Page 88 of The Odds of Happily Ever After
Gabe cocked an eyebrow at me, one corner of his mouth lifting. “Are you kicking me out?”
“Of course not,” I rushed to reassure him. “I just thought it’s late and you had a long day and probably want to rest. I don’t want to keep you if you’re tired.”
“I’m not.”
His intent gaze had me fighting back a shiver of pleasure. “Good, cause I haven’t given you my gift yet.”
I hurried to my suitcase near the sofa and unzipped it.
“I need to grab something from my car,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”
“Go ahead.” Best that he didn’t see my messy packing.
While he left, I rummaged through the clothes, food, and random items stuffed inside my bag. I finally found the two gifts and placed them on the table along with the pack of cards that Lonzo gave me.
A knock sounded on the door. I smiled at how that gesture was so Gabe. He knew I expected his return, yet he still knocked instead of simply barging in. None of my friends would have done that.
“Come in,” I called out.
The door opened, and there he was—his hair tousled, the top two buttons of his shirt undone. If circumstances were different, this could have been a sight I’d have every day. Him coming home from work looking a bit less polished than he had at thestart of the day, but all the more handsome for it because that side of him would have been just mine.
His gaze fell to me sitting on the floor and his eyebrows rose. He quickly looked away. “Luna, your . . .”
I glanced down and found lacy underwear draped over the side of the bag. “Oh, sorry.” I closed the suitcase and said, “It’s just panties. I’m not even wearing them.”
He gave me a dark look that would have been intimidating if not for the slight flush on his cheeks.
No. Was he actually?—
“New deck?” he asked as he removed his shoes.
“Yeah, from Lonzo.” Before I left Manila, my brother had threatened to take back his gift in case I ended up playing it with “that guy.” I’d pretended that wouldn’t bother me either way but was secretly relieved that he didn’t follow through with it. Instead, he’d hugged me extra tight and reminded me to be careful.
I didn’t tell him it was too late—I was already all in with this man, regardless of the risks.
Blinking out of the memory, I said to Gabe, “Rematch?”
He grinned. “I seem to remember you promising to beat me.” Then he sat on the floor across me, and my heart nearly exploded.
“I did, didn’t I?” My words came out breathless, but I couldn’t bring myself to care because he was staying. “Open your gifts first.” I handed him two wrapped packages, enjoying how he almost squirmed as he received them.
“You didn’t?—”
I huffed out a laugh. So predictable of him.
He shut his mouth, then said, “Thank you.”
“Better. You’re welcome.”
He opened the long, flat box, taking care not to tear the wrapping. “Chocolate mangoes?”
“Yeah, you already tried dried mangoes, so I got you something different. These are coated with dark chocolate, and they’re really good. Plus, I don’t think you can find these here.”
“Thanks, Luna.” He ran his palms across the top of the box. “I’ll have it for dessert tomorrow.”
“Open the second one.”
He did as I said, looking confused upon unboxing it. “Is this a musical instrument?”
