Page 53 of Forever Mine

“You have a mountain cabin?” Emily asks, intrigued.

“Yeah. It’s not much. Just an open space with a couch, bed, bathroom, and kitchen. I like being outdoors. I hike and fish mostly.”

“I never knew that about you,” Monica says quietly.

“I told the office about it. I think it was the meeting you missed because you were avoiding me,” I say bluntly with a smirk. Monica’s head dips as her cheeks pink adorably with embarrassment.

“Oh, yeah. I guess that makes sense,” Monica mumbles. Emily looks between the two of us and gives me a wide smile.

“Okay! I need to get back to the house. You ready, Mon?” she asks, and Monica nods. “It was really nice meeting you, Gabriel. Offer still stands in case your plans change for Sunday dinner.”

“Thanks, Emily. It was nice to meet you as well,” I tell her. Emily takes the first box to the car, shoves it in the trunk, then climbs into the driver’s seat. Monica hesitates before looking up at me.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, Gabriel,” she says softly. “I just don’t know how to repay you for your kindness and generosity.”

I don’t hesitate to respond. “Come back to me,querida. Take your time to process things, and then come back to me. Be with me. Trust your heart.”

Her eyes fill with tears as she reaches up to grasp my neck, stands on her tiptoes, and places the softest of kisses against my lips. It’s the most exquisite and poignant kiss of my life. I know in that moment without a shadow of a doubt that Monica is meant to be mine forever. I almost blurt out that I love her but bite my tongue instead.

“Dream of me,querida,” I whisper against her lips.

“I will, Gabriel,” she replies as her hand cups my cheek for a moment. And then she’s gone.

I watch the car pull out of my driveway. Watch until the taillights are long gone. It’s like watching your future slide out of your grasp, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

I close my front door and collapse on the couch in frustration and misery. I thought I finally had her. Had myanjinho. My angel. I just have to pray she finds her way back to me.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Monica

I underestimated how noisy Em’s house was. Like, seriously underestimated. Twin preschoolers, a toddler, and a ten-year-old make a ridiculous amount of noise. Sounds like a herd of elephants traipsing through the desert most of the time.

My theory of working from their house? Not the best idea.

Also, my best friend, my person, the sweetest girl I know? She’s at the end of her pregnancy, and she’s justmean. She must give one hell of a blow job because I don’t know how Nathan puts up with her. Em doesn’t talk. She just growls now. In normal circumstances, I’d find this comical. But right now, I’m overwhelmed, exhausted, sexually frustrated, and so fucking confused I don’t know which way is up anymore. So Em is just pissing me off.

I’ve been staying in their basement and trying to avoid everyone as much as possible. Thank goodness for noise-canceling headphones, or I’d lose my damn mind. I love those kids, but damn. They’re a lot.

It’s been a few weeks since Em picked me up from Gabriel’s condo, and I haven’t spoken to him since. I’d like to say the distance has given me clarity, but it’s just made me even more confused. It hasn’t helped that Marcus has been calling and texting me nonstop. Em keeps telling me to block him, but I can’t seem to do it.

My mind tells me to block Marcus. Be single. Take some time away from men. But my heart … man, my heart is screaming at me to be with Gabriel. Then my vagina gets involved in the argument and demands some dick. I am the ultimate definition of a hot mess right now.

I’m a bundle of nerves when I head into the office for the first time since leaving Gabriel’s house. I held off as long as I could, but I have so much paperwork I need to file and a bunch of things I need to pick up. I decide to sneak in during lunch, hoping Gabriel is out somewhere.

As soon as I see his car, my heart skips a beat.Go to him, it screams.Go.

As I quietly walk into the office, Gabriel rounds the corner from the kitchen and stops dead in his tracks as he makes eye contact.

“Monica,” he says quietly. “I didn’t realize you were coming in today. How are you?”

When I realize he called me Monica instead ofquerida, I’m hurt. Has he already given up on me? Are we done before we even begin?

“Uh, I’m okay, I guess,” I stammer.

“Can I see you in my office for a moment?” he says abruptly and turns to head to his office without waiting for an answer. I follow him, unsure and anxious about his attitude toward me. As I walk into his office, he stands at the door. I get a whiff of his cologne as he closes the door before he sweeps me into his arms and buries his head against my shoulder. “I’ve missed you so fucking much,querida.”

Tears fill my eyes as I hug him back. God, this feels so good. So right. I’ve never felt this way before.

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