Page 38 of My Billionaire Seal Next Door

"Yes, but then if she doesn't want him why did she kiss him like that and then you know."

"Ok, but that might be a separate thing altogether."

"How can one thing and the other thing be separate? Either she wants him, or she does not."

"Someone can want you for sex and not want to be with you. Hell, people fuck people they don't even like."

"She does not seem like that kind of girl."

"You've met her once, what do you know?"

The two of them continue to argue. I listen closely for a while.

The funny thing is that the conversation they are having between themselves is the exact conversation I have had with myself over and over again in my mind trying to figure out what is going on between Gabi and myself. Analyzing and overanalyzing everything again and again.

"Guys. Guys. Stop." I say when I can't handle their debate any longer. Even though hearing it out loud has somehow been quite reflective for me and allowed me to come to a conclusion.

They both stare at me.

"I know what I have to do," I say boldly.

"What's that?" Gavin asks.

"I have to take a risk. I have to just go for it. What is the worst that could happen? I already feel like shit overthinking it so I may as well go all the way out on the limb, dive into the deep end and just go for it properly." I say, feeling confident in my realization that this is what I need to do.

"OK, but what does that mean? What are you going to do? She is on vacation somewhere." Matthew presses.

"I am going to find her," I say without a doubt.

"How?" Gavin asks.

"I have no idea." I laugh.

"This is like spotting a sniper in a building that is falling apart several feet away." Matthew shrugs, not as convinced as I am that it is possible.

Gavin laughs. "We've managed that before, so I guess this should be easy enough then."

I laugh and raise my glass. "To my new mission," I say.

Except I have absolutely no clue regarding where I should even start looking for her.

There is only one thing that I know for sure.

I can't just let her go like this.

CHAPTER 17

GABI

Awater balloon flies past my head, and I duck behind the signpost in the street. My cousin cracks up laughing when it crashes against my back despite my evasive moves. "Gabi isit." One of my brothers shouts from wherever they are hiding, and I charge out into the street and grab a water balloon from the big bucket to try and chase someone down. Kids scatter in all directions screaming and laughing.

Being home in the place I grew up in has been so good for my heart.

Surrounded by my family in the community I know and love, far away from those pristine houses in perfect rows along a perfect street, is exactly what I did not know I was missing. Far away from Alex and his gorgeous smile and his perfect abs.

I have been able to clear my mind a little being surrounded by the people I love. The crazy neighbors and the weird aunts and uncles all added to the happiness of my time away, in celebration of my brother's wedding.

In places like this, the entire community is involved in a wedding. It is not just my family but my extended family as well. My parents' neighbors and my brother's school friends all join in to help wherever it is needed. Every night is part of the celebration leading up to the big event.

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