by DHP
“But…”
“She may have said it was okay for you to be in a relationship, and from everything you have told me, she does mean it. But that doesn’t mean that the reality will be easy to accept. You’re not gonna lose me, but you do have to at least introduce me to Izzy and let her make up her mind if she’s going to like me and more importantly accept me as a permanent person in your life.”
“As much as I love her, I won’t let her tell me who I can and can’t see.” Gabriel said stubbornly.
Mario laughed. “Oh, baby, to quote a brilliant man, ‘If ands or buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.’ Whatever happens, happens, but I won’t give you up without a fight. You call her pigheaded? Well, she has yet to meet me. Now let’s go so we can get this relationship figured out.”
Chapter Three
Izabela Marioni woke to a hammering on the hotel room door. She knew who it was by the incessant pounding and wondered how the hell he found her. Knowing she couldn’t ignore him, she rolled out of bed and stumbled over to open the door.
She was ready for Gabriel when he made his move, and she just went with whatever he wanted…for the moment…
“Oh, no you don’t!” Gabriel growled as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. “I’ve had enough of your stubborn, pigheaded selfishness for the night. You’re gonna pack your shit, get in the fucking car and come home where we will be hashing this out.”
Too tired to care at the moment, Izzy did as she was told. Oh, Gabriel knew that if she was awake then he would have a hellcat on his hand. No one spoke to Izabela Marioni that way and lived to tell about it.
“Let me,” he said as he grabbed her bag in one hand, slung her purse on his arm and with the other arm guided her down to the front desk where they quickly checked out.
“You guys gonna be okay?” Mario asked softly.
“Yeah, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to drive us back home in her car.”
“Not a problem.”
Gabriel sighed. It was going to be a long-ass night, but he knew that he and Izzy were solid and that if she hadn’t been so tired the situation wouldn’t have been so bad.
“Yeah, she just has to get some sleep then we have to talk. It will all be okay tomorrow.”
Mario leaned in and placed a kiss on the top of the silky blond hair. “Call me when you can?”
Gabriel pulled away quickly and looked deep into the dark chocolate brown eyes framed with insanely long lashes. “I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll all go out to eat. Maybe we can salvage our first Valentine’s Day with dinner at least.”
Mario nodded and pulled the smaller man into one last tight hug before he slid into his car and drove off into the night.
Turning to look down at his best friend, he slid into the car and grumbled, “If you cost me the one man I could love, I will have a hard time forgiving you, Izzy.”
****
“Okay, wake up now. We’re home and we are going to talk!” Gabriel growled as he slammed the car door.
Izzy allowed herself to come fully awake. Oh, she knew that she had fucked up. The drive to the hotel had let her think things through, and she knew that she acted deplorably. She didn’t know why she had become so jealous when she saw Gabriel and Mario together. Maybe it was because she knew how alone she was now. If Gabriel had a man in his life then he wouldn’t have time for her. It was irrational thinking on her part, and a small voice deep in her told her so, but the hurt and jealous feelings where still there.
Knowing she had to fix things for her friend, she got out of the car and slowly walked into the house.
She found Gabriel standing in front of the fireplace, staring into the flames, which he usually did when he was truly pissed off. Knowing better than to approach him, she sat on the arm of the couch and tried to repair the damage.
“I acted horribly when I came home, and there is no excuse or explanation I can give to make it right,” she said softly. “I’m sorry wouldn’t even come close, would it?”
She knew things were bad when he didn’t respond in any way.
“Gabriel? I’m sorry, it’s just…I was jealous.”
That got him to swing around. “Jealous of what? Mario? Why in the hell would you be jealous of him? We are best friends, Izzy. We always have been and you should be happy that I have someone at last.”
She began to pace the floor. “I am happy, I truly am. It’s just that Valentine’s has always been our day. I even came home early so we could be together like we have every Valentine’s Day for six years. I walked in the door and saw the two of you together and it hit me—my best friend doesn’t need me anymore.”
Gabriel stared at her, unsure what to say.
“I want you to be happy, but you’re just going to have to let me get used to the fact that I’m not first and foremost in your life anymore.”
Gabriel pulled her into his arms. “You’re always going to be my best friend, and nothing will change that. If I had known you were coming back, I would have made plans for all three of us. You didn’t tell me, though, Izzy, so you can’t get pissed off or jealous because I chose to spend it with my new boyfriend.”
Izzy gave him a halfhearted smile. “Oh, just because I shouldn’t doesn’t mean I won’t.”
“If you want, I’ll cancel my plans with Mario and you and I can have our traditional Valentine’s Day.”
She shook her head and wiped away the tears that had slipped down her cheeks. “I want you to have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with the man you are in love with. I’m sorry. I felt like I was getting left behind. I can’t help what I feel.”
“I know, sweetie.” He sighed softly. “I wouldn’t date anyone who wouldn’t accept you’re a part of my life.”
She nodded. “I’ll make it up to you, all right.”
“It’s been a late night and I’m a bit tired. I’m going to go to bed, all right?”
She nodded. “Good night, Gabriel.”
He smiled sadly. “Good night, Izzy.”
****
Izzy watched the door shut and knew she had to fix all of this. She wouldn’t let her best friend hurt, and if she had to step out of the picture to make him happy, then she would. It would rip her heart out, but she wouldn’t be the cause of a failed relationship. She picked up Gabriel’s phone from the table and began to scroll through the contacts list.
“What did he say his name was?” she whispered to herself. “M something…Mario! Got it!”
Walking out to the back deck, as far away from Gabriel’s room as she could get, she pressed the talk button and waited, hoping he would pick up.
“Hey,” came a deep, sleepy voice.
Hearing the voice, she didn’t know what to say at first. Afraid he would hang up when no one responded, she said, “Um, hi, Mario, it’s Izabela Marioni.”
****
To say Mario was shocked by the call would be an understatement.
“What happened? Is Gabriel okay?” he demanded.
“Um, yeah, he’s fine. He went to bed. He said it had been a long night and didn’t want to talk anymore.”
“No shit,” Mario growled. “I don’t know if I would at the moment either.”
“I know and I’m sorry.” He could tell that she was crying.
“Look, is there a reason you called?”
“I wanted to apologize to you. I know I caused a lot of trouble, and I’m sorry. I can tell that Gabriel loves you, and I just want him to be happy and loved.”
“Well, I would love to be able to love him, but he won’t if you’re against us. So I guess that all depends on you.”
He heard her take a deep breath and then slowly release it. “That’s just it. I want him to be happy. I acted like a jealous girlfriend and I didn’t mean to. You see, every year since we have been living together we have spent Valentine’s Day together. We would eat way too much food, buy each other gifts, and sit at home watching love storie
s, wondering why we couldn’t find our Prince Charming. I knew he had started dating, I just didn’t think it would change things between the two of us. I walked in hoping to surprise him, and instead I was the one who got the surprise. It hit me all at once that everything he and I did, he would now do with you. I suddenly felt alone.”
“He never told me that.”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t mean we can’t do all that stuff. You will just have a third person.”
“No,” she sighed into the phone. “It means you need to show him that the day was made for lovers. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I always am.”
Before he could process everything that was said, she was gone.
Chapter Four
Gabriel woke up the next morning not wanting to fight with Izzy. He didn’t know what he was going to do with the woman, but he wasn’t going to lose Mario. He headed out to the kitchen for some mind- waking coffee. He didn’t function well first thing in the morning without it.
Following his nose, he smiled when he saw that Izzy had already made the strong brew and had his cup sitting there. He sat at the table and picked up the paper. He always skimmed the headlines but wasn’t interested in the news at large. Izzy though loved to read the paper, to watch the news, and try to engage him in conversations about current events. More often than not she would roll her eyes at him, declaring that one day the world would end and she would be the only one prepared.
“Hey, Izzy, do you want me to fix breakfast?” He called into the other room. He waited a moment before calling to her again. When he received no reply the second time, he walked down the hall toward her bedroom. Regardless of how angry he had been last night, he loved her and he did know that they would work everything out, and as soon as she met him, she would love Mario as much as he did.
“Well, not as much,” he reminded himself as he knocked on Izzy’s door.
When there was no answer, he turned the knob and stopped in his tracks. Everything wasn’t exactly as it should be. He could tell she wasn’t here, even without knowing if her overnight bag was gone. On her dresser was a note.
Gabriel and Mario,
First off, let me say how sorry I am for my unforgiveable behavior last night. Both for walking in unannounced and then for making you come and find me. Gabriel, as you know, my actions are instinctive. I react before I think things through. Mario, please, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my deplorable actions, I would be grateful.
Gabriel, you deserve to be loved, and from what you’ve said, you think Mario is the person for you. You deserve to be happy. I love you, but as you know, three’s a crowd, especially on Valentine’s Day. Life for me is about routine, and when something messes with my routine, I lash out. It is time for a change in tradition. I want you to have a wonderful Valentine’s Day with Mario and let me find a way to have a wonderful Valentine’s on my own. Right now that means spending the holiday at a spa and being pampered.
Everything changes, Gabriel. Nothing can ever stay the same, no matter how much I want it to. So let me give you this day in the only way I know how and let me celebrate it on my own in a way I find acceptable.
Happy Valentine’s Day, baby boy.
Izzy.
He was still growling a few moments later when his phone rang.
“Hey, it’s me.” Mario said.
Gabriel sighed heavily. “Hey,”
“How are things this morning?”
“She left.”
“Again?” Mario couldn’t keep the shout inside. “What the fuck is her deal?”
“Can you come over?” Gabriel asked, “I need you right now.”
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there.”
****
As Mario was running to his car his phone started to ring. “What?”
“Hey, Alecto and I are having a barbeque this weekend. Bring Gabriel?” his friend Trase asked.
“Let me call you back. I have a problem to deal with.”
“What’s wrong?” Trase asked in concern.
Mario loved that about his friends. No matter what was going on, they were all still there for each other if there was trouble.
“Nothing but a little drama. I should be able to handle it.”
“Well, you know where to find me if you need help.”
Mario laughed. “In Alecto’s bed! But thanks, Trase, I’ll let you know.”
“Call me,” the man ordered before hanging up.
Dropping the phone on the seat beside him, he quickly drove to Gabriel’s place and hopped out of the car. The door was opened before he reached it, the blond standing there in nothing but low-riding warm-up pants. Reaching out, he pulled Gabriel into his arms and kissed him deeply.
“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked after breaking the kiss. Gabriel handed him the note.
“It doesn’t say she is leaving you, Gabriel. It says she’s going to spend the holiday at a spa enjoying herself. She wants you to do the same.”
Gabriel nodded. “I know, but when we went to bed last night, I thought we would celebrate like we always had, just this time we all be picking out romantic movies.”
Mario sighed. “I know you expected it, but honestly, Gabriel, it’s better this way.”
“It won’t be the same.”
“No, and she knows that. Maybe next year we can have the threesome you expected, but right now it’s going to be the two of us. Consider it a Valentine’s gift from her. She’ll return sometime tomorrow.”
Gabriel sighed, walking into the house.
“You’ve been best friends forever. Believe me, this is just a little speed bump in the road.”
Chapter Five
Gabriel was cuddling on the couch with Mario watching a movie when there was a knock at the door. They looked at each other and shrugged before Gabriel got up to answer it.
“Mr. Gabriel White and Mr. Mario Tesoni?” a man in a suit asked.
Looking back at Mario, Gabriel nodded. “Yes, I’m Gabriel White.”
“If you and Mr. Tesoni would please come with me.” The man handed them an envelope.
“What’s going on?” Mario asked.
Shrugging, Gabriel opened the envelope and read aloud.
“Gabriel White and Mario Tesoni have reservations at Craston’s for seven pm. Then you will be taken to Evergreen Terrace for a balsamic vinegar dipped strawberries and champagne as you watch the sunset on the lake. From there you will be driven to Evergreen Inn where you have a weekend reservation for the honeymoon suite. In the morning you will be served breakfast in bed and from there you have several options on what you can do for the remainder of the weekend.”
“What the hell?” Mario stammered.
“Who is responsible for this?” Gabriel asked.
“A Miss Marioni made the arrangements, sir.” The man responded.
“Izzy?” the men said in unison.
“Sir, there is a personal note in the envelope as well.”
Pulling out the pink sheet of paper, Gabriel once again read aloud.
“It’s all about new traditions, Gabriel. I figured you would feel bad because I decided to have a spa day. I’m not going to let you two spend your first Valentine’s Day sitting at home watching movies and worrying about me. I’m all right. I always am. I love you so much, Gabriel, and I know that I will love Mario. Izzy.”
Gabriel sighed and leaned into Mario’s strong arms.
“I’ll wait in the limo while you get ready, and then we’ll be off.” The driver motioned over his shoulder at the big black vehicle in the driveway.
Turning in his lover’s arms, Gabriel smiled up at him and said, “I want to make it up to you and have a Valentine’s Day to remember. Join me?”
Mario smiled. “Izzy went through all the effort to give us this, so I think we owe it to both ourselves and her to make the most of it.”
Gabriel smiled. “Let’s
do it. There’s just one thing I need to do.”
“What’s that, baby?” Mario asked.
Pulling out his phone, Gabriel typed a message and hit send. “I told Izzy thank you from both of us.”
Mario smiled and took Gabriel’s hand. They went into the bedroom and began packing for their weekend away.
***
Izzy heard the beep of her phone announcing a text and after quickly reading it, she smiled and sank further into her mud bath. She really should have done this long ago. Hell, she might even see if she could stay an extra day.
Chapter Six
“Oh my God, that was so fucking good!” Mario groaned as they made their way to the hotel room.
“I didn’t know that Cranston’s was so decadent and sinful,” Gabriel replied. “We’ll have to go back, and this time take Izzy with us.”
“You think she’ll agree?” Mario asked. “I like the idea of being a family with her, but will she want that as well?”
Gabriel sighed as they stepped off the elevator to their floor and made their way to the suite. “I think she will. She loves me as I love her. I know with everything I am that once she has a chance to think it over and accept that even her deepest hopes can come true, she’ll jump at the chance.”
Pulling Gabriel into his arms, Mario kissed his lips. “I hope so. I think it could really work out to make us all a family. But, in the meantime, she has arranged for us to have a romantic evening, so let’s make the most of it.”
Moaning, Gabriel pushed Mario until he went flying backwards onto the bed before stripping his clothes off and then doing the same to Mario.
“I agree,” he said. “Let me see if I can remember where we left off.”
Smiling, Mario held out his arms. “I don’t want to start were we left off. I’ve already tasted that monster you have between your legs, and now I want to know what it feels like as it pounds me into this soft mattress.”