Page 11 of Rekindle

After a couple of minutes of silence, he continued. “How long have they been married? Your parents?”

“Thirty-six years.”

“How did they meet?”

“Dad stopped by a friend’s pharmacy, and he saw my mother walking on her way to work. He said good morning, she replied, and here they are.”

“Your father has his doubts about me. He feels because of my busy schedule I won’t have time for you. But I was clear to him that his perception of me won’t stop my feelings for you.”

“So you decided we are back in a relationship?”

“No. Your tongue in my mouth, your lips on mine, and your moans did. I apologize for not listening and making you feel you didn’t matter, Nina.”

Gareth removed the first three buttons of his shirt and cuffs. There was something so dominating and attractive about the way he took his clothes off or even tugged at something he wore. Even as he walked towards me, the way he moved caused a reaction in my core. Gareth was the only man who held my attention. He made his way to the couch and sat beside me, his hand sliding up and down my leg. He smiled and I did too knowing all too well where this could lead. I couldn’t stop staring at his eyes while the back of his thumb traced my lower lips.“I spoke to Paul and gave him an ultimatum.”

My skin crawled just hearing his name. “I can’t stand him.”

“Is there anything I need to know?”

Yes, there was, but I didn’t want to be known as the girl who destroyed a childhood friendship. I wanted Gareth to keep his friendship with Paul even if I wasn’t in the picture. I was the new girl, and Paul had known him a lifetime. And I didn’t want to make it seem I was instigating anything. But honesty was the best policy.

“He…he came to my apartment one day.” Gareth was confused at the statement. Paul never came to my place without Gareth. “He offered me money to leave you.”

He arched his eyebrow. “How much?” I hesitated to say anything. “Nina.” He said sternly.

“Enough to pay my school tuition where I didn’t have to take loans.”He took a deep breath and looked away. “I needed the money to pay off some tuition. I couldn’t tell my parents to pay because of my mother’s medical needs and I didn’t want them to worry. Scholarship only covers a portion. He also asked me to sign a document accepting it was loan and I would pay with interest.”

“Anything else?” His jaw clenched, and his eyes were filled with fury—not so

much with me, I knew, but with his best friend.

Gareth got closer, and the palm of his warm hand rested on my cheek. I leaned my head closer, wanting to feel protected and secure.

He took a deep breath and kissed my forehead, then my cheeks and the tip of my nose.

“He’s no friend of mine, treating you like this. I will solve this, I promise. I would never ask for payback when it comes to you. Nothing is a loan with you. But right now, it’s about your mom, family, and us.”

“I didn’t take the money or sign anything. I want you to know that.”

Gareth focused on my shoulder and lifted the strap back. Then I closed my eyes when his thumb lined my upper lip. I could taste the hints of wine lingering on his tongue when he kissed me.

“I know you wouldn’t. I want you to know why I fell for you. I fell for you because you were my hope. My sense of peace. The break I needed. I wanted a reason to come home, instead of stopping in and leavinghalf an hour later to catch a flight. I don’t just want to fuck you—I want to fight with you, laugh with you, be scared with you, love you. And I’ll be fucking damned if anyone comes between that. I will protect what we have even if it’s my best friend against us.”

“What are you going to do about Paul?” Not that I cared. I was just curious.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Please, I don’t want you to do something stupid or ruin your friendship with him because of me.”

“I can’t overlook what happened. I want you to feel safe when you are with my friends. To give you peace of mind, I promise I won’t do anything stupid. But I will address what happened. Just don’t keep things to yourself. I need to know.”

I swung my arms around his neck and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. We were each other’s missing puzzle piece. I missed this.

I missed us. It felt good to finally air my issues about Paul and my reason for despising him. Things were settling. We could move on.

Chapter 6

When Dad got home, he kissed me good night and reminded Gareth he would be sleeping in the living room.

---