I need a picture. I don’t care that she’s naked and she might be offended. Fuck her female insecurities, I need a picture.
Then I need my phone.
The phone that is still buzzing.
I slowly untangled myself and crept like Spiderman to keep her asleep. She’s a deep sleeper so I’m not even sure the creeping was necessary.
Once I was out she moved to her stomach and the picture was even more of a necessity. I slipped on my boxers and took out my phone. I ignored all the BS to get to my camera and took a shot of her. Red hair draped across her face and down her back.
I got one of those then slowly moved a strand from over her eyes to get another. That’s when I saw the text from my father.
It read,
“Gabriel. Answer the bloody phone!”
I hurried to get my pants on then stepped into her bedroom and closed the door. I called him and waited. If it’s almost six in the morning here it’s almost two in the afternoon there.
“Where the fuck have you been?” he answered.
I thought up a dozen lies but went with, “my phone died. What’s wrong?”
“Your assistant won’t stop calling me. He says there’s a crisis in your electronic division. A strike. Get your ass in London, I’m not dealing with your business.”
Funny since I deal with all his. “I’m not due back until tomorrow-.”
“I booked you a flight going out from L.A.X. in three hours. Counting in traffic you should’ve been on the road five minutes ago. Danielle already packed your things.”
I felt a cut off of air. Getting on a plane meant leaving Brianna sooner. It meant there would be no ‘tonight.’ No, last date. No, making love in the full sense.
“I have…” I took a breath. “Things to finish here. I need more time.”
“The bridge has been built between us and Vicars Interactive, the meeting you had with the investors is done, and the cuts will be applied today. You have nothing else to close up there. Unless you mean that girl. You can close all the deals you want with girls on home soil. Just get here.”
I hated how he talked. Even how he speaks grinds my mood. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is if you have your head on. If this girl is tying you up in knots you’ve already given the little cunt more control than she should have. Don’t let a woman be your downfall, there’re better blazes of glory to go out in. Get on the plane.” He hung up and I stared at the wall for a time.
There’s a small part of me so severely disappointed. Maybe even devastated. Then I reasoned with myself while I paced her little room. My father is right. I’m not thinking. I haven’t been myself in a week. No bad habits, then taking time to date. Who am I? He’s right; I’ve given her too much.
Then the cuts to Vicars Interactive came to mind. I made a call to ensure Brianna would keep her job but Pat…Pat was the scapegoat.
I went back into the living room and didn’t look at her the whole time I dressed. When I was done I allowed myself to look. I crouched down by her head and debated just leaving. Not like I can leave a note…
I snuck her phone and put her number in my contacts. We have never exchanged information. I would wink out of her life like nothing happened. That’s why saying goodbye was crucial. She’d had enough men leave her in the dark.
“Brianna.” I touched her shoulder and pet her. “Love, wake up.”
She said something under her breath then stretched on her stomach before opening her eyes. “Gavin?” She reached out and felt my face. I closed my eyes and took in that moment.
“I’m right here.” I held her hand to my cheek. “Seems…our time is up sooner than I expected.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have to go back. Trouble on the home front. Gabe needs me to go back with him now. This morning.”
“What about-?”
“I know,” I kissed her knuckles, each one, “this puts a damper on our plans…doesn’t it?” She tried to take her hand back but I didn’t let go. “Don’t, it’s not what you think.”
“You changed your mind.” She said with certainty.
“No, not in the slightest. I wanted tonight more than I’ve wanted anything.”
“Then stay. Gavin, at least stay for tonight.” She pulled the back of my neck close and I kissed her like I don’t have a will. “I want you; I want you to be my first.”
“You’re killing me, Brianna. Every word you say is murder right now.” I sighed. “I want all that too Love, but I can’t. I have to go.”
“What if…I wait and you come back?”
I kissed her slow then pressed my forehead into hers, “I’m not the man for you. I was a Mr. Right Now, not a Mr. Right. I haven’t even been myself this week. I’ve been what you’ve made me. I won’t have time to come back to America for months. I have engagements in London and from there I’m all over the globe. This will be it for quite a time.”
She tried to say something but it came out in a wobble, “well…okay. I understand.”
The knife is in and it’s getting twisted, that’s how this feels. “Goodbye, little American.” I teased to take the weight off the air.
She took a few breaths, “goodbye.”
We kissed but I broke it off coldly to stand and go. I didn’t look back even when I heard the canyon deep split in my heart.
Drink. Party. Fuck. Sleep. Repeat. Here I am again. I’m the Gabriel Gilmore women want and the business man that has his name on elite merchandise.
I drink until the numbness settles in and I smoke to kill the edge. I fuck to remember her, and I sleep to dream even when I can’t.
Life goes by in a blur and I spend my money in frivolous ways. Sure I have the charity galas for show or the occasional school funds and world hunger benefits but I’m back in my shallow pool of nothingness.
I went to India for a debriefing from my tech workers. Then Japan for the second merger I had up my sleeve. Next was Sweden for imagery shots we needed for the sites. I slept with models, actresses, clients, fans, club dancers…I saw her face every time but I’m too selfish to mourn her loss alone. I’m a high junkie and I’ll take what I can get.
I leave them before sun up, though.
I don’t bring them gifts.
I don’t take them on dates and I know they don’t care, because it’s not me they want anyway. It’s my money, my fame, and my power. Because like father always reminds, that’s all women want.
Women can’t be trusted.
Except one.
And I left her in America.
BRIANNA
May
When Gavin said he was leaving a day early, I wiped away my tears and whispered, ‘plot twist,’ to myself.
Now here I am in the last week of May and it’s been a little over six weeks since he left. I didn’t have a total break down or throw myself upon a bonfire to highlight longing. I just lived day to day and thought about him in my private time. Okay, all the time. I went to work every day thinking Gabe Gilmore might need to promptly appear for a meeting or a powwow of sorts with Gavin in tow but nothing. No word of the millionaire or his assistant.
I found out Pat was laid off a few days after he left and that didn’t help. I’m running the desk by myself so I come home half dead. Then I sleep. I sleep all the friggin time. Vitamins don’t work, coffee doesn’t work, Moses’ teas don’t work, not even my exercise routine. Actually, I’m too tired to even keep up with that.
I think I’m a little depressed too. Being cut off from someone that you bonded with is a cold feeling. Even if it was short lived, you exchanged a part of yourself, but I don’t think he thinks of me like I do him.
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. It was loud and obnoxious so I could always find it but throwing it sounds appealing.
I sat up on my couch still in my office clothes. I’m a disheveled mess I’m sure. Ugh. Nausea hit me like a frying pan to the face. I sat up too fast. I felt around on the coffee table and a
nswered, “what? Hello? Hello?”
“Bri?” Asked Chloe.
“Oh, hey, girl. Sorry I snapped.”
“That’s okay. Are you alright?”
I considered the headache… “I’m fine. Just never getting enough shut-eye. Not that I have to shut my eyes for it to be dark. You know what I mean.”
She laughed, “Maybe you’re coming down with something?”
“It’s possible, I’m a little achy. Even my boobs ache.”
She laughed again. I’m so funny.
Chloe sounded like she was at her school because I heard the intercom in the background. “I’m only calling because Moses called me. He said you didn’t show for your evening meditation. The one you guys do after his yoga class.”
“Shit!” I held my forehead and leaned forward. “Ugh, I’m so, so sorry. Can you tell him I’ll get there next week? I just can’t handle anymore right now.”
“Sure, are you still coming for game night on Saturday?”
I felt around for my shoes. “I can’t, my dads are coming for the weekend and they want time with me. So you and Moses can headboard bang all night.”
Her laughter is great; Chloe makes me feel like everything is normal even though for some reason it’s not. “I sent him a pole dance the other day; I thought he was going to kill me since he was at work. I got serious payback when I got home.”
I smiled to myself. Chloe and Moses are my couple goals. They’re best friends and now they’re in love and they seem unstoppable, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. “When my dad’s leave let’s have a girl day? We can go shopping or something.”
“Oh Bri, I need it so bad. I miss you, it’s been like a week right?”
“Yeah,” I felt a sudden need to get off the phone. My body is shutting down again. I want my work clothes off and I want inside my bed. “Okay well…we’ll talk. Hug Moses for me.”
“I will. Bye girly.”
I stood up and felt my way to my bedroom.
Chapter Eight
BRIANNA
Couple days later I got the knock on my door as my Dads arrived bearing gifts like always. Ray and Tony are the parents that I think my other parents sent me from heaven, even if they were late in coming.
Though they’re a gay couple, one couldn’t tell by looking at them, they’re both far from flamboyant or stereotypically feminine.
Ray is an architect and he’s shorter, about my height and built lean with red hair just like me.
Tony is a cop and he’s a head taller than Ray and I. His build is thicker and he keeps his hair shaved close.
“How’s our girl?” Tony asked as he came in with what felt like a pretty big box. He set it down to hug the life out of me.
“She’s exhausted, Daddy, but good,” I told him.
Ray got me next and then stopped to look me over, “You look great little one.”
They sat in my living room and filled up the empty space with talk and laughter. I needed this. “I missed you guys,” I told them as I brought in two coffees. They know I’m too stubborn to let them serve themselves. “I think I needed this.”
“You sounded glum on the phone,” Tony observed. “Something wrong at work?”
I shook my head. “I miss Pat. She wasn’t always easy to work with but she was my friend. We still talk but…”
I felt Ray shift on the couch, “are they still your dream work? Vicars Interactive?”
“Yeah, I love it. They even approached me about doing a documentary for the company about our advanced technology for the blind. I said yes. I really do believe in their electronics but the cuts made since the merge with Gilmore’s International have been pretty devastating. I think they’re trying to pressure Vicars to sell.”
Tony sipped his coffee then said, “Gilmore’s International is so big. Most electronics come from them. Hell, half the plugin shit at our house is Gilmore products.”
Ray agreed, “It’s an enormous enterprise sweetie. Vicars might do well to sell.”
I felt annoyed, “but Vicars has heart. The stuff they put out is for people like me with either sight challenges, disabilities… the Gilmore chain doesn’t care about all that, they care about getting the newest, fastest car. Gabe Gilmore is a greedy prick.”
Ray laughed but Tony came to his defense, “I don’t think it’s the son…I think it’s the father. The dynasty is mostly his dad’s, but Gabe started the branch in electronics like phones, computers, notepads… the kid made a fortune on the first try but he still works with his old man from time to time.”
I muttered over my cup, “He should stop trying to please Daddy and be his own person.”
Ray set his cup down, “don’t judge little one. You don’t know the story. No one does.”
I know he’s right. I probably dislike Gabe Gilmore more because he took Gavin. That’s not a reasonable reason.
“Can we eat?” I asked them. “I’m suddenly feeling like I could eat a Zebra.”
They laughed and stood. Tony took my arm and Ray handed me my purse.
Tony kissed the top of my head, “so who’s the guy?” He asked. I heard Ray step out into the hall ahead of us and out of earshot.
“What guy?” I asked.
“The one you’re pining for.”
I sighed and leaned into his arm, “no one good enough to fill your shoes or Daddy Ray’s.”
He laughed, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah daddy, I’m fine. Hungry as hell but fine.”
Two days later after they left I sat on the floor of my office bathroom throwing up all of breakfast… “I’m not fine,” I said to the empty stall. Then I sat up on weak legs and walked out after cleaning up.
I made it down the hall but then Mr. Vicars came out of his office with a tuna and pickle sandwich and I ran back to the bathroom to hurl again. I ran face first into the stall door. Fuck. That hurt. Then I folded up and hurled some more. I think I threw up a penny I swallowed when I was a toddler. That’s how bad it was but by mid-morning, I was doing okay.
In fact, by lunch, I was vampire hungry. The kind where you smell food from six blocks down and salivate. So when Jacob came in and drummed my desk while chewing on…something I got snappy.
“Could you not do that tapping thing?” I asked. “It’s irritating.”
“Sorry,” he said around a mouthful. “What’s got the pussy cat so sour?”
“Nothing…I’m tired and…hungry, what is that? What are you eating? What’s that smell?”
“It’s a meatball sub from that shop across from the one that sells bongs and bowls and pretty much everything for pot except pot.”
“Oh,” I grimaced, “I hate meatballs.” But why does it smell good? I swallowed, “so what are you here for?”
“I have a mock up done for the new sign language app. I have to show Vicars.” He took another noisy bite.
“Tell me you made an appointment this time?” I cut.
He groaned getting pissed, “no, can you just tell him I have it? God, it’s like making a date with the president.”
I put on my headphones to hear the call back of Vicars schedule but that fucking sandwich is distracting me. “He can see you in ten minutes. He has an opening after the software guy leaves.”
He sighed, “okay, whatever, I’ll wait I guess.”
“Let me taste that.” I kinda shouted it. Oops. That wasn’t my intention. “I’m sorry, but your sounds are making me crazy and it smells so weirdly good. Can I just…?”
He put it in my hand, “knock yourself out, woman. That’s the second half. The thing is so big even I can’t finish it.”
Oh, but I can. Holy shit this is the best freaking sandwich ever! One bite in and the mozzarella and the sauce is just melting in my mouth. The meatballs! Oh, the meatballs! “I hate meatballs,” I said around a full mouth.
Jacob laughed, “don’t look like it.”
“Oh, God,” I moaned, “this is food of the gods. Like…like this is sex food y
ou know? Like, eat until you need crutches, good.”
He laughed but I’m serious. Before Vicars even came out it was gone and I felt deep level depressed.
“Dang girl!” said Jacob, “you beat me on that one. You wolfed that like a pro.”
Vicars came out and called for Jacob but I stood, “can I have my break now?”
“See you in an hour,” Vicars said to let me know it was fine.
I grabbed my purse and my phone and unfolded my walking stick.
I could hear Jacob walking around the desk to meet Vicars, “where ya going?”
“To get more meatball, awesomeness.”
And God was it good. It was so good. It was even worth it when I threw it all up an hour later. Something is definitely not okay with me.
The next day Chloe and I went shopping. She knows my style so she finds me the best stuff and though I can’t see, she paints a great picture of what she buys for herself and I give opinions.
“Wow,” she said as we walked the mall.
“What?” I asked. I’m getting another headache and my stomach is about to eat itself with hunger but she doesn’t want to stop yet.
She went on, “in Men’s Tux Deluxe Shop, they have a poster up of Gabe Gilmore wearing one of their tuxes…he is so hot. Not Moses hot, but I’m in love so I have love goggles on.”
I poked her side, “no, you’re both hot people. I can’t wait till you build your super human race of more hot people.
She grinned, I can hear it, “yeah, I think when we have kids they’ll be pretty damn cute. Let’s hook you up with Gabe Gilmore and we can both get to work on making adorable babies.”
I shook my head. I’m annoyed when I hear the Gilmore name; it makes me think of Gavin. Thinking of Gavin makes my world feel small.
Thinking about us and what we didn’t get to do hurts me. There’s no reaching him or closure. He was just there one minute and gone the next. He woke up my body and now I know what pleasure is but have no one to share it with. Not sure if he helped or made life worse now.
The Co-Parent (The Relationship Quo Series Book 3) Page 8