read.

-To Riley, Sorry I took your virginity then made you cry. Sorry I made you cum in the same bathroom I've made hundreds of girls cum before, but none of them meant anything. Kelly is just a whore I let suck my dick sometimes when I'm bored. She's a bitch; forget her. Let's meet up soon- Gabe.

I can't believe my eyes. Swinging out my hand, I attempt to punch him in the legs but instead I hit him right in the balls.

“You bastard!” he cries out as he drops down clutching his nuts. “What was that for?”

“Please, for the love of fucking Satan, tell me you didn’t actually send that?!'' I snap.

“No,” he coughs. “I wanted to get you to read it first, why what's wrong with it?” Gabe looks over at me with confusion written all over his face.

“What's wrong with it? What's wrong with it, Gabe? Fucking everything!'' I say as I throw the phone at him and walk away. “She's better off without you if you honestly think that's acceptable,” I huff, throwing my hands in the air.

“Nate, wait. Wait!” he says as he runs over to me still clutching his balls.

“Help me. I think she might be special…. Well not special but different,” he fumbles, clearly embarrassed and seemingly out of his element.

“Special or different? Which one is it?” I say turning to look at what I can only describe as a puppy in the pound sort of look.

“I don't know,” he admits, looking down at the floor. “But I want more than just sex . . . I think,” he mumbles softly as he kicks up dirt.

“Fine,” I say, snatching the phone out of his hand.

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