by Robin Huber
“I have to be, for your sake.”
“I know. And I love you for it. But I honestly don’t remember the last time I felt this happy. And it feels so damn good.”
She gives me a sincere smile and says, “You know, you still haven’t told me exactly what you’re so happy about.” She widens her eyes playfully. “What happened this morning?” She leans forward and asks very seriously, “Did you sleep with him?”
“Yes,” I say, smiling involuntarily, and her eyes widen to the size of saucers.
“Olivia!” She sits back in her chair. “Okay, tell me everything. How was it?”
I laugh. “Well, the first time was amazing. And the second time was also amazing. And the third time was pretty amazing too.”
She gasps dramatically. “You did not do it three times!”
“Yeah...we did.” I pull my hands to my mouth to cover my smile.
She slopes her shoulders and huffs. “I really don’t like you right now.”
I drop my hands and laugh at her.
“He’s like, ridiculously gorgeous. Pictures don’t do him justice. I can’t believe you were shagging him all morning while I was sitting here nursing my hangover.”
“Well, I didn’t just run over there and jump his bones, you know. I wanted to find out what happened last night. But when he told me he couldn’t be friends with me because he still loves me, and that he lied to me seven years ago because he thought I deserved better...I told him there’s nothing better than him...and then one thing led to another.”
“Wow,” she says. “All that before lunch. And here all I’ve done today is paint my toenails and watch Duck Dynasty reruns with your dad.”
I laugh. “Duck Dynasty?”
“Oh, yeah, Duke’s a big Duck Dynasty fan. Didn’t you know?”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it past him. Did you see the giant buck head hanging in his office?”
“Oh, yes, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Randy.”
We both burst out in laughter until tears reach the corners of our eyes. “My dad is so weird. Why would he name him Randy?”
“I don’t know, but being in your house and hanging out with your parents all morning has explained a lot about you!”
I laugh harder. “It’s a wonder you’ve stayed friends with me all these years. I have serious home-life issues.”
Trisha sighs and wipes her eyes. “Seriously, your parents are really awesome, Liv.”
“Yeah, they are. I love ‘em. They do crack me up, though.”
“Hey, if your parents make you laugh and not cry, that’s a win in my book.”
“One for the parents.” I high-five her.
“Speaking of your parents, when are you going to tell them about Gabe?”
“I actually invited him to dinner tonight. I hope that’s okay.”
“Hmm...I don’t know. I’ll be forced to sit across the table and look at his gorgeous face all night. That might be a deal breaker for me.”
“I didn’t think you would mind.”
“He doesn’t have a brother, does he?”
My mind drifts to Brandon. “No. No brother.”
“Darn.” She snaps her fingers.
“Hey, you can have Travis.” I give her a big, animated grin.
“Um, thanks, but I’ll pass. Trophy wife isn’t on my vision board.”
“Uhh!” I huff. “And you wanted me to make up with him?”
“Oh, honey, I never would have let you marry him. I just wanted you to talk to him and get closure, for your sake.”
“Well, that’s good to know.”
“So, have you talked to him yet?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. But I don’t know if it helped.”
“Why? What did he say?”
“That he wanted to come here and talk to me in person.”
“Seriously? What did you say?”
“I told him no, because there’s nothing left to talk about.”
“Well, did you tell Gabe about him?”
“Yeah, he knows.”
“Does Travis know about Gabe?”
“He knows of him. But no, he doesn’t know that we’ve gotten back together. It only just happened.”
“Are you going to tell him?”
“I wasn’t planning to. It’s not really any of his business.”
“And you’re not the slightest bit concerned that Travis will come here anyway and interrupt your little honeymoon?”
“Well, I wasn’t...until now. You think he would?”
She taps her fingernails on the table. “We’re talking about Travis here. He’s nothing if not determined.”
“Well, that can’t happen. Gabe knows about him, but I don’t need Travis coming here and making a scene. Forget determined. Travis is the most competitive person I’ve ever met. Maybe tied with the most stubborn.”
“Hence his reluctance to let you go.”
“Trisha, if he comes here, it could be a disaster.”
“Well then, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“How?”
“First, you need to call him. Tell him that you’ve moved on with Gabe. And...I’ll be your backup. I still see him at the gym sometimes, so next time I do, I’ll mention how well you’re doing, how happy you are with Gabe, etcetera. Not sure how much reinforcement it will take, but I think we can get the message across.”
I bob my head. “All right. That’s a good idea.”
She reaches across the table for my phone and holds it up in front of me. “Go on, then.”
* * *
“Liv, honey, can you grab the cream, the wine, and the parmesan cheese from the fridge?” my mom asks. “Use the cheese grater and make little parmesan shavings for me, okay?”
“Shaved parm. Got it.” I grab the ingredients for my mom’s famous bowtie chicken alfredo pasta and follow her instructions.
“What can I do, Maggie?” Trisha asks.
“How about setting the table? We’re going to eat in the dining room.”
Trisha’s eyes light up. “You’ve got it. One tablescape coming up.”
My mom pulls four plates down from the cabinet and stacks them in Trisha’s hands.
“One more,” I say, glancing up from my task. “Gabe is coming over to have dinner with us.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea, Liv? I thought you were taking this new friendship slow.”
My throat feels dry when I consider telling her that we’re no longer just friends, but I decide to focus on her questioning of my judgement instead. “I wouldn’t have invited him if I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
“Well, I wish you would have talked to me about it first.”
Trisha gives me a knowing glance and discreetly leaves the kitchen.
“Well, I wish you would stop acting like I’m some kind of fragile flower when it comes to him.”
Her silence raises the temperature in the room a few degrees.
“Want to say what’s on your mind?” I ask, keeping my eyes on my task.
“You want to know what’s on my mind? What’s been on my mind since the second I heard you were in an accident, since the moment I found out Brandon was gone, since you left for Raleigh seven years ago, and every minute of every day since you came home?”
I look up at her troubled face, but I know better than to answer.
“There’s only so much a person can take before they’re broken beyond the point of repair, Liv. We already lost Brandon. And then we lost Gabe. Maybe not physically, not the same way we lost Brandon, but we lost him all the same. I can’t lose you too.”
“You’re not going to lose me, Momma. And you haven’t lost Gabe. He’s still there.”
“Not the old Gabe. He changed after the accident. And he’s never been the same.”
“Maybe you’re just not looking hard enough.”
“Liv, honey, sooner or later you’re going to realize the boy you remember isn’t there anymore.”
&n
bsp; “That’s your problem. You’re so busy looking for who he used to be, you can’t see who he’s become. I don’t want the boy I remember. I want the man he is now. The incredible, broken man he is now. And he wants me too, cracks and all.”
She stares at me as this new information resonates. “I see.” She turns around and busies herself at the sink.
“Momma, I was going to tell you, but I didn’t want you to worry. I just thought—”
“You thought?” She turns around and looks at me again. “Liv, you haven’t been home long enough to give rational thought to any of this.”
“Hey”—I reach for her hand and look into her worried eyes—“I know what I’m doing, okay? I know what’s at stake and I don’t take it lightly. Neither does Gabe.” I give her a soft, reassuring smile. “He’s been through hell and back, Momma, but he is back. My Gabriel is still there. He was just waiting for me.”
She closes her eyes and, after a long, deep breath, she squeezes my hand. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am.”
She gives me a small, tentative smile and lets go of my hand.
“So, does that mean you’re okay with Gabe joining us tonight?”
“If you think it’s a good idea to have Gabe over for dinner, then I suppose I do too.”
“Really?”
“I miss him too, you know.” She pulls me into a hug and, after a few seconds, I feel long, skinny arms wrap around us.
“I love you guys,” Trisha says.
“We love you too, Trisha,” my mom says, detangling herself from us. “Now. Where did that bottle of wine go? I need a glass. Or three.”
“Me too,” I say, grabbing the bottle.
Trisha, still looking a little hungover, scrunches up her nose and holds her hand up. “I’m all set, thanks.”
“Something sure smells good in here,” my dad says, joining us in the kitchen. He walks over to the stove and picks up a piece of seared chicken that’s popping in the pan. He drops it into his mouth. “Mmm. You got a good scald on that chicken, baby,” he says to my mom over his mouthful, and she grins.
“Stop eating it or we won’t have enough for everybody.”
“Who’s everybody?”
“Gabe’s coming over to have dinner with us,” she says casually.
“Oh. Well, that’s good,” he says cheerfully. “That’s real good,” he repeats, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me into a hug.
I smile at him.
“You know, Gabe stopped by the office a couple of days ago,” he says, piquing my curiosity.
“He did?” I can’t help but wonder what else he was up to all week.
“I needed him to sign some papers. He seemed different, lighter than I’ve seen him in a long time. I think he might have even smiled.”
“Daddy.” I roll my eyes.
The doorbell rings and my heart jumps up into my throat.
“Well, go let the boy in,” my dad says to me, and I see a small smile on my mother’s face out of the corner of my eye.
I fight hard against a smile as I hurry to the front door. When I open it, I’m swept back to when I was sixteen, when Gabe stood on this very doorstep waiting to take me out on our first date. Except, instead of the teenage boy who stood before me then, I’m staring at a very tall, thickly muscled, scruffy-faced man. And instead of holding flowers, he’s holding a bottle of wine.
“Hi,” I say, exerting all my self-control to not jump up and kiss his full, cupid’s bow lips.
“Hey,” he says in a husky voice that oozes all things male. He grins and I know exactly what he’s thinking, because I’m thinking the same thing.
“Hi, Gabe,” my mother calls from somewhere behind me, and my indecent thoughts are quickly zipped up and tucked away for later.
“Hi, Maggie,” he says over my shoulder.
“Well, are you going to let him in, Liv?” she asks, stepping beside me.
“Sorry. Yes, come in.” I smile at him and step to the side.
“I hope you brought your appetite, Gabe. I’ve been cooking up a storm,” my mother says, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck.
He leans down to hug her. “It smells great, Maggie. I’m starving.”
My dad crosses the living room, extending his hand as he closes the space between him and Gabe. “Gabe,” he says, shaking his hand with a warm smile.
“Hi, Duke,” Gabe says, gripping my dad’s hand firmly.
“How ya doin’, son?”
“Can’t complain,” he says, masking a smile I can see in his eyes.
“Sure glad you could join us tonight. It’s been a while since we all shared a meal under the same roof.”
“Yes, sir. I’ve missed Maggie’s cooking, that’s for sure.”
“Oooh, what’d you bring me?” my mom asks, eyeing the bottle of wine in his hand.
“Momma told me this is your favorite.” He holds up the bottle and looks at the label.
“And that is why your mother has been my friend for twenty-five years.” She smiles up at him. “Thank you, sweetie,” she says, taking it from him.
“The infamous Gabe North. Long time no see,” Trisha says, joining us in the living room.
“Hey, Trisha. Good to see you again.”
“Thanks for relinquishing your hostage this morning. I was starting to feel neglected.” She smirks.
Trisha! I step on her foot.
“Ow!” she squeals.
Gabe looks at me and I look at my parents and they look at him.
“Is that where you were?” my mother asks, raising her eyebrows at me.
“So, who’s hungry?” I ask, clapping my hands together. I take Gabe’s hand and pull him into the dining room, and Trisha trails behind us, followed by my mother and father.
We sit around the table and eat and drink, until our stomachs are full and the wine has run dry. My mom prepared a ridiculous amount of pasta, salad, and buttery garlic bread, which is almost completely gone now.
The conversation has been light and even funny at times. My dad recited all his old jokes, most of which begin with two unlikely characters walking into a bar. And he and Gabe regaled us with stories from their recent hunting and fishing trips with Gabe’s father, Danny. I love hearing about the time they’ve spent together in the woods since Brandon died, something Brandon always said was good for the soul. I think it’s their way of staying connected to him.
Trisha recounted embarrassing stories from Raleigh, like when I tripped down the stairs at the Museum of Natural Sciences, and I told them about the time I made her laugh so hard she peed in her pants in the middle of Pullen Park.
“Momma, that was so good. Thank you for making dinner for us.”
“My pleasure, honey. I’m just happy to have a full house to feed again.” She smiles and reaches across the table for Gabe’s empty plate.
He stands up and takes it from her. “Let me, Maggie.”
“Yeah, Momma, we’ll clean up. You go relax.”
“Oh, well, all right, if you insist.” She smiles.
“We insist. Go.”
We send my mother and father out of the room and go clean up the mess in the kitchen. When we’re through, I tell Trisha that I need to drive Gabe back to his truck.
“It shouldn’t take long. Charlie’s is only a few miles from here.”
“No need to hurry. I’m heading off to bed anyway. I want to get an early start tomorrow, so I can get back in time for my date with the hockey player.” She presses her lips together over an excited smile.
“What? What date?” I ask, with eager curiosity.
She laughs and shrugs. “I wanted to tell you before, but you’ve had a lot going on.”
“Trisha Marie, I cannot believe you waited until now to tell me this!”
“I was waiting for the right time.” She laughs again. “He asked me out at our last appointment, and I said yes. So, he’s cooking me dinner at his place tomorrow.”
“That’s gr
eat, Trish.”
“I really like him. He’s funny and sweet. I think you’ll like him too.”
“I’m sure I will.” I pull her into a hug. “I’m so happy for you. And I’m so glad you came.”
She gives me a quick peck on the cheek and says, “Me too. This has been...well, eye opening, for one.” She laughs. “And so much fun. I love seeing you like this. I’m going to miss you when I leave in the morning, but this is where you belong.”
“Trisha.”
“I mean it. And don’t worry about Travis. Now that he knows you’re with Gabe, I think you can finally put him behind you. And I’ll be on the lookout for him at the gym, just to drive it home.” She winks.
“Thanks.” I really hope she’s right. Travis was just as stubborn on the phone today as he was the last time I spoke to him. But, it felt good to be honest with him about Gabe.
“Is that it?” Gabe asks, returning from trash duty.
“Yeah, I think so. I was just telling Trish that I need to take you to get your truck now. You ready?”
“Yeah. Sorry, Trisha. I swear I won’t hold her hostage this time.” He smirks.
She waves him off. “Don’t worry about me. I’m off to bed. I can already feel myself slipping into a food coma.” She gives him a quick hug. “It was really great to get to know you, Gabe.”
“You too, Trisha.” He glances at me and then gives her a sincere look. “And, I just wanted to say thanks...for being there for Liv, when I wasn’t.”
I swallow down the unexpected lump in my throat.
“Oh, yeah, of course,” she says, shaking her head, like she’s shaking off a bad memory. She shrugs and smiles at me. “Our girl turned out okay.”
“She sure did,” Gabe says.
“Okay. Well, now that we’ve confirmed my mental wellbeing, can we please go?”
They both laugh.
“Bye,” Trisha says, waving her hand at us as I lead Gabe out of the kitchen and into the living room where my parents are sitting on the couch, laughing loudly. The wine has definitely gotten to them.
“Gabe, you leavin’?” my dad asks, getting up from his spot on the couch.
“Yes, sir. I have a big order to fill for work and my boss is pretty demanding.” He laughs and so does my dad. “I’ve got to get an early start tomorrow.”
“On a Sunday?”