Page 10 of Claiming What Is Mine

Hesitantly, she takes the bottle. “What are we, seven years old? You first.”

“Fine. But you won’t believe me.” Maybe I’m too drunk for rational thought, but this feels like a cards on the table kind of moment. I have fantasized about seeing her again. Dreamt about having the opportunity to apologize and, in turn, feared I might not be strong enough to tell her the truth she deserves to hear. Right now, If I don’t take this opportunity to be completely honest with her, why should I ever expect to get another one? “It’s because of you.”

Meredith scoffs. Her back stiffens and the look on her face suggests she is offended by the accusation. “Your philandering is my fault?”

“No, not your fault. Not at all. And…I mean, for the record, I wouldn’t call it philandering.”

She relaxes slightly. “Okay then, what would you call it? Exactly?”

“I’m a flirt. Always have been. You know that.”

Meredith raises her brow. “From what I’ve heard, you do more than flirt.”

“Okay then. I’m a lover of women. Wait. Correction. I was a lover of women. But we’re getting off track. My point is…that’s all in the past.”

“And why is that?”

“Glad you asshked.” Careful cowboy, steady as she goes. “I’ve been doing a lot of soul searching. I mean, look at Chet over there. He’s got a damn smile on his face you couldn’t wipe off with paint stripper and a putty knife. Seeing him find happiness—real, true, happiness—it made me look at my life. And I’ve realized there was a void. But it had been there so long, I lost sight of it. I’d forgotten it was even there and thought it was just how I was built.” I take another pull from the bottle.

“Okay, so you have recently taken a step forward, finally moving into adulthood, however delayed it may be. I fail to see where I fit in?”

“Well. You know that void?”

“Yeah?” Meredith leans in.

“It’s in the shape of you.”

She sits back against the chair and crosses her arms. “Wow! That is a solid line. Even for you. I admit, you had me going for a minute.”

I drop the compress and look directly at her, desperate for her to see my sincerity. “That’s no line, Doll. You were the best thing that ever happened to me. Ever. I realize it was my stupid, bull-headedness that broke us. And I’ve regretted it every day since.” I offer her the bottle.

Meredith takes a long drink. “I don’t know how to take you right now, Gabriel.”

“I’ll settle for any way that keeps you here with me.”

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