“Gabriel, you’ve done so much for me and I’ve pretty much haven’t given you anything in return.”
“That isn’t true. If I hadn’t been able to come here and work for you, who knows what I would be doing. I would probably be sitting at Rosa’s going absolutely out of my mind, thinking about being discharged from the Navy, and how empty my life is.”
“But, I didn’t push Rosa down on the ice.”
“You didn’t, but you did give me the job afterwards. You didn’t have to do that. You could have found someone more qualified or with more experience, but you gave me a chance.”
“Well, you can say whatever you want, but the balance leans more towards your end. I just want to say that you have been a good friend to me and I appreciate it.”
There she finally said it. She finally put some feelers out to see how Gabriel feels about her. Does he even think about her as a friend?
“We definitely have come a long way. I wouldn’t take back a second. Hopefully, we’ll have more good times in the future.”
That wasn’t exactly the response she was looking for, but she’ll take it. His response could have been worse. He could have said that he was just doing his job or something to that effect. Then, she would really feel like an idiot. He said that he’s enjoyed spending time with her, so that’s a plus. She decides the only way that she is going to get an answer to the questions she has is to ask him directly. Beating around the bush isn’t going to work with Gabriel.
“Those pills that I took are making me a little sleepy. Do you mind if I lay down until the food gets here?” Eva says, her words slightly slurry.
“No problem. I’ll come and get you when it gets here.”
“Thanks.”
Just as she reaches the doorway to her bedroom, Gabriel says, “Eva, everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
“I hope so,” she says and smiles, before disappearing into her bedroom.
* * * * *
Ryan Collin’s is chasing her. She runs as fast as she can, but he’s gaining on her. She can see Gabriel in the distance. His back is towards her and he’s walking away. She calls his name, but he doesn’t turn around. Ryan grabs her and throws her to the ground. She calls Gabriel’s name again, but he keeps walking.
Eva sits up with a start in bed. She looks around. She realizes she is in her bedroom and breaths a sigh of relief. Thank God, it was just a dream. She listens and she doesn’t hear any noise. Gabriel must be sleeping. Flashes of the nightmare appear before her eyes. She feels scared. She doesn’t want to be alone. She gets out of bed and goes into the guest room.
“Gabriel?” she whispers. “Are you awake?”
Gabriel stirs in the bed. “Eva, is there something wrong?” He sounds groggy.
“I’m sorry to wake you up. I had a nightmare. I guess I just feel scared.”
“Come here. Lay down,” he says, lifting up the sheet, inviting her into bed with him.
She contemplates, and then takes him up on his invitation. She climbs into bed next to him. The warmth she feels coming from his body is comforting. He wraps his arm around her. She snuggles close to him. She feels safe lying next to him, wrapped up tight in his arms.
“Go to sleep, okay. I’ve got you. There is nothing to be afraid of in your dreams or in life,” Gabriel says, interlocking his fingers with hers. He runs his thumb back and forth over hers.
She moves closer to him. She can’t get close enough. She feels him tighten his hold on her. She lays very still feeling the rise and fall of his chest. His breath on her neck is soothing. She closes her eyes. It doesn’t take long before she has fallen
asleep.
Gabriel moving around in bed wakes her up. The sun shines through the window. She doesn’t remember falling asleep. Gabriel’s arm is still wrapped around her. She wonders if he held her the entire night. She hopes so.
“Morning,” he says and rubs her arm.
She turns towards him, “Morning.”
“You okay?” he asks, opening his eyes to look at her.
“I’m okay. Thank for letting me come in here with you last night.”
“Again with the thank yous,” he chuckles. “It was nice to have someone next to me in bed for a change.”
“I felt exactly the same way. It’s been a long time since there has been a warm body lying next to mine.”
“Well, you’re welcome to lie next to me anytime,” he says, bringing his hand to her face and stroking her cheek.”
“Gabriel, listen,” she says, “I…”
“Don’t,” he interrupts her.
He leans in and presses his lips softly against her. She freezes. She hasn’t been kissed by a man in five years. It feels strange, but it feels nice. She begins to return Gabriel’s kisses. His lips are so soft. When he pulls away, she is speechless. She guesses that she got her answer to her question. Gabriel thinks of her as a friend and more.
She moves closer to him. She wants to kiss him again. He is more than willing. They lie in bed and kiss each other. He strokes her body and she lets him. She’s not scared of him. She wants him to explore her body. She wants him to touch her.
“I think that we better go slowly,” Gabriel says, kissing her.
“I think that you’re right. Let’s get up.”
“After you,” Gabriel says, stretching in bed. They make their way out into the kitchen. “I’ll make coffee,” Gabriel says, pulling the can of coffee out of the cabinet.
Eva sits down at the table. Out of nowhere, the little voice inside her head says, “He could never possibly love someone as fucked up as you.” That is the beginning of a flood of negative thoughts.
She begins to think about all the things that are wrong with her. She recognizes her agoraphobia, her anxieties, all of her hears, and now, Ryan Collins possibly out to get her. What normal, sane man, would want anything to do with her? Only a lunatic would want to jump in bed with her.
Her negative thoughts turn to Gabriel. She starts to question his motives. No normal, well-adjusted man, would want to be with a woman like her, so why is Gabriel acting like he does? She convinces herself that he is using her. He has to be. She convinces herself that all Gabriel wants is a quick roll in the hay before his six weeks is up, and then he will disappear. He will take what he wants and throw her away like a piece of trash.
“You have to leave,” she says, angrily.
“What?” Gabriel says surprised, turning around to look at her.
“I want you to leave right now.”
“Eva, what the hell is going on?”
“You heard me. Get out.”
“Eva, talk to me.”
“Now.”
Gabriel looks at her, confusion written all over his face. He slowly puts the coffee scoop back in the can and closes the lid. He turns around and looks like he is about to say something, but stops himself. He looks down at the floor.
She can practically see the wheels turning in his head. She watches him leave the kitchen. She listens as he grabs his stuff out of the guest bedroom and then his bag out of the utility closet. The sound of his footsteps on the hardwood, as he makes his way to the front door, are deafening. She listens to him lock the door and then he is gone.
She wants to chase after him, but she doesn’t budge from her seat. It’s better that she ends whatever is between them, before she gets hurt. She doesn’t want to go through the same thing she went through with Bryan. Bryan tried to stay with her after the attack, but he couldn’t handle it. What happens when Gabriel realizes that he can’t handle it? He will leave her and she will have to deal with a broken heart on top of everything else. It’s just better to stop things before they start. It stops the experience of pain on both sides.
Gabriel may be confused and upset now, but he will thank her later. She is saving him from a lot of headaches and misery. He’s a sweet guy and he deserves a normal girl and to have a normal relationship. He doesn’t need to be bogged down by her. She would just be a bur
den, a hindrance.
The more she thinks about what she has done, the more confident she is the action that she has taken. She decides that sending Gabriel away is probably the smartest thing she’s done in a long time. The situation that she has found herself in doesn’t need to hurt anyone else. There have been too many casualties already. She decides that there aren’t going to be any more, at least as long as she can help it.
* * * * *
Ryan watches the whole thing through a telescope from across the street. He watches what appears to be an argument take place. He wonders who this mystery guy is. Things have changed in the past five years. This is not the guy that was in the courtroom with Eva every day during the trial.
He is intrigued. He decides that he must know more about this mystery man. When the mystery man appears to be leaving, Ryan decides that he must follow this man and see where he is going. He hopes that the mystery man will lead him to his house. He may have to use this mystery man in the future to complete his plans. The mystery man may have to become collateral damage. Everyone in Eva’s life is a pawn to him. They are just pieces on a chessboard. Used and discarded at his whim.
Ryan steps over the elderly woman, as he makes his way to the apartment door.
He glances at the elderly man with a bullet wound in the center of his forehead. Unfortunately, they were collateral damage. Their deaths don’t affect him much. They were old anyway. They lived full lives. Their telephone hasn’t rung once since he barged his way inside their apartment to their surprise. It seems no one will miss them.
The only problem is they will begin to smell soon. He will have to figure out a new plan. He needs to be able to watch Eva in her apartment. He doesn’t sweat it, he’s a resourceful guy. He will come up with a new strategy and he will execute it with precision.
Right now though, there has been a change in plans. He will follow this mystery man and find out every bit of information he can about him. He wants to know who this man is and how he managed to worm his way into Eva’s life.
He packs up his telescope and rushes to his car. He sits in his car and waits for the mystery man to pull out of the parking garage. He loves these cat-and-mouse games. There is nothing like hunting your prey. He loves the watching and the following the best. He loves exercising self-control and waiting for the perfect time to pounce.
He will sit, watch, and wait. He’ll make the proper moves at the proper times. This time around there will be no screw-ups. He will not spend another five years in jail. This time things are going to go down right. Not only will things go right this time, but this time, Eva is going to find out who he really is. This time, she will learn the truth, before she takes her last breath on this earth.
Chapter 9
Gabriel drives to Rosa’s in silence. Usually he can’t drive without the tunes are blaring, but the thought of music annoys him. He doesn’t understand what happened with Eva. He thought that they had a good night. They definitely connected. When he held her in his arms, it felt right. Her body fit perfectly against his.
He especially liked being there to calm her fears. He likes playing the part of her protector. He likes being there when she needs someone. He likes being needed by her. He wants to keep her safe. He didn’t realize how much until now.
When he walks through the door, Rosa is standing at the kitchen sink. “Hi, how was your day? Wait a minute, why are you home? Aren’t you supposed to be with Eva?”
“Auntie, she sent me home.”
“What? Why?”
“We had an argument.”
“An argument? What in the world could you two possibly be arguing about?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Well, I obviously don’t have anywhere to be. Start talking.”
“Okay,” Gabriel says, pulling out a chair at the kitchen table and sitting down. “Well, last night I forgot my bag and I went back to Eva’s to get it. The security guard just let me up without calling Eva. When I got into the apartment, I found her hiding in the closet. She was scared to death.”
“Why in the world would she be hiding in the closet?”
“Some Detective called her and told her that Ryan, what’s his name, got released from jail.”
“He what?”
“Apparently he’s paid his debt to society. The Detective called to let Eva know because, I guess, when they cleaned his cell there were notes or something about Eva.”
“Notes?”
“Yeah, I guess the Detective thinks that Ryan might come after her.”
“Oh my God.”
“Yeah so, when I let myself into Eva’s apartment, she thought I was Ryan, so she hid in the closet.”
“Poor girl. She must have been so scared.”
“She was. I could clearly see that she was terrified, so I offered to spend the night.”
“That’s where you were. I was wondering what happened to you. I thought you must have met up with some of your Navy buddies.”
“Well, in the middle of the night, Eva had a nightmare and she was scared, so she came and slept with me in the guest room.”
“She slept with you?”
“Not slept in the biblical sense, Auntie. We simply just slept.”
“Gotcha, and?”
“In the morning we kind of kissed.”
“You kissed?”
“We kissed and I thought everything was fine, and then boom, she completely turned and kicked me out.”
“Did she say why?”
“Nope. I tried to get her to talk to me, but she completely shut me down.”
“Mi hijo, you know what’s she’s been through.”
“I know. I don’t hold anything against her. I just wish that she would talk to me, instead of flying off the handle and shutting me out. I thought that after everything that we’ve gone through in the past couple of weeks, that she would know that I am not the enemy.”
“Eva is a confused girl. You know that she hasn’t been with a man in five years. Have you tried calling her?”
“This all just happened. I tried calling once, but she didn’t answer. I thought it would probably be best if I just left her alone for a while. The only problem is I’m worried about this Ryan guy.”
“When Eva is angry or upset, she does like to retreat. I do think it’s a good idea to let her have some time alone to think. Eva is a sensible girl, most of the time, so just give her some time. She will come around.”
“I hope you’re right, Auntie. I really like Eva. I think that she’s an amazing woman and I think that we are good together. I think that I can see a future with her. I honestly think that we could go somewhere.”
“Eva would be lucky to have you, Mi hijo. I think that she will realize that.”
“If anything happens to her, I won’t be able to forgive myself.”
“I think Eva will be fine. She lives in one of the safest buildings in the city. Ryan Collins is going to have a hard time getting to her. Just let her calm down and then try to approach her again.”
“You’re probably right about the building, but I would feel better if I were there with her.”
“It’s going to be okay. Let me cook you some breakfast.”
“Thanks, Aunt Rosa.”
* * * * *
Eva listens to Gabriel’s voice message. It is probably the tenth message that he has left that she hasn’t responded to. She paces around the apartment. She’s been doing that a lot lately. She’s been having trouble sleeping and she’s uncomfortable most of the time. She hasn’t been able to write more than ten words a day. Her mind has been so preoccupied that everything she writes comes out sounding like gibberish, complete garbage. She can’t stop thinking about Gabriel and she can’t stop thinking about Ryan.
She can’t sleep because she wonders if Ryan is going to come and kill her. She’s called Detective Sims, but he doesn’t have any answers. They haven’t found Ryan and they have no idea where he is. It’s as if he has disappeared off the face of
the earth. Apparently, there is no record of him anywhere.
It’s been five days since she’s seen or talked to Gabriel. He’s been calling, but she’s been refusing to take his calls. She’s not entirely sure why she won’t talk to him, but she can’t bring herself to answer the phone. She doesn’t know what to say to him. She thinks that it’s mostly pride that keeps her from taking his calls. Deep down she is really embarrassed by her behavior. She shouldn’t have treated Gabriel the way she did and she knows it. He didn’t do anything to deserve being kicked out by her.
She knows now that what she did was mainly out of fear. Her fear of rejection outweighed all sense. She knows that she owes Gabriel an apology. Judging by his voice messages, he isn’t holding anything against her. The words that he says during his messages are all kind and full of worry. He just wants to talk to her, and really, she wants to talk to him too.
Her thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. A feeling of fear shoots through her. Why didn’t the security guard call her? She’s scared to look through the peephole, so she calls through the door. “Who is it?”
“Eva, it’s Gabriel.”
“I don’t want to talk to you. Go away.”
“Eva, come on, this is stupid. We’ve fallen out over nothing. This doesn’t make sense. Please let me in.”
“What do you want, Gabriel?”
“I just want to talk to you. I’ve been so worried about you. I just want to make sure that you’re okay.”
Eva contemplates whether or not she wants to let Gabriel in. She does want to see him too. She decides that enough is enough. She decides that she is going to go with her heart and not worry about outcomes. She unlocks the door and opens it. When she sees him, she feels worried. He looks like he’s had just about as much sleep as she has.
He immediately wraps her up in a hug. “Eva, I’m so glad to see you. You have no idea. I’ve been going crazy.”
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