Page 74 of Beast: Part Two

“Gabriel is…” I shake my head as I try to think of the right words. “He’s incredible.”

“Awww,” Malia says wrapping an arm around me. “I’m so glad you two worked it out and got back together.”

I wipe at the tear that fell from my eye. “Me too. I guess that dress really paid off.”

Malia laughs stepping back from our hug.

“What paid off?” Albany asks as she and Ari enter the kitchen.

“Summer and Leatherface got back together.”

I roll my eyes at Brooklyn’s joke.

“That’s great, Summer,” Albany says taking a seat at the island.

“I agree,” Ari says, skipping over to me. “When Many and I heard you two last night, I thought he was killing you. Glad I didn’t charge into the room like I wanted to.”

Once again, my face heats up.

“Let me get this straight,” Brooklyn asks. “You thought you were overhearing a murder, and you didn’t go in the room to check?”

Ari shrugs. “I figured if he was killing her, he’d have no issues killing me. So, we just waited it out until the morning.” She turns and walks over to the kitchen table.

Brooklyn shakes her head. Malia just watches her with her mouth open. Oddly enough, I understood her.

We all get caught up in the next couple of minutes talking about our men. I learned some interesting things about the guys. As soon as Malia and I pop the pizzas in the oven, the guys all walk into the kitchen.

Hawk comes in first.

“Hey babe,” Brooklyn greets him as soon as he enters. He walks over to her, wraps his arm around her waist and rubs her belly.

Many comes in next. He lifts Ari out of her seat and spins her around. Seth and Zel walk in together. Zel goes over to the fridge. Seth plants his face in Malia’s neck. She giggles as he embraces her from the back.

“How did it go?” Albany asks as soon as Priest and Gabriel enter.

I keep my eyes on him. The moment his green gaze lands on me, I get a flashback from last night. I clench my thighs together at the memory.

“It was good,” Priest says, bringing me out of my naughty thoughts. “It went better than expected.” He drops a kiss on Fem’s forehead before leaning on the back of her chair.

I look around the room and notice all the couples hugged up together. It’s then that it dawns on me that Gabriel is still in the doorway.

I look over at him and pause. My stomach drops to my feet. That look is back. The same one he had when he walked into my bedroom the morning I woke up and told me we couldn’t be together.

The burning in my throat starts. I’m such an idiot. I thought last night meant something, but I should’ve known. No matter how much he loves me, he’s too stubborn to see we should be together.

Everyone around me is talking and laughing, but I can’t make out anything they are saying. It feels as if I’m caught in a vortex, lost in the depths of his emotionless eyes.

Gabriel turns and walks back out of the kitchen without saying a word to me. Pushing away from the counter, I follow behind him, needing to talk to him. I just needed to remind him of what we shared. I step out into the hallway. He’s there talking to Alicia. The tall girl from D.O.E.

She says something that makes him smile. A sharp pain hits my chest and my eyes blur. Alicia turns around and walks back into the dining room. Gabriel turns to me as if he knew I was there all along. We lock eyes right before he follows her into the dining room.

I stand there for a second, processing what I’ve just witnessed. My eyes sting as they blur with tears. Before anyone can walk out and ask me if I’m okay, I rush into my borrowed room and shut the door. Leaning my back against the barrier, I allow the heartbreak to run its course.

chapter Nineteen

D. Katz

Beast

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