Page 43 of A Night to Remember

“No—”

“Someone in my family?”

I don’t want to lie again. But I also don’t want to start a fight. My hesitation is all the confirmation Gabe needs, however.

“You don’t have to tell me,” he says with a sigh. A muscle works in his jaw as he looks through the window at the black water. “I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not. My family only understands people in terms of their net worth.” He turns back to me and looks me in the eye. “You listen to me,” he says in his authoritative voice, now grasping my hand in both of his. “I am not the catch here.Youare the catch. You are the smartest, funniest, most beautiful woman I know, and anyone who can’t see that is an idiot.”

He says it like it’s a simple statement of fact, but it is the nicest compliment I have ever received. I open my mouth to reply, but no words come. I feel like I might cry.

Gabe is seemingly oblivious to the effect of his words. “If I could just pass the bar,” he continues, looking back out the window, “then I would have more job opportunities and I wouldn’t have to depend on my parents anymore.”

“I can help,” I blurt out. I feel a sudden, desperate urge to do something for him after all the kindness he has bestowed on me. I can’t believe I was ever suspicious of him. He looks at me expectantly. “I can help you pass the bar,” I clarify. “I’m really good at tests. I got a 1550 on my SAT.”

His jaw drops. “Youdid? Johnson, with a score like that, you could have gone toDartmouth. What on earth made you decide to go to Benton State?”

I bristle. “Benton State’s a good school. And it was close to home.”

“Sorry, yes, I get that,” he says, sheepish. “I coulddefinitelyuse your help studying for the bar. Plus, it would give me a chance to hang out with you more, now that you don’t need my legal advice.”

“I would still love your help with refinancing?—”

He shakes his head. “That’s more a matter of collecting the necessary documents. Have you scheduled the foreclosure mediation?”

“February 8th, at the courthouse.”

“Do you have someone who can go with you, besides your mom? Like a friend or family member who’s a homeowner?” he asks.

“My boss at the café owns the restaurant and her house.”

He nods slowly. “Perfect. Plus she’s a pillar of the community. Everybody loves that restaurant.” He looks at me alittle apologetically. “You know, it’s not thatIdon’t want to go with you, but Adam –”

“I understand,” I reply quickly. The last thing I want is to be in the same room with Gabe and Adam.

21

Gabe

As we climb backinto the Navigator after dinner, Kayla is quiet again. There seems to be a lot on her mind, but I am unbelievably glad she agreed to come out. She looks so lovely tonight that she takes my breath away. She’d combed out her long brown hair so that it flows, sleek and smooth, over her shoulders and almost down to her breasts. Her sweater looks touchably soft and her full lips shine as if she actually put on make-up, not that she needs it. I meant it when I said she was the most beautiful woman I know.

I break the silence first. “Do you want me to take you home, or…”

She doesn’t respond right away. Then, after a beat, she bursts out, “When you said you wanted to hang out with me more, did you mean… I mean, I want to hang out with you too, but I want us to be on the same page. Neither of us is likely to be in Kentwood for long?—”

“I know?—”

“—and I just don’t know what I can commit to. I really need to get my life back on track. You know my dad left my mom when I was little. I just can’t—I don’t want to—Ican’tdepend on someone like that, because I know where it leads.” She stares at her hands.

“I don’t think things have to turn out that way,” I reply softly. She throws her hands in the air in a kind of quiet exasperation and turns to look out the window, away from me.

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she all but whispers. Then she glances back in my direction, apologetic. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounds. I had fun at dinner.”

“Me too.”

“And I’d be happy to keep hanging out, but…”

“Can’t we just take some time to get to know each other? Enjoy each other’s company? Do you really need a road map?”

She smiles a little ruefully. “I’m the kind of person who really likes a good road map.”

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