Page 28 of My Billionaire Seal Next Door

I don't realize how long we have been chatting when Bella rushes into the house looking wind-blown and carefree. She has a huge smile on her face and her hair is a bit knotted.

"Gabi." She squeals in excitement. "It's my birthday soon; are you coming to my party? It is tonight. You can wear a pretty dress like me and then I am going to have this giant glittery ribbon in my hair that Dad got for me."

"I did get an invite and I can see all of these decorations around here are looking so fantastic." Gabi laughs, pulling Bella into a hug. "I will definitely be here, and I am looking forward to it."

Bella jumps up with excitement. I notice that all the way down her back she is covered in mud and for a second, I am worried someone has pushed her down or bullied her again. "What happened, Bella? Did you get pushed?" I say, pulling at her dress to see the dirt.

"Oh no." She laughs. "I fell off the slide at the bottom and we all laughed. I just went down too fast, and it was damp from the dew drops." She grins.

I am so happy and relieved to hear that. Ever since she started the classes with Gabi there has not been another incident. I hope again that there will never be another one. I have a feeling though that even if there is Bella will be able to handle it differently, with confidence, standing up for herself. I think that she has that in her now and understands how these things work differently. I am so incredibly proud of her and how far she has come in such a short while. The change in my daughter has been astronomical and I could not be more grateful that Gabi pushed me out of my comfort zone so that I tried it. I was wondering the other day if it was just the classes alone or if her interaction with Gabi has also somehow impacted how she feels about herself. She has not spent much time with a woman like Gabi who is patient and caring but also strong and resilient. Perhaps that has made a big difference as well?

"I suppose we had better start getting things organized for your party then?" I say to Bella, glancing at the time, wondering how it just slipped past so quickly while I was with Gabi.

I turn to Gabi, "Will you come back then? At five o'clock this afternoon? I just have to run out and grab a few things and then finish setting up the last bits. I did hire a decorator who will be here later and a jumping castle too which they are delivering in an hour. Just for laughs."

"Oh, my goodness it sounds like it is going to be an absolutely epic party. I can't wait to see everything done and ready. I will see you later then. Just shout if you think you need any help with any of the setting up. I am literally across the road." She stands up and I want to kiss her goodbye, but Bella is watching us, so I just smile and walk her to the door with mild regret. Wondering what it might be like one day to be able to just hold her and kiss her as though it was the most normal thing in the world. I deserve that. To be so comfortable with someone. And so does Bella. She deserves to have such an amazing woman in her life too. I wonder if Gabi wants that. I wonder if Gabi is genuinely okay with being involved with a man who has a child. It can't be an easy decision to have to make. I am sure there are so many young, single guys out there who don't have children that Gabi could easily be interested in. I hope not though. I hope she is interested in me.

Later that afternoon the party is going great. There is color everywhere and noise and kids laughing and music playing, and Bella has not stopped smiling. She has made so many new friends lately and all of the kids from her class were practically begging for an invite, so I am happy to see how packed the place is and how confident Bella looks surrounded by all of her friends.

Gabi arrives at the party looking drop-dead gorgeous. I am standing out on the back lawn near the kids' jumping castle with a group of my friends holding beers and chatting away when she walks in, carrying a box wrapped in glittery wrapping paper and covered in a giant silver bow. My eyes are locked on her from the moment she walks in.

She places the gift on the table with the other presents waiting for Bella to open. I watch her move, obsessing about how sexy she looks. Her hair is half pinned up with giant curls framing her beautiful features. Her tight blue jeans and white lace top hug her body making it incredibly difficult for me not to stare at her. I glance around at my friends and grin. They are about to meet the most beautiful girl in the world and secretly they know about us. I might not want Bella to know, but at least my friends do know. Most of them.

"Gabi." I wave her over to us and a waiter hands her a cocktail off a large silver tray as she walks towards us. Gabi smiles at the crowd I am standing with. She enters the circle with confidence and grace.

"Gabi, this is everyone," I say, then introduce her to my friends, saying each of their names.

"Hi everyone." She grins that beautiful smile of hers and my heart catches in my throat. They each greet her, and I see the guys eyeing her up and down and throwing me a look. I smile at them, feeling nervous, but proud at the same time.

Gabi comes towards me to hug me, and I hesitate for a moment, trying to see where Bella is then I turn my body sideways and hug her with one arm. She stiffens and scrunches her nose in that cute way and the hug ends up being awkward. She steps away. I want to wrap my arms around her and whisper in her ear about how gorgeous she looks, but I need to hold back today. There are so many people around, especially Bella. I don't want Bella to be upset and I can't have her friends teasing her or asking her questions about who her dad's new girlfriend is. So as much as I do not want to, I will just be a little careful around Gabi.

"Gabi is my neighbor. We have become friends." I say to everyone, trying to ease the weirdness. Gabi shoots me a sideways glance and wrinkles her nose again. She usually does that when she is confused or upset. I wonder what she might be upset about. Bella is close by, and I am nervous for her to see anything more than friendship between Gabi and myself. I am sure that Gabi would understand this.

My friends continue to throw me knowing glances and I glare at them in return, hoping they won't say anything to make things even more weird or awkward. I chat with Gabi and my friends equally, careful not to show her any extra attention, wanting her to feel comfortable and part of the crowd.

Throughout the party I do my best to keep Gabi at a distance even though, more than once, I almost reach out and pull her against me, wanting to kiss her. I hold back though so that Bella does not see us kissing and become confused. I know Bella likes her and the last thing I want to do is hurt my daughter or cause confusion for her. It is a risk I am not willing to take yet.

Maybe it is not just Bella I am worried about. Perhaps I am scared for my own heart too. I can easily see the intensity with which Gabi draws me in and I can feel that it might be dangerous for my heart.

Not too long into the evening, I am busy chatting to my friend from the military when he says "Hey, where is your hot friend?" I look around, suddenly aware that I have not seen Gabi for a while now. "I am not sure?" I say, feeling concerned. "I'll be right back," I say.

I go off to find her, thinking she must be talking to someone or perhaps getting herself a fresh drink or some snacks. But I cannot find her anywhere. I feel a weird sense of worry. Has something happened? Finally, after I have searched the party from top to bottom one of the guests tells me that she saw her leaving. The shock of this news confuses me. Why would she leave? Was something wrong? Did something happen? She did not even say goodbye.

I hesitate for a moment and then decide to go next door to see if she is okay. Perhaps she was not feeling well?

I run across the road and knock on her front door.

I stand for a while and there is no reply, so I knock again. The door springs open and I jump. A tall man is standing in her house.

"Yes?" he says, eyeing me closely.

I am filled with jealousy for a moment and then remember who he is and why he looks so familiar. It is Gabi's oldest brother, Rafael.

I do not feel comfortable talking to her with her brother here. He asks me again, "Can I help you?"

I hesitate for a moment and then say, "I just wanted to check if the noise from our party was bothering anyone in the houses around us?" I feel stupid and hope that this excuse for knocking on her door isn't a lame one.

He scrunches his face in the same way Gabi does when she is confused. "No, man. All is good here. We can't hear much."

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