Page 89 of Black
Cia
“Where the hell have you been?”
Those were the first words that met me when I got back to the apartment.
Gabriel looked like a wild boar ready to attack, with his nostrils flaring and his eyes wide open and focused in on me.
“I went out,” I said and closed the door behind me. “What’s wrong, did something happen to you?”
“What happened to me was that I came home and you weren’t here.”
I frowned in confusion. “So?”
“So I worried, and it’s not like I can call you to know you’re all right. What if you were hurt somewhere? I’ve been worried shitless because of you.”
I walked closer, tilting my head and trying to understand why he would freak out like this. “It’s only one o’clock… I’m not used to anyone worrying about me.”
Taking a step forward, he pulled me into his arms. “Well, I’m not your mom, and I worry. You should have left a note at least.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, not liking his smell of beer and pushing at him to make him ease his tight grip around me.
“Where did you go?” he asked.
“To see Daniel.”
“Your friend?”
“Uh-huh. I figured he was worried about me, so I wanted to tell him I was fine. He wants to meet you.”
“Me? Why?”
I chuckled. “I asked him that too, and he says he wants to thank you for being good to his girl.”
Gabriel tensed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Just that he appreciates everything that you’ve done for me.”
“No, I mean why does he calls you ‘his girl?’” Gabriel asked in a gruff voice. “Is he your boyfriend?”
I shrugged. “No, but we’ve been good friends for years.”
“How good?” Gabriel said in a tone I didn’t like.
I tried to pull back. “That’s none of your business.” I don’t know why I said that, except that his question felt like an attack and it made me defensive.
“Did you sleep with Daniel tonight?” Gabriel asked, and there was raw accusation in his tone.
“I don’t need your permission to go out and I certainly don’t need to tell you anything about my sex life,” I snapped back.
He released me and folded his arms in front of him. “So if I went out and fucked someone, or even brought her back here, you would be okay with that?”
My heart broke a little, but I managed to lie right to his face. “Of course. You’re my uncle, not my boyfriend.”
He stomped off and slammed the door to his bedroom. Whatever had just happened between us told me one thing. I needed to find a job and my own place. I couldn’t be here if he ever brought a woman home and had sex with her. I would die inside.
?∞?
The next week was awkward. We shared small talk and pleasantries, but Gabriel was gone most days visiting friends and family.
