Page 121 of Bad at Love

“I love that for you both,” she says with a loving smile. “Truly, I am so happy for you both. Gabriel, you deserve happiness and I’m so glad you finally found it.”

“Thanks to you,” I say with a small laugh.

“Maybe I gave you the push, but this is all you, honey. You did this.”

I smile at her, unable to stop it. I am going to miss spending time with her at work. She’s my only friend outside of Storm, and even though we won’t work together anymore, I won’t forget that. We will stay in touch. I’ll make sure of it.

“How have things been with your family?” she asks.

"I've decided not to speak to them."

Marta's brows shoot up. “How are you doing with that?”

“Better than I thought I would. It helps that I have Storm and you. Each day that passes, I realize they're toxic and not the kind of people I want in my life. If one day, they choose to accept me for who I am, maybe I'll give them a chance. Until then…” I shrug, giving her a smile and she returns it, reaching across the table to take my hand.

“You will always have me as a friend, Gabriel. My family is your family. It always has been.”

Dinner is wonderful, and the rain has turned to sleet once it’s time to leave. We hug them goodbye and promise to text each other once we make it home. Marta prays she doesn’t get called into the hospital tonight. She isn’t on call, but when the weather is bad enough, everyone gets called in because there’s usually an increase in accidents.

Storm and I get a ride share home, and we make it there safely. I text Marta that we’re home, and she tells me her and Luiz justpulled into their driveway. We say good night, and then Storm and I head inside the house.

“So, what do you think?” I ask as I lock the door.

“She’s great,” Storm says with a grin.

“She can be a lot.”

Storm rolls his eyes. “You say that about everyone.”

I chuckle. He’s right. I do. Walking to him, I pull him into a hug.

“You make me so happy, you know that?” I ask softly.

He nods against my shoulder before pulling back to look at me. “You make me happy too, Gabriel. I love you.”

I lean in to kiss him, resting my forehead against his. “I love you too. Now, can you please make me come before we go to bed?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he says, grinding against me.

We head up to my room, the room we now share, and he does exactly as I ask. Who knew having a roommate could turn out so good?

Epilogue

Gabriel

One year later…

“I need you to be sure,” Storm says, holding my face and looking into my eyes.

“I am sure.”

“This is a big deal. Something that could affect us for the rest of our lives.”

“I know that, Storm. We’ve already talked about it, and I’ve thought about it plenty. I want to do this.”

“You want to do this?”

He grins, leaning in to give me a kiss.

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