Page 82 of It's Always Been You
I don’t even know any women except for you.
Good answer. What am I not freaking out about?
[link attached]
I click the link, and my screen immediately fills with an image of Gabe and me from the night of the building dedication, the headline promisingA Definitive Timeline of Tech Billionaire Gabriel Sullivan’s Whirlwind Romance and Engagement to Pittsburgh-Based Attorney and Fellow UC Berkeley Grad Molly Jenkins.
I laugh again because I’ve always been a big reality TV fan, and it looks like now I get to be the star of my very own show.Andy Cohen, if you’re listening.
The picture must have been captured by one of the roving photographers while Gabe and I were talking to his sisters. Gabe is standing behind me with his arms around my shoulders, and I’m resting back against him, my hands holding onto his arms. I’m laughing at something one of his sisters is saying, and Gabe is staring down at me. And the expression on his face. It has my breath catching in my chest. He’s looking at me like I’m the reason he lives.
I sit heavily back in my chair, my eyes still fixed on my phone. I’ve seen him look at me like this, but it’s another thing to see it captured on camera. To see what everyone else sees. It hits me all at once, how well I’ve been loved—and for how long.Gabe loved me when we were apart, over time and distance, and even when he didn’t know if I would ever love him back again. I shoved it down so deeply for so long, but now that I’ve let it free, I know I’ve loved him just the same.
Me
It’s a good thing all my sides are my good side. And that my outfit for that night was on point. I knew the gold sandals were a good idea.
Gabe
You’re not mad?
Of course I’m not mad. It’s a picture, Gabe. There will be lots of pictures. You’re kind of a big deal.
Also, it’s one hell of a picture.
I already got the newspaper to send me copies.
Of course you did. You are too good for this world.
I only want to be good for you. You sure you’re okay with the fiancée stuff? That’s a pretty big headline.
I think the time for me to not be okay with it would have been about a month ago. But yes, I’m okay with it. I have this kickass ring I get to wear, and the guy who gave it to me may be my fake fiancé but nothing else about him is fake. Or us.
Bet your ass. How’s your morning?
Well, asshole Brad fucked up in service of trying to show me up again, so I get to clean up his mess. I hung up with him like thirty seconds before you texted me.
You were in a power pose when I texted, weren’t you?
How did you know?
Just a hunch.
Your texts saved the city. I was about two minutes away from leveling Pittsburgh with the fire shooting from my eyes, Superman style.
Every time you make a superhero reference, I get hard.
There’s something really wrong with you, you know that, right?
And yet, you love me anyway.
That I do. Dinner and Marvel tonight?
Absolutely, yes. I’ll be waiting for you. Love you, Rory baby.
Love you back.
“Holy shit, you’re blushing. Like, your face is actually turning red. I didn’t know you did that.”
