Page 73 of Tangled with the Tight End

“I know, but I don’t intend to need it.”

Once I hang up, I make another call.

thirty-nine

NORAH

The night skydarkens the living room as I aimlessly putter through the house. It’s hard to believe that last night, Gabriel and I went to bed happy and sated. Only to wake up to whirling chaos.

I rotate my shoulders and neck. Eden was right. Gabriel had filed for divorce. He was adamant they weren’t getting back together again. And Sloane validated the divorce was pending. I wasn’t some homewrecker who intentionally set out to split them up.

If he’d have still been in a relationship with her, I wouldn’t have looked at him twice. Okay, maybe I would’ve looked, he’s a gorgeous man, but that would’ve been where it ended. Gabriel isn’t a cheater and I’m not a cleat chasing ski bunny. My teeth grind together as I spin on my heel and stomp to the kitchen.

Then, why hasn’t he called?

My stomach rolls. What if she convinced him to take her back? What if he’s taken her back to give Gino the two-parent home he deserves? An aching hollow pit fills my chest. I left his bed thirteen hours ago, and nothing. Nothing.

I yank open the refrigerator door and stare at the contents. Like my non-ringing phone, the interior of my refrigerator is barren of prepared food, and I’m too exhausted to cook.

After a good cry, I’d gone to work, only to find Marco camped out on the front step. He’d taken Angelo to the sitter and was ready to talk business. What business? It’s not like I needed him if Gabriel ends things between us.

I slam the doors shut, causing the ketchup bottle to tip over and block the door from securing. Once I straighten the container, I re-shut the door with less force. Just as I suspected, I will grow old–bitter and alone.

No. I stop in the middle of the room and slap my hands on my hips. I won’t be bitter. Life is too short to pout and feel sorry for myself. I fell in love with him and with Gino. I should be glad I met them. And if they belong with Sloane then that’s what’s supposed to happen. I’ll survive. Somehow, I’ll keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep going.

The doorbell rings, and I jump, letting out a soft shriek. I march to the front entrance with my head held high. If he’s breaking things off with me, I’ll survive. I open the door to find him leaning against the door jamb. The dark circles under his eyes make me want to stroke his face and reassure him that everything will be all right. But I don’t know what alright is.

He arches an eyebrow. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” I nod and step aside, letting him through.

I swipe my hands on my leggings. Now what? He shifts his stance uneasily as if he’s waiting for me to speak first.

Seconds pass, and he licks his lips. “I need to apologize for this morning.” His eyes bounce to mine. “Everything Sloane said was uncalled for, and none was true.” He steps forward and clutches my upper arms. “You aren’t a homewrecker or easy or a cleat chaser.”

My teeth grind together as the memory of her attack weighs heavily on my mind. “A cleat chasing ski bunny.”

“Right.” His gaze darts from mine as he steps back, dropping his arms to his sides. “I understand if you can’t forgive me for her insults and especially for her walking in on us like that. I know it had to have been embarrassing and insulting.”

“Yes.” I nod as I cross my arms over my chest. “It was. It was embarrassing and humiliating. I’ve never even kissed a guy that was dating someone else. Let alone had sex with a married man. She knew where to hit.”

He glances at me with sorrow-filled eyes. “The last thing I wanted was for you to feel….” He rubs his hand over his face. “Cheap or trashy.”

The sorrow in his eyes makes my chest hurt. “I know that. I didn’t say you wanted it.” I swallow hard. “But I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it, and it’s not true. You and Sloane were no longer together. At least not at the time…” I swallow harder and raise my hand as he opens his mouth. “And you’d filed for divorce. She was living with someone else and having your son watched by a nanny because the guy didn’t want kids.”

Gabriel rakes a hand through his hair, leaving the strands standing on end. “Finn, the guy she was living with has gotten another girl pregnant, so that might not have been entirely true.”

“That’s unfortunate for her.” I inhale and straighten my back. “I’m not going to own those labels because they aren’t true.”

One corner of his mouth rises. “Good. You don’t deserve any of it.” He walks toward me and cups my face. “I’ll always feel guilty for putting you through that.”

“You didn’t.” I lean into his touch, aching for everything to return to the way it was, but too afraid to hope for it.

His thumb strokes my bottom lip. “Norah, I love you, and that’s not going to change. Nothing about what I said before this morning changes. I still want you in my life, which will remain aconstant.” My bottom lip trembles as he says, “I’m sorry I didn’t come any sooner to see you. I had to get rid of her and talk to my attorney. And then Gino got up and kept me busy between other phone calls.”

“Okay.” My heart surges back to life.

“That’s it?” He arches his eyebrows and studies me. “Okay?”

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