Page 38 of Bad at Love

“I don’t know what happened, but just breathe, okay? Breathe. You’re fine. You’re home. You’re safe.”

He blinks curiously at me, as if he can’t decide what I am or who I am or why I’m in his room or why I’m touching him. His grey eyes dart to my lips, and my dick twitches. Weird, but okay.

“Safe…” he murmurs, eyes coming back up to meet mine.

“Yeah, you’re home,” I say softly, brushing my thumb along his cheek.

His eyes narrow so slightly that I wouldn’t notice I weren’t so close. Which is what makes me realize how close we actually are. Chests pressed together.Cockspressed together. My hands are still on his face, and I just now realize his are gripping onto my sides for dear life. Like maybe he’s very aware I’m holding him and he doesn’t want me to go.

“Safe,” he repeats, eyes going to my lips again. Then he does the craziest thing ever. He fucking kisses me.

Every muscle in my body freezes. His lips are so soft, so warm. More so than I imagined, because I have thought of them—often.

It isn’t a passionate kiss. It’s very basic. Very innocent. Just a press of his lips against mine. Still, I don’t kiss him back. I just stand here, hands still on his face. I should push him away or kiss him back or dosomething, but I don’t—I can’t. And I really don’t know why.

One second passes. Two, three, four, five…

Gabe’s eyes pop open, wide and terrified. He jerks away, hand going to his mouth. He steps back so far he slams into the wall.

“Oh my god,” he mutters.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I say, finally getting my mind back. I take a step toward him, holding my hands up like he’s a scared animal about to run away.

“What—I—” His eyes widen even more, and then he runs out of the room and hurries down the stairs and out of the house. His car is already backing down the driveway when I get outside.

Chapter Seventeen

Gabriel

I’ve never driven so fast in my entire life. I break at least five different laws, putting myself and others in a ridiculous amount of danger. That isn’t my concern, though. The only concern I have is getting to my destination.

I pull into the driveway, parking behind the large black SUV, and run up the front steps and knock on the door frantically.

“Gabriel, what’s wrong?” Luiz asks once the door is pulled open and he lays eyes on me.

“Marta. Is Marta here? Please tell me she’s here.” I’m panting, and unsure what I’m saying makes sense.

“Come in,” he says, moving aside before calling over his shoulder for his wife.

I run a shaky hand through my hair as I pace the front foyer, waiting for her to show.

“Gabriel?” There’s so much concern in her voice as she walks over. “What’s going on?”

My heart is pounding so hard, my hand on my chest trying to will it to calm down. No matter what I do, it only pounds harder. I could be having a heart attack right now. I think I am. My chest is tight, and it hurts.

“Honey, can you get him some water, please?” she asks as she walks me into their living room and helps me sit on the couch. I lean back, closing my eyes and sucking in air because no matter how hard I breathe, I’m not getting enough. I’m going to pass out, I just know it.

“Go back to bed. It’s just Gabriel. He isn’t feeling well,” her husband says, likely to the kids.

“He’s fine!” Marta calls. “Go back to bed.”

She runs her hands up and down my arms, and though I know that, I hardly feel it. My body is numb, my brain a mess.

“Here you go,” Luiz says, causing me to open my eyes. He hands me a bottle of water. I take it and press it to my forehead, the cold shocking my system enough that I can take a full breath and actually feel it.

“Take a sip,” Marta says. “Just a little.”

I hold the bottle to my cheek before pulling it away and taking a sip. When I close it, I bring it right back to my face. The couch dips beside me and someone is running their hand along my arm. I’m assuming it’s still Marta because it’s soft, and this isn’t quite Luiz’s thing. Though, it isn’t really Marta’s either.

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