Page 134 of Black
“What advice? What the hell are you talking about?” I asked in a raised voice. “Violet, what did you tell him?”
She sighed loudly. “I just told him to talk things through with you and when he said you wouldn’t listen, I suggested he should be more inventive to make it happen.”
I gaped, unable to fathom that she would say something so stupid.
“Listen,” Gabriel spoke. “If you look under the driver’s seat there’s a small fuse that I took out of your engine. It’s really simple to put back in – just go get it and I’ll guide you on the phone.”
For the next few minutes Gabriel patiently guided Violet and made sure her car was running.
“Will you take Cia to my house when you’re done talking?” Violet asked.
He gave me a sideways glance. “Is that where you live?”
I wasn’t talking to him… or her, so I said nothing.
“I’ll take her wherever she wishes to go, when we’re done talking.”
“All right, I’ll see you later, Cia,” Violet said and hung up.
There was silence in the car as we drove across the bridge. Even though I kept my face turned away, refusing to look at him, I still noticed that we were going east.
“We could drive all night, or you could talk to me and be home in an hour,” he said in a placating tone.
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists,” I said grumpily.
He chuckled. “I don’t think you understand the definition of a terrorist.”
When I didn’t speak he continued. “A terrorist is someone who uses violence in the pursuit of political causes. My reasons are different so you can hardly call me a terrorist.”
“It’s still wrong to hold someone against their will,” I sputtered.
“You’re right. But it’s just as wrong to leave someone heartbroken and refuse to talk things through.”
“Heartbroken,” I snorted. “You looked all right to me when you showed up with your new girlfriend. Where is she, by the way – did you tie her up and dump her in the trunk?”
“I told you, she’s not my girlfriend; she was just a girl Nate set me up with because he was tired of hearing me moan about you.”
It gnawed at me that he had been with her, especially since she was much prettier than me.
“Cia, what you and I shared was special, don’t you think?”
“I used to,” I admitted and looked straight ahead watching the houses, the cars, the trees - well anything but Gabriel really.
“You mean before I screwed up and made a scene at your art show?”
I didn’t respond since the answer was obvious.
“I’m sorry about that…” he said, low. “I think seeing you in that costume just felt like a rejection of me.”
“Oh, come on,youfelt rejected? I wasn’t the one wrinkling my nose at you or humiliating you in front of people by showing my disgust.”
“I already admitted I screwed up,” he said and cleared his throat while I turned to face him with a grim expression on my face.
“You know we wouldn’t even be having this conversation if I was still dressed as a Goth. You only want Cia and couldn’t care less about Black.”
“That’s not true. I bailed you out of jail and went with you to the camp when you were still Black.”
I knitted my brows and gave an imitation of his deep voice. “I prefer my women a little less Goth.”
