Page 26 of From Us, Forever

All remnants of the storm vanished; the streets dry as the humidity in the air made my dress stick to my back.

“Can’t believe you have an assistant,” I muttered in disbelief.

“Part-time assistant. My fingers are crossed because my calendar is filling up like crazy. And I have more money in my bank account than I’ve had my entire life. It’s all thanks to Katy and your boyfriend.”

I gave him a pointed look. “Technically, you should be thanking me since I was the one who introduced you to them.”

“I don’t need to thank my best friend,” he said, stopping short as he eyed me. “I don’t have much time; I have to get all this done in an hour. So tell me the real reason you arehere?”

I sighed; he could see right through me. “So there’s actually a couple of things,” I mumbled, trudging after him as he continued on with his work. “Jay and I got into a bit of a fight… wait, no. It wasn’t a fight or anything. He did something to upset me, and I don’t know how I feel about that.”

Gabe’s brow furrowed. “What did he do?”

“I mean, he didn’t do anything crazy. But still, it hurt.”

His furrow deepened as he fixed me with a stare, obvious to my stalling.

I flicked my nail across my index finger. “He spoke with White.”

“Why?” Gabe asked in a monotonous tone as he placed the last name card on the table that was decorated with violets, silverware, and velvet drapes.

I reiterated everything that happened.

“Why are you upset?”

A heavy exhale wrecked out of me.

I sank into the nearest chair, and Gabe pulled up opposite me.

The faint chatter of the staff milling about faded in the background.

“Well, for one. I don’t like that he spoke with her. I don’t like that he didn’t say a word before I asked him, and I don’t like that he lied about the phone call.”

“Did you tell him that?” Gabe had an intense look on his face as he regarded me.

I shrugged. “I did in not so many words. It’s just that I was finally fine and okay with putting White behind me and letting go of all the anger I held onto for years. Because I thought Jay and I were starting the next chapter of our lives. And now she’s back again, already creating doubt between us. I wish he had told me before I asked him and admitted that she put him in a mood.”

“I get you. But men are weird creatures. Yes, he hid it from you, but in the end, he was honest and admitted everything. Relationships are a lot of work, chica. It’s not always sparkles and sunshine.”

“You’re right. It’s just that when we were young, we never really used to fight. I mean, we did, but it was all silly, and we got over it in minutes. But now it all feels too real. Like I’m in an actual relationship for the first time in my life with the same person. It’s all the same but also different.”

Gabe gave me a soft smile, squeezing my shoulder. “You love him and he loves you, sometimes that’s all that matters.”

“When did you get so wise?”

He smiled, running a hand along my back. “The minute I adopted an overgrown child.”

I laughed, swatting him.

“Now that’s solved, I need to return to work.” He stood, dragging his eyes over the layout that was coming together. “When are you heading out?”

And before I could answer him, a shrill voice interrupted us.

“Mr. Sanchez, I hope that everything is going okay?”

Gabe’s playfulness dissolved into a professional face. “Yes, ma’am.”

I rose to my feet, twisting behind to come into view with Amelie, my old boss.

---