Page 139 of Harrison's Wedding

“About you and Maddy,” she says quietly.

“How often do you have nightmares like this?”

“Every night,” she confesses.

I’m horrified to know that she’s been suffering like this every night since November. I wish so badly that I could take away her pain.

“Oh, angel…” I trail off because there are no words that will change what happened.

I pull her tight against me and kiss her. She’s the only woman I will ever love. I hate that she’s been tormented by what I did, but if I get the chance, I will spend the rest of our lives making it up to her.

22

The Final Hurdle

On Tuesday morning, Jesse and Michael drive us to Sebastian’s place to pick him up on the way to Reid Music to get my guitar.

He slides into the back of the black SUV and says, “I can’t wait to see this place. Gabriel was telling me all about it the other day.”

Damn. I should’ve thought to invite Gabriel, especially when Sebastian decided he wanted to come.

“Maybe I should’ve invited him to come as well?” I wonder aloud.

“He probably has to wash his hair or something,” Sebastian shrugs.

Hayden laughs, “You didn’t invite him? So it’s just us three and no Gabriel?”

“Well, when you put it that way, it sounds bad,” I cringe. “Really, Seb just invited himself along.”

“Because I was the only one who hadn’t been to see the place, I might add,” Sebastian says indignantly.

Hayden looks at his watch. “Gabriel’s place is on the way…”

“I mean, we could just kidnap him, even if he’s busy,” I say with a thoughtful look on my face.

“We can definitely overpower him,” Sebastian nods. “Did you bring handcuffs? A gag? Rope, maybe?”

I shake my head. “Alas! I left it all at home. Think we could still get him to come out with us?”

Hayden rolls his eyes at us. We laugh as he dials Gabriel’s number and puts the call on speaker. It rings for a few seconds before Gabriel’s voice comes through the line.

“Hayden?”

“Get dressed; we’re going to be there in ten minutes to pick you up,” Hayden tells him.

“You’re what? Aren’t you going to Reid Music with Harrison?” Gabriel’s confusion is obvious.

Sebastian laughs. “Yeah, and I’m here, too. We figured it’s probably better to have all four members of Cruise Control for a momentous occasion like this one.”

“Okay, sure. I wasn’t doing anything, anyway. You’ll be here in ten minutes?”

“Eight minutes now,” Hayden laughs.

He ends the call and tells Jesse to drive us to Gabriel’s. We pull into the underground parking garage and Gabriel is waiting for us by the elevator.

Sebastian opens the door of the SUV and yells, “Get in, loser, we’re going to get a bass guitar.”

Gabriel laughs and jogs over to the car. Hayden offers to sit in the third row of seats, and Gabriel gets in next to him, leaving Sebastian and I sitting together.

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