Page 173 of Mr. Infuriating

I could feel Gabe pulling away after he’d watched me with Michelle and Lucy. There were no more stolen looks or discreet touches as we sat next to each other. In fact, he hardly looked at me the rest of the time at the bowling alley.

I’d thought maybe I’d take my mother’s advice and talk to him tonight when we were alone. But there was no way I was doing that now. It was obvious he hadn’t changed his mind. Especially when I’d said I was going to sleep in the guest room, since Brayden was also staying over, and he didn’t argue.

I cried myself to sleep. The writing was on the wall.

He still made those goddamn pancakes in the morning, though. Much to Jake’s delight.

The kicker came later that afternoon as I was getting ready to leave school.

Gabe: Hey! Good news! The part for your sink came in early. Your water is officially back on.

I wondered how many strings he had to pull to get that part early and get me out of his house.

Me: That is good news. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to swing by your place and get all our stuff before I pick up Jake.

Gabe: I’ll come help you.

I wanted to tell him I could handle it, but then realized he was more than likely coming to officially end things without Jake being around. That was probably smart.

Me: Okay, I’ll be headed that way shortly.

~~

Gabe’s truck was in the drive when I pulled in. My legs felt like they were filled with cement as I walked up the front steps, and I wiped my palms on my pants before opening the door.

Jake’s booster seat was already by the door, along with a bag with some of his toys in it.

Gee, talk abouthere’s your hat. What’s your hurry?

I found Gabe sitting at the kitchen island, staring at his phone.

“Hey,” I called from the doorway. Nodding toward the stairs, I told him, “I’m just going to finish packing. I see you’ve already gathered his toys and stuff from the downstairs.”

“I’ll check the basement while you do that.”

Yes, you wouldn’t want me to leave anything behind that you might have to get in touch with me about in the future.

“Sounds good. Thanks.”

I willed myself not to cry when I walked in the guest room, but the finality of us leaving, and subsequently Gabe and I being over, was too much. The first tear soon gave way to a second. Then a third.

I heard him coming up the stairs, and quickly swiped at my face, but the tears kept coming anyway. Careful to keep my back to the door, I finished gathering my clothes and stuffed them in my suitcase.

His deep voice came from the threshold. “Need any help?”

Refusing to look up when I opened Jake’s racecar suitcase, I tried to keep my tone cheerful.

“Almost done!”

He was quiet as he watched me from the doorway. I could see in my peripheral vision that he was leaning against the door jamb. Still, I wouldn’t glance his way, for fear that I’d break into ugly sobs if I met his eyes.

No one wanted to see my ugly sobs. Not even me.

I was more careful with Jake’s clothes than I’d been with mine, since Gabe’s housekeeper had gone to the trouble of washing and folding them for me.

(Talk about a luxury! It had become my goal in life to make enough money to hire a housekeeper.)

It didn’t take long to pack Jake’s things, and soon all that was left were my toiletries in the bathroom.

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