Page 74 of Loving Wild
“For fucks’ sake,” I mumble as I turn back to stare out the window, my eyes narrowing as we pull off the highway, onto a service road, and pull to a stop outside a Land Rover dealership.
“Get your arse out, Ren, we need to go and arrange a new car for you.” Without waiting for me to reply, he starts to climb out of the truck.
“You’re not buying me a car, Gabe. I can buy myself something now I’m back working.”
He steps out of the truck but leans back in to face me.
“I’m not buying you a car, the company is. Jess has a company car, Sam has a company car, you’re gonna have a company car. You need a car to get you to work, you’re not gonna be able to afford one just from the McAlister job. Plus, why the fuck should you have to buy your own when my brothers’ wives haven’t had to?” He shrugs, then taps on the roof of the truck. “Dad’s phoned ahead so they’re expecting us. I thought you might like the new Evoque, so you either come and pick a colour, or I’ll go and pick one for you. Now get your arse out.”
We stare at each other in silence for a few seconds before I let out a sigh and decide to tell him honestly how this makes me feel.
“I feel like a charity case,” I whisper.
Gabe’s head snaps back like I’ve slapped him. His eyes move from mine to stare down at the driver’s seat for a few moments before he shakes his head. “No,” he finally says before slamming the door, walking around the front of the truck, and opening my door.
Leaning across me, he undoes my seat belt, turns me in my seat so my legs are now hanging outside of the truck, and moves to stand between them. Brushing his thumb over my cheek, he looks down at me.
“I thought we’d moved past this?” he says quietly.
I’m a mess. An absolute emotional mess and I’ve no idea why. It takes me a while to be able to talk without crying, so I just shake my head a couple of times.
“I’ve been living in your house for weeks. I pay no rent. You’ve bought me clothes, toiletries, you feed me, you bought me a phone and had me added to your account, for which you pay the bill. I contribute nothing.”
His eyes dart all over my face as I talk. His hand holds the side of my face as his thumb continues to brush across my cheek.
“We’re together. We’re a couple. When you’re back at work, I have no issue with you contributing financially to the way we live, but right now, you’renotearning. Youcan’tearn if you don’t have a car, so I’ve got you covered. It’s not charity, Ren, it’s called a relationship.”
My hand comes up to rest over his, but I don’t say anything. All I can hear in my head is something I remember overhearing my dad say to my mum when her and me had been arguing, ‘pick your battles, Jeannie. She’s young, she’s fiery, and the kid likes to argue. You’ll end up exhausted if you turn up to every fight she invites you to.’
I wonder then if it’s me. Am I just looking for a fight, a reason to argue? I’m tired and irritable. I’m pissed off with Lena, but I have to admit, everything Gabe has just said makes sense. It makes so much sense I have no comeback.
“Let’s go and buy me a car,” I finally say with a nod. Gabe’s hands slide to my waist, and he helps me out of the truck. When my feet are on the ground, he kisses my forehead, then my nose, then my mouth. Wrapping his arms around me, he presses his lips to my ear.
“Thanks for not making this harder than it has to be. I know you’re pissed off with what Lena said, and I’ll talk to her, I promise. I fucking hate when we argue.”
I feel like an absolute bitch because that’s exactly what I am. I know I’ve behaved like a brat, knew as I was doing it, but something just takes hold of me, and I just can’t stop myself once I get going. I don’t know if it’s a me thing or a woman thing, but it’s something I need to work on.
“I’m so sorry for taking things out on you,” I press the side of my face into his chest and say. “I’m tired, I have a headache, a bellyache, and Lenaache. None of that is your fault, or an excuse for my behaviour, and I’m sorry.”
He steps back and looks down at me as he slides his finger under my chin. A smile spreads across his lips, and his dark brows quirk above his blue eyes.
“How sorry?” he asks.
“Sorry enough to admit I was wrong and to apologise.”
“Is that sorry enough to guarantee me a blowjob later?” he tilts his head to the side and asks.
“Far out, you are such a boy.”
“Last time I looked, babe, I was a man,allfucking man.”
I roll my eyes.
“So, is that a ‘yes, Gabe, I’ve been a total bitch and promise to blow you later’ eye roll?”
“No. I’ll blow you later because you’re buying me a car, and I’m superficial like that, it has nothing to do with me being a bitch.”
“But you are admitting to being a bitch?”
