Page 22 of It's Always Been You
All it took was one look at her, and I was back in deep. Then when I finally got to talk to her? Forget it. I’m a goner. It’s like no time has passed. Except it’s been ten years, and we’ve both lived whole lives between then and now. It might not be the easiest road, and maybe it’ll be a little messy while we work our shit out, but I don’t care.
She’s worth it.
She’s worth everything.
When I push open the door, the blonde from the other day is standing right in the entryway. With her black pantsuit, sky-high heels, crossed arms, and perceptive gaze, she looks like a very stylish, very competent bodyguard.
“Gabriel Sullivan,” she says in a clipped voice. “You’re early.”
I give her a smile, trying to get her to warm up to me. Something about her makes me want to impress her.
“No traffic.”
“No, there wouldn’t be,” she says cooly. “Seeing as you live in Molly’s neighborhood. Funny coincidence, that. Except a tech genius like you probably has all kinds of ways of figuring out where someone lives, don’t you?”
“I swear I didn’t know,” I blurt out. “I know it seems convenient, but it really is a coincidence. I just knew Molly lived in the city. I didn’t know where. I would never look her up. Okay, I mean, I did search for her to see what she’s been up to, but not in a weird, tech genius way. Not that I’m a tech genius. I’m not. I’m just a regular guy who used a regular search engine and typed her name in and read the results that came up. It wasn’t shady. I wouldn’t do her. I mean, I wouldn’t do that to her. Search for her in an illegal, weird way. Of course I would do her. I have. And I would again, of course. I mean, have you seen her, Jesus Christ?—”
My mouth finally gets the message from my brain to shut the fuck up and I slam it shut, but it’s too late. The damage has been done.
“Fuck,” I mutter, eyes fixed on the floor. “I think I’ll just go throw myself in traffic now.”
I hear a snort, and when I look up, the blonde has her hand over her mouth, her shoulders shaking as she tries, and fails, to hold in her laughter.
“I’m so sorry,” she gasps out, bending over and howling. “I’m not laughing at you, I swear.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “You could at least have some sympathy for my pain. I didn’t mean to say any of that.”
“Oh, I know you didn’t. That’s what makes it so great,” she says, sticking out a hand to me. “I’m Julie Parker, one of Molly’s best friends and law partners. I understand your kind. I married one of you.”
I shift the coffee I’m holding to the other hand and shake hers. “By one of you, you mean…”
She grins at me. “A puppy dog in human form.”
I consider that. I look at the coffee in my hand, and the bag hooked over my arm, and the Captain America T-shirt I’m wearing, and I think about the order I placed before I walked in, and decide it’s a pretty accurate assessment.
“Is that a good thing?”
Her smile widens. “It’s the best thing. Molly told us what happened between you two. You can come up with a million professional excuses for why you’re here, but you sold your company to a company in Pittsburgh when I’m sure there are a million buyers in Northern California who would have paid more. And if all you needed was a lawyer, I happen to know California has some of those. What you’re here for is her.”
I could deny it, but why? I am here for her, and I don’t care who knows. Besides, I’m good at reading people, and I think Julie Parker might just be an ally.
“Yes. She’s it for me. She’s always been it for me.”
Julie nods. “Well, let’s ignore that you’re coming late to the party and embrace the fact that you showed up.”
I bristle a little at that. “It’s not that I didn’t want to be here, I just?—”
I break off when Julie holds up a hand, her eyes softening.
“I know you’ve been through a lot, and you have your reasons. That’s for you to talk to her about, not me. If you’re what Molly wants, I’m on your side. I love her, and if you’re hers, then you’re ours too. That’s how we roll in this group. But if you do anything to hurt her, I’ll cut your dick off and watch while you bleed out. Then I’ll bury you so well, no one will ever find your body.”
Now it’s my smile that widens. Looks like Molly found herself a tribe of smart, badass women just like her. “Julie Parker, I’m really glad Molly has a friend like you.”
She gives me a sly look. “She really is lucky. I’m fantastic. There are three more of us, and four guys who would do literally anything for her. We kind of run in a pack. I hope that works for you.”
I think of how lonely I’ve been out in San Francisco. How it’s felt less and less like home over the years while my sisters grew up and I threw myself into work. The idea of a big, chaotic group of friends?
“That sounds perfect,” I say truthfully.
