But this now, this is familiar and light, and it feels pretty dang good.
Openly staring at each other, we both smile like idiots while my eyes lazily take in his features. His brown hair that’s standing up in every direction—probably a result of the frustrating phone call with his agent—as well as a good amount of stubble that has accumulated on his face.
I like it.
A lot.
Even more so, I’ve caught myself on more than one occasion wondering if it feels soft or rough to the touch.
I’m not sure why my brain takes me where it does, but it’s enough to snap me out of it. It’s like this trip has ignited a spark—a fascination with Gabe, or maybe even a slight obsession?—inside of me that’s consuming me a little more every day.
My gaze moves back up to his eyes, and what I find there is the exact opposite of the heat my mind just started to fabricate.
Pure warmth and kindness.
Without a doubt, two of the things I’ve always admired about him the most. I’ve met more than my fair share of people who thought I was cold and bitchy—apparently, those are the synonyms some use for people who are determined and focused—the complete opposite of this man in front of me.
Not a lot of people like that seem to exist anymore, and I don’t think anyone can meet him without instantly liking him.
He’s a dang unicorn.
I clear my throat, feeling my emotions slowly getting the better of me. Apparently, I’ve also turned soft these past few months. Now these sentiments are taking charge of my mouth as well. “Have I told you recently how grateful I am to you for taking me in, and for everything else you’ve done for me?”
He shakes his head at me. “You know that’s not necessary.”
“I think it is, so thank you.” My words come out as a whisper, yet still strong. It’s important to me he knows how much I mean them. “You didn’t have to keep a roof over my head all this time, especially when I turned into a sulky and depressed monster, or when I almost burnt down your cottage. You’re a good guy, Gabe, a really good guy, and I appreciate it more than I can ever tell you.”
What was left from his previous smile leaves his face as he gets up to come over to my chair. He sits down next to me and puts his hand on my arm. “I meant it, there’s nothing you need to thank me for. Mi casa es su casa and all that. Plus, some days I wonder if I should thank you. Life has definitely been more interesting with you around. Maybe I needed that too.”
“Only some days?” The corners of my mouth automatically lift up at his remark because exchanges like this—the teasing, playfulness, but somehow still deep connection—feel pretty much like second nature to me. To us.
They make me happy.
This friendship with him has been good for me, in more than just one way. “Seriously though. I think my recovery would’ve been a lot worse if it wasn’t for you.”
He stares at me, the gentle smile he’s sporting the same one I’ve seen on his face plenty of times, usually when Mirabelle gets hurt. It’s soft and comforting, silently conveying a, “Hey, it’s going to be all right.”
Before I know it, he opens his arms for me, and I don’t hesitate for a second to lean in, to let myself be wrapped up in his warmth and soothed by his comfort, getting one of the best hugs of my life.
Maybe even the best hug of my life.
Seven
Monica
Despite the super comfy bed in my room, sleep eluded me extra early this morning. Instead of tossing around, I decided to play catch-up with my best friend and all things Brooksville. Since Charlie’s doing the early morning shift at her bakery this week, she’s been up with the birds too, making this the perfect time to talk.
After messaging for a few minutes, we decided to video chat, so I took my laptop, coffee, and a blanket out back to get as comfortable as possible.
I can’t wait to see if the sunrise will be just as beautiful as the sunset was last night.
Pairing that with a bestie chat, and I’d say it’s a pretty perfect morning after all, despite the early morning. Plus, I miss Charlie, which becomes blatantly obvious as I stare at my laptop screen, waiting for her to call me.
Being away from Brooksville has made me think about my life, a lot. Gabe putting down his foot and telling me things had to change was almost like a wake-up call. Add to that the change of routine and scenery up here, and I’ve been thinking a lot about my life and what has happened this last year.
One realization hit me hard, the fact that I haven’t been a good friend. I don’t have a lot to begin with—really, just Charlie, outside of my dance circle—so maintaining the relationship with her was always important to me.
Now, I’m not sure how much effort I’ve put into it during the last year. Even though I initially came to Brooksville to visit Charlie after my accident, I haven’t nearly spent as much time with her as I wanted to, especially considering the fact that we live within walking distance.
It’s blatantly obvious now that Gabe was right. I completely spiraled out of my life. I didn’t just fall into a funk; it was more an existential crisis than anything else.
I honestly didn’t even grasp how much I pushed everyone away last year when things didn’t go as well as expected.
The possibility of never being able to dance again hit me harder than anything else ever had in my life, and I didn’t handle it well. Dancing has been my dream for as long as I can remember. My only dream, really. I was lucky enough to dance with some of the top crews over the years, the chance to perform solo next on my to-do list.
Without it, I honestly don’t know who I am.
There’s always just been dancing for me.
There’s never been a Plan B.
I stare at the sky that’s still mostly dark, sipping my coffee while pondering some more about life when my screen illuminates with an incoming call.
Pressing the accept button, Charlie pops up on my screen. She’s in her bakery kitchen, looking adorable in a pink heart apron. Banging noises accompany her as she moves around, getting all her tools and ingredients ready.
I’m not even sure she knows I can already see her.
“There you are, C. What are you making this morning?”
“Hey, Mo.” Charlie looks up, giving me a tired smile before she points at all the different bowls. “Let’s see. Apple cheese danish, cinnamon rolls, blueberry turnovers, and raspberry pain au chocolat.”
“Wow. That’s quite the assortment. Yum.”
“If you want, I’ll make you some of everything when you get back.” Always so generous. She’s always been this way. Taking care of everyone around her as much as they’d allow her to. “Now, get me up to speed. I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. You mentioned in your text earlier that you like it up there?”
Her comment combined with my latest realization feels like a knife to my heart, but I swallow it and nod. Nothing I can do about the past now, except lift my chin and vow to do better from here on out. So, after a steadying breath, I plaster on a smile for my best friend, thankful she has been this patient with me. “I do. It’s such a lovely place. There’s a lot more greenery here, making it absolutely beautiful. And the people I’ve met have all been super nice. I bet you’d love it here too.”
“That sounds awesome. Hopefully, we can come up and visit sometime soon.” She pauses with her hands now stuck in a big pile of dough, giving me a once-over. “I don’t know what it is, but you look different. Better.”
“I do?”
Charlie shrugs her shoulders and goes back to kneading the mass in front of her. “I don’t know how to explain it, just more like your old self, I guess. That little spark is back in your eyes, and your smile looks real again, more like you.”
Wow. I didn’t realize how obvious it was to everyone I was faking it. Dang it. What a wasted effort. “I’m sorry I was such a terrible friend. I should have tried harder to pull through it all.”
This time, she shakes
her head. “Don’t apologize, Mo. Seriously. You had a very traumatic experience when you got injured, and I’ve never blamed you for the way you acted. Everyone deals differently with this kind of stuff. There’s nothing wrong with doing it your way. All I want is for you to feel better.”
Warmth swirls around in my chest at her words, the same words Gabe told me. “Thank you. I can’t really explain it, but somehow, I really feel better. By some miracle, Gabe got through to me with his mini-intervention, and I’ve been thinking about my life all week.”
A wave of gratefulness rushes through me again at the thought of him.
He really has gone out of his way to help me this whole time, no matter if I wanted him to or not.
Above and beyond, really.
Awesome and stubborn Gabe.
“What are you smiling about?” Charlie’s voice sounds different, a little higher, making me look up from where I was staring off into the sky that is slowly getting brighter.
My hand goes up to my face, feeling my lifted cheeks. I didn’t even realize I was smiling until Charlie pointed it out. How odd. “Nothing really, I didn’t even notice. I was just thinking about Gabe and how grateful I am that he’s been such a big help. I needed him to keep pushing me the way he did. Now, I feel like I totally missed out on the last few months of my life, like it just passed by right in front of my eyes while I was stuck in some sort of fog.”
Charlie blows some hair out of her face before staring at me with a frown contorting her beautiful features. “I’m very happy, over the moon thrilled for you. I’ve tried to get through to you for a while, but it seems like only our dear majesty Gabe can get through to you these days.”
I’m shocked for a moment, processing what she just said. Had she really tried talking to me about it all? I have a hard time recalling her saying anything like that to me, but I have to admit the last few months almost seem like a blur.
My thoughts go back to the clear memory of Gabe calling me out in his living room, and I feel a little guilty for not listening to Charlie before. “I’m sorry, Charlie. I think, for a while there, I was too stuck in my own misery to listen to anyone. Something Gabe did or said finally got through to me. Maybe it’s Charming’s personality. He can be pretty demanding.”
She stops mid-knead, fully turning to the laptop screen. “You’re calling him Charming again?”
My eyes flicker from one of her eyes to the other, back and forth, unsure of what to make of this question. “Mmm, yes? I’ve always called him that, C. You know that.”
“I know you called him that at the beginning, but you haven’t called him that in months, since you got into your funk.” She studies me and my reaction for a moment before her eyes go wide. “Does that mean you’re back to flirting with him too? That seemed to go hand in hand last year.”
Another thing I don’t know how to respond to. I haven’t outright flirted with him. Well, except for that minor exchange after his run, if you can call that flirting. All I know is that the urge to do a whole lot more than that has definitely returned.
As for my answer, I decide that caution might be best. “Would that be a bad thing?”
She thinks for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know, Mo. You’re my best friend and I obviously love you. But this is Hudson’s brother we’re talking about, and you told me you’re planning on leaving again. Didn’t you say you’ll have a job with your dance team when you’re ready, even if it’s just a job behind the scenes?”
I nod, not trusting my voice right now.
Of course, she’s right. My manager did tell me the doors are always open for me, that they’d have a job for me, no matter what. But all it ever did was push the possibility of not dancing to the forefront of my brain, twisting that knife in my heart a little deeper. Just the thought of working behind the scenes, watching my colleagues dance their heart out onstage, makes me nauseous.
On the other side, it might be better than nothing? I haven’t decided yet.
Charlie wipes her fingers off on her apron and crosses her arms across her chest. “I just don’t want things to be awkward in the future if something happened between you two. I mean, you’ll come back to visit, there’s no avoiding each other. He’s a part of my family.”
Her fingers go up to her face but pause midair. I’m sure she was going to rub her temples—something Charlie does when she’s stressed—but she stops right before touching her skin, probably remembering her dirty hands. “In the end, it’s your decision, of course. You guys are both adults. I just want you to think of the consequences, that’s all. Even though I do have to say I’m also a little thrilled you’re even entertaining the possibility. That’s a huge step into the right direction in my book.”
“There’s nothing wrong with flirting though, right?” I’m not sure why it comes out as a question. I don’t want it to be a question, but I’m talking to Charlie, and as much as I hate to admit it, she does have a point. The last thing I need is to make things awkward between all of us by starting something that won’t end well, a fear I’ve had myself. On the other hand, he does make it seem awfully worth it. “I promise I will not chain him to the bed and have my way with him before I disappear, okay?”
I knew the eyeroll would come before it did, but then Charlie chuckles. “Whatever, Mo. I know there’s something between you two, and you guys would make an adorable couple. Maybe I’d say go for it if I knew there could be a happy ending for—”
“Don’t even finish that sentence. You know I don’t do relationships. I’ve never wanted to, tried it anyway, and got burned even worse than I thought. I’m clearly not meant to be with anyone, so I’m better off by myself.”
Charlie’s frown is back, front and center. “Do you really still believe that?”
“I do.”
She sighs, something she’s been doing a lot during our conversations. “I wholeheartedly disagree with you on that, but you’re too stubborn to accept the fact that you might be wrong about this. Gabe is such a good guy, and I love you both. Just think things through before you do anything. That’s all I’m gonna say about this.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I salute her, and despite the slightly depressing mood this relationship talk just pulled us into, we both have to grin. Keeping this topic casual in any way is my best and only way to move forward. “You really can’t blame me though. You know more than anyone else how delicious those Mitchell men are.”
Just when Charlie opens her mouth, the back door of the house swings open, and I raise my index finger to my lips to keep her quiet.
Gabe walks out of the house, balancing two big plates in his hands.
Without a word, he puts one in front of me, the delicious smell of food wafting its way into my nose as I stare at the pile of cheesy scrambled eggs, topped with sour cream and avocado. One of Gabe’s favorite breakfasts that quickly became one of my go-to staples too after he introduced me to it.
My heart does a little flip but I thoroughly ignore it.
When he sees who’s on the screen, he doesn’t hesitate and takes a seat next to me. “Hey, Charlie.”
This guy.
I’m immediately distracted by his thigh pressing tightly against mine. Even though I have a blanket wrapped around my body, I still feel his body heat, warming me up in places that have been ignored for too long.
Charlie waves into the camera, little pieces of dough flying around her kitchen. “Please tell me you didn’t just bring her breakfast, Gabe.”
He glances over at me with a narrowed look before looking back at the screen. “Why? Is that a bad thing?”
Charlie’s face is drawn into a grimace, like she doesn’t know whether to cry or to laugh. I’m pretty sure I can see the corners of her mouth twitch though, right before she lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Not necessarily. You might just never get rid of her now. Like, ever. You feed her, she stays. Unspoken rule.”
Gabe looks back and forth between us for a moment, making me lau
gh.
I wave her off and she chuckles. “I think it’s time for you to go back to your baking. I have a yummy breakfast waiting for me.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Getting booted off for some food. Sounds like you. Have fun, you two. Just not too much.” She raises her eyebrows and gives me a meaningful look before blowing me a kiss. “Love you, Mo. Gabe, get your butt in gear and write that dang book already.”
He flinches the tiniest bit and nods. “I know, I know.”
“Bye, guys.” She waves at us with her dirty hands.
“Bye,” Gabe and I both say at the same time.
After shutting the laptop, I carefully place it on the little table before giving Gabe a side glance. He’s sitting so close. Has he done that before? I’m not even sure. We sit on the couch together all the time to watch movies, of course, but this seems extra close.
His body heat is distracting, warming me up so much I’m actually starting to get hot under the blanket.
Contrary to my heated skin, a slight shiver runs through my body from his proximity.
What is happening? I feel like I’m suddenly reacting to everything this man does or doesn’t do.
Gabe misunderstands my body’s signals and grabs the other blanket we left out here last night to wrap around me, his arms encircling me longer than really necessary.
When our gazes meet, and his breath is warm on my face, the world stops moving for a moment. He smells like citrus and something woodsy and spicy. Very manly. And very Gabe.
Without thinking, I take in a deep breath and sigh.
That action seems to shake him out of his spell, and he pulls back, putting some distance between us before picking up his fork again. “Let’s eat before the eggs get cold.”
Mortification battles with confusion inside of me.
Why did he turn away just now?
Somehow, it leaves me with a weird churning in my stomach, even though I really don’t have a reason to feel weird about it, do I?
I’m not interested in a relationship, but I can’t deny the longing that has been slowly growing in me over time. Especially when seeing Charlie and Hudson together. I’m not sure anyone could watch those two lovebirds together without their ovaries exploding.
The Mitchell Brothers Collection: A Feel-Good Romance Box Set Page 39