What the hell had she done? And why wasn’t she running to his room to try and fix it before it got worse?
Two days later, Max was in Boston and she was berating herself for being an idiot. As was Ava when Gabi finally told her what had happened. Max had left the house before anyone had gotten up the morning after their fight, so Ava hadn’t been able to question him.
Ava was currently outside with the kids while Gabi was feeling sorry for herself with a scoop of peanut butter cup ice cream at eleven in the morning.
“Figure your shit out,” had been Ava’s murmured parting words before she’d ushered the kids into the backyard.
Gabi’s phone buzzed as she took another bite of ice cream. She swiped on her phone without looking at it.
“Yes,” she said, her voice muffled around the sweet treat.
“Gabi, are you okay?” her mother asked. “You sound weird.”
She never should’ve answered her phone.
“I’m fine,” she said.
“You don’t sound fine. Did you break up with Max? He broke your heart, didn’t he?”
“Actually, I ended it, I think,” she said. “Is that why you called?”
“What? Of course not, but it’s probably for the best. Flings never last. So are you coming home soon?”
“It wasn’t a fling. It was love,” Gabi said.
“Oh pshh, you’re better off without him. Did you want to be fodder for gossip sites? You’re better than that.”
“Really, Mom. This is your pep talk? My heart was broken because I broke it. I let you get in my head and that’s my own fault. Max is amazing and caring and loving and the best guy for me. We fit and I’m tired of you telling me that it is a mistake.”
“Gabriella. How can you talk to me like that?”
“Because you weren’t listening to me and I’ve spent too long listening to your advice about my life and dating and I let it get to me.”
“It’s because I love you. I don’t want you to settle or give up on your potential,” her mother said.
“It always goes back to that. I’m glad that you love your job and being in a position of power in a male-dominated field is important to you, but I’m not you. I love working with kids. I love making sure they know they are loved.”
Her mother gasped. “I always have and always will love you, Gabi. You know that.”
“I know, Mom, but we are two different people. What you want works for you, but I have my own wants and needs. Being a nanny and working with kids is what I need. Being with Max is what I want and need, and I’m an idiot for not figuring that out sooner.”
“I don’t want you to have any regrets, Gabi,” her mother said.
“If I can fix this, then I won’t,” Gabi said.
She had to hope that Max would believe her when she told him she was all in. This time she meant it.