The Co-Parent (The Relationship Quo Series Book 3)

by Nicole Strycharz

  I looked at the picture and my father misinterpreted my quiet. He went on, “you’re the most wanted bachelor in society. Don’t ruin that for yourself. Your availability is part of your appeal. I don’t know why you would see this woman in open day but every inch you give her is a mile she can take to destroy you. Understand?”

  I looked at the picture then balled it up, “yes, Sir.” I tossed it in the bin and he hung up on me. My first worry was Brianna would see the picture but she can’t see. Then I worried someone she knew would see it and tell her but you really can’t tell from the picture who it is. My identity is safe from her for now but I’d forgotten about the press.

  Then there was a knock on my door. I drank more of my coffee, “come in.”

  The door opened and Brianna stepped in holding a manila folder that was thick with papers. “Mr. Gilmore?” She must have felt her way down the hall because she didn’t have her stick.

  I froze, unsure of what to say. I could throw her and just be myself, be Gabe, but I’m starting to hate the lies I’m telling her, “it’s just me Brianna.”

  She frowned, “did I count the office doors wrong? I thought this was Gabe’s office.”

  I peeled the cardboard on my coffee cup, “it is but he stepped out.”

  “Oh okay, well…” she took slow steps toward me with her hand out and felt the edge of my desk. “These are the print outs he wanted on the cuts.” She held them to her chest like she didn’t want to hand them over, “is it true then?”

  I drank my coffee then swallowed, “is what true?”

  “My voice over tech reads what I type back to me and reads what I’m supposed to type. Is the Gilmore enterprise buying out Vicars Interactive?”

  I sat back, “no, it’s a merge.”

  “But it said you’re making cuts to crucial wheels in the business. The some guys in tech are staying but the guys in distributions-.”

  I bristled, “they’ll be replaced with our guys.”

  “But usually a merger is like a marriage between two companies. They blend, and yeah jobs get cut but not the foundations…this looks more like a takeover.”

  “Don’t worry about things above your pay grade, Brianna.” Yes, I inserted foot in mouth.

  She fights fire with fire. “Try not to drown in the whiskey you have on your cheerios, Gavin.” She felt her way to the door and walked out.

  I jumped up and went after her because the little witch has a ring in my nose that’s invisible. “That was an ass thing to say, yeah? I’m sorry.” I told her as she made her way down the hall. She feels her way by dragging her fingertips across the wall.

  Her response is, “whatever, guys like Gabe Gilmore don’t care if tears wash their hopped-up cars.”

  I put my hands in my pockets. “It’s not like that. His father is the one making the changes. Gabe has his own industries to look after he’s just here to lay the groundwork.”

  “Does he have a spine when it comes to Dad or does he fight for an identity apart from him?”

  I growled inside. “Maybe don’t judge people. He owes his father a lot. You wouldn’t understand.”

  She made it to her desk and walked around to work. She walked back and forth between her spot and Pat’s collecting papers. “Just forget what I said. It’s bigger than both of us, I guess. I just…” she shook her head.

  I thought of what my father said, bang her and move on but looking at her right now his advice feels gross. She’s not some bimbo I found with a vulgar attitude and no morals. She’s so much more than that but she is clouding my focus.

  “Did I cost myself the night with you?” I asked.

  She stopped to look up at me. Her pale blue eyes see more than most people, “will you be sober by then?”

  I hate shame. I don’t normally feel it but she’s good at drawing it out. “I said I wouldn’t drink with you. I didn’t say I’d go clean.”

  She put her hands in her back pockets. “After your little snap, I want to say forget tonight.”

  My heart studded to a stop. I botched this pretty badly. “I’m sorry. Don’t take back tonight, though, five days and I’m gone. I don’t want to leave wondering what time with you would be like. I won’t have a reason to come out to Vicars after this week is done. So, can we leave work where it belongs and just be us? I don’t think you’ll ever know how good it’s been for me to be just…me with someone the last couple days.”

  Her cheeks blew out, “okay. I don’t want to wonder either. Just…no shop-talk.”

  “Agreed.”

  The concert later that night was nothing short of sensational but it was the ride home and the kiss at her door that got me. She pushed me out again, no sex. I’m not sure what she’s waiting for or why but now I have four days to seal the deal and it’s not enough.

  I can’t get over her until she’s been under me and the waiting is madness.

  Chapter Six

  BRIANNA

  Date number three. This means we have four days left. The first night was dinner on the boat and the beach walk; last night was the concert and tonight…tonight is more surprises. He took me to a wine tasting after school which we laughed about because technically he’s supposed to be sober when we hang out but he didn’t drink to get drunk and we took a cab.

  After the tasting, he took me to the pier again for night fishing. I’ve never gone so this was a new one. We sat side by side and talked for hours. I caught three fish!

  Gavin is morbid like me with humor and so patient. When he teaches his voice gets firm. I liked that. He also touched me more. His hands are big and the backs have thin traces of hair. He’s great at working with my sight challenges. He’s learned in a shorter time than anyone before how to work with me.

  As he walked me to my door that night I debated letting him in. We stopped in my hall once my door was open and he turned me around and kissed me. His mouth is so glorious he really knows how to shake me up.

  The goodbye kisses we share always get heated but tonight he’s really reaching. He gripped the backs of my thighs and hoisted me up against his body. I wrapped my legs around him and let all my other abilities heighten. His scent is expensive; oak and leather maybe. I don’t know what it is but it’s deadly to the ovaries.

  Then there’s the feel. His face is always stubbled with rustic edging and when I drag my fingers through his hair it’s curled tight to his head and softer than silk. His body is hard but warm.

  Moving to flavor, I can say I’ve kissed men before but Gavin tastes like strength.

  “Let me come in, Bri.” That was his first time using my nickname. “Please,” he pulled his head back and kissed the side of my throat. “Let me in.”

  I closed my eyes and let the press of his lips to my throat make me nuts. “Why should I let you in?”

  He pushed his hands up under my top so he could knead my sides, “because you want to. Because I want to. Because I don’t think I can get my fill of you before leaving so I need to start trying now.”

  I hugged his neck and unwrapped my legs to stand. He let me down by sliding me down his body. “Not yet Gavin.” I hate myself but I have to stay smart. “Soon. Just…not yet.”

  He breathed deep and pulled me into his arms. I feel he’s being dishonest with me about something but I can’t put a finger on what. His voice is what tells on him but it’s not really my problem. We’re just renting one another. Not sharing secrets.

  “It’s alright.” He said sliding a finger down my cheek, “I’ll just have to really wear you out when the day comes.”

  I smiled and kissed him, “goodnight, Gavin.”

  Date four…we now have three days. He picked me up at home because I didn’t go to school. He’s only here so long, I’m not missing this. He took me to the museum. He’d scheduled a descriptive tour, which meant I was allowed to actually feel certain sculptures. We walked the place hand in hand or I was on his arm, it was so perfect.

  On the way home he drove slow, milking the
time. “When you go back to England you should find a girl. A keeping girl. Not a fling.”

  He took an easy turn, “why is that?”

  “You said you aren’t boyfriend material but you actually are. You’ve come up with these, amazing ideas. I’ve never had a guy get this creative.”

  He took my hand from where it was dangling off the arm rest and held it. His fingers curled over my knuckles and I tightened my grip.

  He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles, “I did all this because you’re special, not because it’s in me to do it. I don’t know what sets you apart, but I wanted to do all this. I don’t want to do it with other girls.”

  I took a little comfort from hearing that. I don’t really want to envision him doing all this for someone else. He’s going to be that wonderful spring fling I had so I can experience the fun in life but him going away doesn’t make me feel right.

  He got me to my door and didn’t press to come in. He kissed me senselessly but then held my chin and said, “I don’t want this week to be over.”

  “Neither do I.”

  He kissed my ear then stepped back so I could close the door.

  Date five, so we have two days. This is Friday and he flies back early Monday morning. Today I called work to call out and something strange happened. They gave me the day off. I did it to get every bit of time in with Gavin so it was a happy coincidence.

  He took me to a local farmer’s market where we tried homegrown everything; cheeses, fresh fruits, herbs, hot meals prepared outside, and teas. He enjoys sparking all my senses; making me smell things, taste things…

  We even came across a guitar player at the market and he made me stop to sit with him and listen. He’s making me alive but I think I’m making him feel the same way.

  Then his plan was a pottery class. He’d obviously taken off from work too. This was a Brianna and Gavin day. That’s it. No phones even. I feel like he knows me better than some, and yet he knows nothing at all.

  He took me home and I stopped at my door after opening it. I faced him, “would you like to come in?”

  I feel like if I could see him, I’d laugh. He kissed me while walking me backward into the apartment. Guess that’s a yes.

  “Does this mean-?”

  “No,” I laughed. “I just meant to have tea or talk.”

  He made an exaggerated sigh and sat in my living room by the sounds of it. I sat on the sofa next to him but he gripped my waist and pulled me across his lap. “I’m not sitting this close and not touching you.” He reasoned.

  I felt around on his upper body trying to see him in my mind. “I agree.” I felt over his neck and chin then over his lips. “Two more days…” I reminded. “It’s gone by quick.”

  He bounced his knee so I’d adjust closer, “I don’t like that I’m saying this out loud, but I’m going to miss, everything about you.”

  I played with the neck of his t-shirt. “You’ll fill up the time. You’ll drink, party, smoke, meet girls and all this will be a distant memory.”

  He held my hand, “no it won’t. It won’t be distant.”

  I kissed his temple, “I wish we had a picture, something to remember all this with.” He reached into his back pocket and when I heard the buttons I tried to wriggle off his lap, “I said I ‘wish’ not ‘I want.’ I can’t even see it.”

  He laughed, “but I can. I want a picture. Please. Brianna, stop.” He held me down on his lap. “One picture.”

  I groaned but nodded and he kissed me. That’s when I heard the click, click.

  A kiss shot. Nice. I really wish I could see. That kiss turned hot again. He was tangling tongues with me and soon I was on my back against the sofa and he was laying over me.

  What just happened? I don’t know but it feels so good.

  I shouldn’t open my legs, but I did.

  Letting him unbutton the top of my shirt is a no, but I didn’t say no, I said yes.

  He’s opening my jeans…that’s…oh, this is making my stomach whirl in the best way.

  But then I pushed his chest. I know he hates that. “Wait,” I panted.

  He kissed my lips, “I know, I know,” he laughed, “Goodnight, Gavin.” He mimicked.

  GABRIEL

  Date six…one day left after this. It’s Saturday and tomorrow will be our last date night. So tonight must be special. That’s why when I went to pick her up, I brought a rose.

  “I have something for you,” I told her when she opened the door. I took her hands and set her finger over the tip of the thorns leading up, “it’s rough here, very difficult to grasp without getting hurt, but don’t let go…something beautiful is at the other end.” She felt the velvety petals and grinned.

  “What color is it?”

  “White, and smell,” I held it under her nose.

  She made that humming noise. “Thank you, Gavin. I love it.” She put it out in her kitchen.

  When she took my arm I led her out to Danielle’s car then got in with her.

  “So where are we off to tonight? You told me to get gussied up. So here I am.”

  I took her in, yes. She’s looking like a royal tonight. A Peach colored off the shoulder dress with flower vines traveling up her hip and side. She did just as I asked. This time I took her to an orchestra.

  I grew up in a world of elegance because of my father. He didn’t want an embarrassment so here I am, educated and knowing of the arts. Brianna has been an orphan, she goes to a community college and she’s no heiress to fortunes but she appreciated this performance like she was. She appreciates sound in a whole other way and so she cried.

  She didn’t weep uncontrollably but two tears made it from the same eye as she applauded them. I know because I wasn’t watching the orchestra, I was watching her.

  When it ended and we were leaving I saw through the glass doors of the theater that the paparazzi had accumulated outside and they were camera ready.

  I stopped and she stopped with me, “let’s go out the back way,” I told her.

  “Why?”

  “It’s crowded here.” I guided her out the back to Danielle’s car and I realized the car is why they haven’t kept up all week. They expect to catch me in one of my expensive cars.

  As we drove to her place I decided to breach a random topic that’s been on my mind since the first time I dropped her off, “why do you live in such a shady neighborhood?”

  She sighed, “please don’t start. Moses already hounds me about it daily but I like my apartment and I don’t see the dodgy appearance everyone else does.”

  “I agree the apartment is nice but…” I saw a gang walk by, “this is still rather sketchy.”

  “Believe it or not even criminals usually have a heart toward the blind. I guess there’s a code.”

  “Still…” I winced.

  She felt for my arm and found my hand, “it’s a boyfriend’s worry, not yours.” She teased but it annoyed me. She’s right, in two days it wouldn’t be my concern where she lived.

  “Do you mind stopping at a store?” She asked. “I need coffee for the morning and it’s not worth waking up like a devil.”

  I grinned and pulled over as a shop came into view. We went in together and I bought her coffee even though she fussed about it. Then we went out.

  While I was getting used to being around a blind person I still didn’t know all the rules.

  It’s strange how fast one can make a mistake.

  It takes me one second to slip my credit card back into my wallet, but as Gavin I carry cash, so unfolding the wallet to slip in the cash takes an extra second.

  In that second I wasn’t holding Brianna’s hand, she kept walking thinking the way was clear and I stopped at the light out of habit, expecting her to do the same.

  She didn’t and there was a car coming.

  In the blink it took me to drop my wallet and grab the shoulder of her dress, my heart accelerated to a deadly speed.

  The car flew by with a revving engine and I just
got Brianna out of the way by a hair. The wind from the car kicked up a breeze that we both felt on our skin, and I yanked so hard on the dress sleeve it tore a little and she dropped the shopping bag.

  She screamed when she heard the car and I held her back against my chest. When the street went quiet she spun into me and breathed so fast I thought she’d pass out.

  The car came back moving slower than a crawl and rolled the window down. The guy stuck his head out. “Your girlfriend okay? I’m so sorry man but I was sure she’d stop. I had the light and there’s no way she missed me coming.”

  Brianna was too terrified to talk; she just stayed in my arms trembling.

  I caught my breath and forced the fear down, “she’s blind…she can’t see. She’s…”

  The guy’s face fell in regret, “oh God. That was…I’m sorry. I’m-.”

  I shook my head and cradled hers, “no it was me. I wasn’t watching her and…we’re alright.”

  He swallowed, “are you sure? I didn’t hurt her did I?”

  “No, I got her. She’s okay, just shook.”

  After assuring him he finally drove away and I allowed my lungs to take in more air at a time. Visions of her hit and broken all because of me made my stomach turn.

  I got my wallet and got her to the car and she held herself the rest of the way. Neither of us said anything. By time I got to her place I was terrified she was angry. I let her down by not warning her about the light.

  I went to get her car door and she got out and waited for me. I thought on what to say the whole way to her apartment door and when we arrived I still wasn’t ready. I kept preparing myself for her to turn and tell me our time was up, that she didn’t want me taking her out again. This accident could’ve meant her life.