Page 72 of Eleven of a Kind

“No, you don’t. You think you do because we have so much fun together.”

“I’m sorry, but you’re wrong.” His brows furrowed.

“No.” I pointed at him as I shook my head. “Don’t do this.” I ran out of the bedroom.

“Do what? Tell you that I love you?” He followed me into the kitchen.

“Yes! Stop saying those words!” I covered my ears.

“No, I won’t because it’s how I feel. I don’t think you understand what it took for me to tell you that. I’ve never spoken those words to any woman except Riley’s mother. I never thought I wanted a relationship with anyone after her, but then you walked into my life and showed me I was dead wrong. You make me happy, Piper, and I want us to be together.”

“No. You’re a casual dater. That’s what you told me! You don’t do relationships!” I pointed at him.

“That was before I met and fell in love with you,” he shouted.

I could feel the air around me constricting my lungs.

“Stop it, Gabriel. Why did you have to ruin everything by telling me that?”

“So, I mean nothing to you?” he asked.

“You’re a great guy, and the sex is amazing, but that’s all it is.”

“Wow.” He placed his hands on his hips and shook his head. “You’re a great actress. You actually had me convinced that you had feelings for me.”

“I’m sorry.” I looked down.

“Yeah, me too, Piper. We could have been great together. This casual thing that we had is over for good. In fact, Riley is done working at your shop. Fuck, I’m so stupid. I don’t ever want to see you again. Stay the hell away from my family as well.” He walked out and slammed the door shut.

I stood there shaking as I poured myself a glass of wine. After taking a sip, I threw the glass against the wall, and it shattered, leaving streaks of red dripping down it. Tears poured from my eyes as I sank to the kitchen floor and leaned up against the island, hugging my knees.

CHAPTER26

Gabriel

I drove around for a while to compose myself before going home. I didn’t need Riley to see me like this. I pulled into a park, climbed out of the car, and sat up on a picnic table facing the water. I couldn’t believe I poured out my heart and soul to her, only to have her rip it to shreds. Bringing my hand up, I wiped the tears that were forming in my eyes. I refused to let them fall over someone like her.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent a text message to Grayson.

“Are you home?”

“I just left the hospital. Why?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Okay. I’ll come over as soon as I get home.”

“I’m not home.”

“Where the hell are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m at South Beach Park, sitting on a picnic table not too far from the entrance.”

“I’m on my way.”

Within thirty minutes, I heard Grayson’s voice from behind.

“What the hell are you doing here by yourself?” He climbed up on the picnic table and sat next to me.

---