by Violet Duke
âYou want to do that right now?â
âI thought it would be a good time to talk about the future.â She swallowed the lump in her throat. âAbout our future plans.â
His face lit up and the sight of it made that lump return, bigger than before. âWe can go in my office, and you can borrow my laptop.â He took her by the hand. âMaybe we can include that in our future purchases, if you want oneâbut I do have a confession to make.â
âOh,â she said, heart pounding as they entered his office. She sat down at the table by the windows, and he sat across from her.
Booting up his laptop, he turned the screen to face her and said, âI might have bought you another wedding present. Itâll be delivered tomorrow. So donât peek at that expense.â
Another present? What could be better than the art kit heâd given her? She grabbed the material of her skirt and twisted. âI donât want to see your expenses.â
His brows drew together. âThen what do you want to see?â
âI want you to help me pay the legal fees for the lawyer.â
His face grew so dark that she almost ran out of the room. âWeâre not getting a divorce.â
âItâs not for that. Itâs for Ivy.â
âHow much?â His knuckles turned white around the fist he made.
She named the amount left to pay her lawyer. âYou can write a check out to Pellum & Foster if you think that would work better.â
âWhen?â
âBy the first of next month. Iâve paid through this one.â
He shut the laptop and rose to his feet, moving to his desk. He opened a drawer, and took out a checkbook, filled out a check, and then tore it off. âHere,â he said, placing it on the top of his desk. âI was thinking about going out tonight. Noah and Carlos invited me to Poor Boyâs, but I told them no, unless you think differently?â
Why did he have to be like this? Any other man would have stormed out, but her husband⦠he wanted her to know where he was going and who he would be with, and her opinion on the entire invitation. All that served to remind her that he didnât deserve her for a wife.
âYou should go,â she whispered. Go, so I donât have to see the disappointment in your eyes. She could never stomach his disappointment, one of the reasons why she always left Holland Springs after staying a while. Gabriel would get to her, with only a look.
âWill you be here when I get home?â he asked, and she wanted to cry, because he knew her that well.
âIâm not going anywhere.â
âNot until itâs decided about Ivy.â He sounded so defeated that her heart began to ache for him.
She nodded, biting her lower lip. There was nothing she could say, and what she wanted to say would do nothing to help.
*
GABRIEL NURSED HIS BEER while waiting for his turn at the dartboard.
Noah sat down beside him, after scoring three bulls-eyes in a row. âIt feels like we havenât talked in forever.â
Gabriel gave him a side-eyed glance. âWe talk every day at work.â
âYeah, but only about work stuff.â
âWhat would you like to talk about, Noah?â
âNothing.â Noah grinned over the rim of his glass.
Carlos stepped up to the table and tossed the dart on it. âYour turn, angel.â
âAngel Edwards, huh?â Noah made a noise. âStripper or ninja name?â
âNeither.â Though Summer tended to call him by the nickname when he was nude, or inside her. He swallowed.
Carlos looked at Noah. Together they said, âStripper name.â
âYou guys really need to stay off Facebook.â
âBut how else will I find out what people I havenât talked to in ten years are up to nowadays?â Noah quipped.
âIf you havenât talked to them in ten years, why would you start now?â Gabriel asked, scooping up the darts.
âBecause they accepted my friend request.â
âSound logic.â
âSays the guy who posted over a hundred pictures of his wedding.â
Gabrielâs mouth flattened. Who cares how many pictures he had posted of his and Summerâs wedding? She certainly didnât. Her not-so-little reminder tonight was loud and clear. She might give him her body, might even laugh with him, and confide some of the things that had bothered her for years, but never would she be his completely.
Yet, heâd given her his word, knowing exactly why she wanted his help, all the while thinking he could change her mind. God, heâd been such an arrogant fool, thinking he could change her anything.
âSore subject?â Carlos asked.
There was no way heâd talk to them about Summerâs plans. Carlos was half a beer away from saying, I told you so as it was.
Noah didnât have a clue about Summer at all, his view of the opposite sex was generally positive, no matter their reputation. Besides, there were only two people in his and Summerâs relationship, and neither of them were Noah or Carlos.
âIâm strategizing on how best to win,â Gabriel said instead, and it wasnât a lie. He really did want to kick Carlos and Noahâs butts. Usually they won. He was horrible at darts in college, and he was just as horrible now, but he didnât hang out with them to improve his gameâobviously.
âIf you strategize any longer, theyâll kick us out and start cleaning up.â
Noah snorted. âIf the bar starts closing at nine at night, then I need to move to another town.â
Gabriel looked around him, not for the first time noticing how young the bar crowd wasâlegal yes, but at least seven years younger.
âHave you guys noticed the crowd lately?â Noah suddenly asked, and both he and Carlos leveled their buddy with a look. âI feel old.â
A waitress walked by, wearing low-slung jeans and a halter-top that left nothing to the imagination, but Gabriel pretended he hadnât seen anything.
âTry thirty, and then talk to me about feeling old,â Carlos said with a grin.
âI will in February,â Noah said, rubbing the back of his neck. âMaybe we should find another place to hang out.â
âOr start playing this in my garage,â Gabriel offered. âBeerâs better and cheaper.â
âIâll toast to that,â Carlos said, holding up his glass. âShelia would be much happier with that arrangement.â
âIt has begun,â Noah said in a deep, booming voice. âOne wedding ring to rule us all.â
âShut up, Noah.â Carlos threw a pretzel at him. âShelia is very secure in our relationship, but bars like this⦠It seems kind of juvenile to hang out here and do the same thing weâve been doing since we were in college.â
Gabriel threw his dart and hit the number three. âAre we calling it a night, gentleman?â
âWith that score, you better hope we want to call it a night.â
âThatâs just sad, Gabriel. Weâve been playing for ten years, and youâre still just as bad.â
âSoâs your face.â
âClassic.â Noah emptied his bottle and set it down, leaving some cash for the tip. âReady?â
âHow about we continue our game another night?â Gabriel asked.
âFine with me,â Carlos said.
Noah shrugged. âI can catch up on Honey Boo Boo re-runs â
Gabriel struggled not to make a face and failed. âSounds interesting.â
âGreat television.â
âIf you say so.â
âI do.â
âIâm leaving.â
r /> Gabriel paid for his drinks, left a tip, and headed outside. The night was humid, so much so that it felt like he was drinking air instead of breathing it in. As he drove home, he thought of Summer, and whether or not sheâd be there.
Despite not arguing, his heart felt heavy. He wasnât sure how to proceed once he did get home. Assuming, once again, that Summer was actually there.
The outside lights were on when he pulled into the drive. He parked beside the truck heâd given her four years ago. Sheâd been so desperate, so frightened, and for once had looked to him to help her, really help her.
Heâd seen the need to be her hero and had taken the opportunity to play the part. So, he couldnât blame her for resenting and needing him at the same time.
But now. Now she was his wife.
He exhaled, parking his truck and heading inside.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
âI��M STILL HERE,â Summer said by way of greeting.
Gabriel hung up his truck keys and continued to the bedroom, but not before dropping a kiss on her cheek along the way. âWasnât worried.â
Relief flowed through her. He wasnât back to argue or fight with her. âDid you have fun with your friends?â
âI did, even though I suck at darts.â He paused at the entrance of their bedroom and gave her a self-depreciating grin. âMaybe Iâll win next time. Iâm getting in the shower, to wash off the stench of Poor Boyâs, if youâd like to join me.â
Images of him in the shower, water running down his hard body, made her squirm. She crossed her arms. âI already had one.â
âSuit yourself,â he said, and she watched as he disappeared.
She picked up the remote and clicked on the television, channel surfing until he appeared in the doorway again, with only a towel wrapped around his lean hips.
Her mouth went dry.
âIâm going to bed now.â
There was no way she would join him in there either. She had to start distancing herself. The honeymoon was over. After everything was sorted out with Ivy, their marriage would be over.
âIâm not tired,â she said, tearing her gaze away from him.
âMe neither,â he said.
Oh God. Please donât ask me to come to bed with you. She stared harder at the television.
Gabriel appeared before her. Unfortunately, he had on a pair of pajama bottoms. Though the view of his muscular chest was niceâand bad. Very bad to her determination. âLetâs go outside.â
âWhy?â
âTo play with my telescope.â
Mulling over his words, Summer clicked off the television. Surely, taking part in an activity that didnât involving kissing or touching would be okay. After all, she didnât want to leave him with completely horrible memories of her.
âOkay.â
Smiling, he pulled her up from the couch and led her up the stairs to a room in a corner of the house. Since she hadnât allowed herself to explore his house, she was seeing it for the first time. It was empty.
She frowned. âWhereâs your telescope?â
âRight through those doors.â
Opening the French doors, Gabriel waited for her to step outside first. The night sky greeted her, saturated with stars, so many stars that the sight took her breath away.
She reached out to touch one, and then drew her hand back at her foolishness.
âI feel the same way,â he said, running his fingers though her hair. âDid you know that you can buy a star for someone, and have it named for them?â
No touching, she wanted to shout, but she was weak and needy for his touch. And greedy. She wanted to savor all his touches and kisses, before she had to leave him.
âNo,â she said shakily. âI didnât know that.â
âLook through here and you can see a pretty crown,â he said, tapping on the end. âI would have named it for you, but someone beat me to it.â
âOh.â Unsure of what to think of his statement, Summer leaned down, closing one eye and peering through the lens with the other. âI canât tell which one is which.â
âSeven stars forming a u-shape. Itâs called Corona Borealis.â
She looked up from the telescope and made a face to keep from smiling. âItâs named for a beer?â
He grinned. âYou know itâs not.â
Shrugging, she bent to the telescope once more and found the seven stars that formed the u-shape.
âLegend has it that Theseus gave the crown to Ariadne for helping him defeat the Minotaur. She wore it at their wedding.â She heard him move closer to her, running his hands down her back. âThey worked together, you see, to defeat something that no one else had before. Alone, neither of them would have survived.â
âSo they lived happily ever after?â
He exhaled. âIâd like to think so.â
âBut they probably didnât.â She stood and turned around.
âI still like to think so,â he repeated.
âIâm not trying to change your mind.â
He made a noise. âNo, youâre trying to make sure yours doesnât ever change.â He ran a hand through his hair. âI really am going to bed now.â
âIâm not tired.â
âOkay,â was all he said as he walked inside.
She wanted to go after him, but she made herself remain still and calm. Once she was sure enough time had passed, she headed inside, shutting the doors behind her and hurrying to their bedroom.
The lights were off, but moonlight outlined his form in a soft, blue-white glow. She got into bed with him, curling up in a little ball, careful not to touch him. She didnât deserve to touch him.
But he had other ideas. Gabriel rolled over, snaked one arm around her middle, and hauled her against him. He sighed. âMuch better.â
Against her better judgment, she allowed herself to stay there and be lulled into sleep by the warmth of his body. He relaxed against her.
Her eyes flew open, and she made herself scoot away, but his arm shot out again and pulled her back.
With a little sigh, she gave in again, with the knowledge that come tomorrow, sheâd be stronger.
*
SUMMER WASNâT STRONGER the next day, especially after a bright, green convertible VW Bug was delivered to his house. Heâd even had it wrapped in a bright pink bow.
It wasnât the present itself that had made her weak; it was the meaning behind it. Still, she steeled herself, thanked him sweetly, and swore to be stronger the next day. Unfortunately, she failed miserably, and continued to do so, day after day.
She was weak, completely and utterly weak.
Why just yesterday afternoon, Gabriel had stopped by, locked the door to Carolina Dreams, and carried her upstairs, where they spent the rest of the day in bed. Heâd been more than a little enthusiastic when she climbed on top of him and rode him backwards. His hands had cupped her breasts and his hot breath had scalded the skin behind her ear.
Jemma Leigh snapped her fingers at Summer, and she blinked, face heating.
âIâm sorry. What did you say?â she asked.
âNewlyweds.â Smiling a little, Jemma Leigh patted her hand. âHave you two even finished opening all the wedding presents? Iâll be happy to help you with all the thank you cards.â
âOh, Iâll let you know.â Summer hadnât opened a single present, because she planned to return every single one of them. âSpeaking of presents.â Summer reached into her purse and drew out a scroll, with a bright pink bow tied around the middle. âThis is for you.â
Jemma Leigh clapped. âYou remembered my birthday!â
No. â�
�Yes.â
âBut I donât remember telling you, and weâre not Facebook friends.â She frowned.
Summer had been wanting to buy Jemma Leigh something to thank her for all of her help, but it wasnât until a day after Gabriel had shown her Corona Borealis that it hit her what she could get Jemma Leigh.
âActually, I didnât know it was your birthday.â Summer handed the scroll to Jemma Leigh. âI bought this just because.â
The squee that came from Jemma Leighâs mouth made the birds that had been pecking near their feet fly away. âYou named a star after me!â She placed a hand over her heart, giving Summer a beatific smile. âI donât know what to say.â
âNothing to say,â Summer began nervously, âbecause donât best friends do stuff like this all the time?â
Fat tears rolled down Jemma Leighâs face. âYes, they do.â
Summer shifted in her seat. âIâm glad you like it.â
âI love it.â Jemma Leigh carefully rolled the scroll back up and secured the bow. âNow I have a favor to ask.â
âAnything.â
âHelp Jeremy plan my surprise party? Maybe even go shopping with him?â Jemma Leigh bit her lip. âHeâs very sweet, but heâs not a party planner.â
Summerâs heart fell to her toes. âYou trust me to spend time with your husband?â
Jemma Leigh rolled her eyes and threw back her shoulders. âNo offense to the Hollands, but Iâm pretty sure youâre not his type.â
âOh, well, in that caseââ
âAnd the sacred bond of our friendship prevents you from even thinking about him that way, or acting on it.â
âWhich you wouldnât, because youâre not like that anyway,â Jemma Leigh hastily added.
Summer blew out a breath and grabbed her coffee mug. âIâd be happy to help him.â
âIâll text him your number,â Jemma Leigh said. âSo, what are yours and Gabrielâs plans this afternoon?â
âHeâs volunteering at The Center, so Iâm doing a movie marathon of all the Back to the Future movies until he gets home. Heâs cooking salmon tonight.â