Page 38 of Marry Your Best Friend

She sits up, and I swear she looks as if I just toldher I was moving to Spain or something. “I’m sorry, what?”

I nod. “Yeah, I pretty much convinced Gabe to have sex with me, and now everything is messed up.”

She pushes the hair off my face. “How is it messed up?”

“He was my best friend, and I’ve messed it all up. I threw it all away for one night of sex. I mean, don’t get me wrong. It was good. Like, really good. Oh my God, tell me to shut up.”

She doesn’t seem to understand. “But he’s still your best friend.”

I roll my eyes at her. “Cat, he’s not going to tell me no, and now it’s all weird and I’ve lost my best friend.”

She covers my hand with hers. “I think you’re the one making it weird because that man is so in love with you, anyone and everyone can see it.”

I point at the door that Gabe and Lainey just walked out of. “He was on a date—”

She cuts me off and practically blurts out, “He wasn’t on a date. You’re crazy.”

Malcolm comes over. “You ladies need anything?”

I shake my head. “I’m stuffed.”

Cat smiles. “Can we get some to-go boxes?”

“I’ll grab some and be right back.”

As soon as he’s gone, Cat reaches for me. “Gabe loves you.”

I sniff. “I wanted more… I thought we would be together, but the next day was weird, and I told him I didn’t want to be an obligation to him, but I didn’t know.” I suck in a breath. “I didn’t know it would feel like this to see him with another woman.”

Cat’s just shaking her head. “He’s not with another woman. He was with a work colleague. He said they were picking up food. It was not a date.”

I point a thumb at the door. “Did you see the way she was looking at him?”

She rolls her eyes. “No, because I was too busy watching the way he was looking at you. He loves you, Chrissy.”

“Here you go, ladies. Let me know if you need anything else. Cat, I put in some of the secret sauce Holden and Cole love.”

“You’re too good to us, Malcolm. Thank you, I’m sure they’re going to enjoy it, and I know I will because I won’t have to cook later.”

He nods and walks away. As soon as he goes, Cat leans toward me. “Listen to me. Gabriel Gray loves you. Don’t throw away your friendship andthe future I know you two can have because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared! Why does everyone think I’m scared? I’m not scared.”

She tilts her head at me. “Who else thinks you’re scared?”

“Gabe.”

“Right, well, honey, if there’s ever a man worthing fighting for, it’s one that loves you the way he does. You need to talk to him.”

I stand up and grab the bill off the table. Cat tries to take it from me, but I hold it out of reach. “No way, I got this. I owe you for the therapy session.”

“You never owe me. I just want you happy, sis.”

I put my hand over my chest. “Sis? I like that.”

I go up to the cashier to pay before I start crying again. I know Cat is right. I need to talk to Gabe and fix things. And I will as soon as I get the image of him and Lainey out of my head.

18

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