Page 88 of Gabriel's Salvation

“No, Izzy's grandad drove us home.” I add.

“With the amount of time you're spending at their house I'm surprised they're not charging you rent yet,” she teases. I feel bad lying to her all the time, telling her I'm sleeping over at either Izzy’s or Ava’s when really I'm out with Gabe. But at the same time, it’s worth all the sneaking around, to get to be spending all my time with Gabe.

“I know,” I reply, unsure what else to say. “How about tomorrow I stay home, we can have a game night like we used to?” I offer feeling guilty.

“That sounds great, except that me and your father are out at another business dinner tomorrow. How about Monday though, we’ll pick you up from dance and we can all go to Nona’s. We haven’t been there in years and it used to be your favorite little italian restaurant. On the way back we will grab snacks and have either a movie or games night? Just the four of us?” I don't miss the excitable glint in my mother’s eye.

“That sounds perfect,” I reply.

“Can't wait!” Harper adds.

“Anyway, now I know you’re both home safe and sound, I’m off to bed,” my mother yawns, before reaching out and grabbing us both, placing a small kiss to our foreheads.

“Night mom, love you,” we both call as she turns to leave.

I make my way to our bedroom, throw on some pajamas, and curl up in bed. I fall asleep pretty much as soon as my head hits the pillow.

By the time I wake up the next morning, or should I say afternoon since it's almost twelve o'clock, Harper has already left.

“Mom? Dad?” I call out as I head towards the kitchen to pour myself a very strong cup of coffee.

When no one answers me the third time I call, I decide it's safe to assume everyone has gone about their day without me. I've always been the odd one out when it comes to sleep. Harper and both my parents have always been the type to wake up bright and early and be ready to start their day a few minutes later, me on the other hand, could sleep for eighteen hours straight and still be tired, and even when I do wake up, it takes thirty minutes and two cups of coffee before I even partly resemble a human.

Even as a baby, I was grumpy. My parents used to joke that I was part sloth. That and the fact that I didn't bother learning to crawl till I was almost one, preferring to be carried everywhere. Not like Harper who was the queen of the bum shuffle.

Grabbing my coffee and rummaging in the fridge for some snacks, I make my way back to my room ready to spend the last few hours of my weekend with my favorite vampires.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Gabe

“Iswear the clock is moving backward.” Nate complains as we load yet another bag of bricks onto the back of the van.

“Fucking tell me about it,” I groan as I use the bottom of my t-shirt to wipe away the sweat from my forehead. “Two more hours and counting.”

“Technically…” Nate replies looking down at his watch, “... it’s only one hundred and thirteen minutes.”

I playfully slap him around the back of the head.

“What?” he laughs. “I'm counting down the minutes. I'm taking Bella on a hot date tonight, so the sooner I get home the better,” he laughs as he rubs the back of his head.

“Again?” I question as I think about the fact I've not seen Riley since last weekend. “Didn't the two of you go out just a few days ago?

“That wasn't a date,” he laughs, shaking his head at me like I'm a complete idiot. “We literally met up at the library to study.”

That's the same thing, isn't it? They went to the same place and spent time together. What makes that any different from when they meet for shitty walks in the woods?

“Wait, you do know what a proper date is, right?” Nate questions as he stops what he's doing and leans against the van.

“Yeah, of course,” I lie.

“You sure, dude? You have that same confused look on your face, as I have a calculus problem I have to work out.”

Shit, am I that obvious?

“Oh fuck off and get back to work,” I snap as I turn away and go back to what I was doing.

Me and Nate don't really say much for the rest of the shift, as we’re both racing to complete everything on time so we can start our weekend. Before long, it's time to finish and head home. I went in to work with Nate this morning, seeing no point in us both driving the two hours to get here and then doing it again on the way home when we obviously live together.

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