Unexpected Love Story

by Natasha Madison

  I don’t know how long I sleep or even what time it is, but when I get up, I walk to the bathroom. Finishing up, I grab my clothes to get dressed while I watch him sleep. When I’m fully dressed, I go back to the bed. I lean down to kiss him as he groans. “I’m leaving,” I whisper, knowing he isn’t going to hear me. I sneak out of the house when I see my Uber pull up. I climb in the car, my muscles screaming at me, and close my eyes.

  “We’ve arrived.” I hear the Uber driver say. I thank him and walk into the house, hoping I can sneak in, but no luck. Hailey is walking into the kitchen when I get in.

  “Did you leave to go out for doughnuts, or is this your walk of shame?” she asks me as she walks to the machine and starts the coffee.

  “I don’t want to discuss it.” I walk to the table and pull out a chair. I place my head on the table, my phone buzzing in my pocket. “I’m going to sleep till Monday.”

  I close my eyes while I hear her making coffee, the smell almost perking me up. “I kissed Jensen last night.” I hear her say and lift my head from the table.

  “With tongue?” I ask her as she nods her head like a badass. “HUSSY!” I yell, laughing and slapping the table. “And how was it?”

  I see her struggle to put it into words, her mouth opening and closing a couple of times when she says just one word. “Perfect.” She smiles. “Absolutely perfect.”

  “I thought he would knock the shit out of Alan and bowl with his head. Every single time.” I laugh, grabbing one of the cups of coffee and taking a sip. “It was quite funny. Gabe and I had a side bet going.”

  “You and Gabe have a lot going,” she counters, and I bend my head, not willing for her to see that I’m in over my head. Last night was supposed to get it out of our system, but I’m afraid it made it even worse. “I know you’re a big girl, but I want you to be careful. I mean, he’s your boss.”

  “Technically, his father is my boss, but it was a one-time thing.” I point at her, and she glares at me. “Okay, fine, it was more than a one-time thing, but it’s done.” I put my hands up, not willing to tell her about the first time we were together. That’s my secret. The only other secret I’m not sharing with her. “No blood, no foul, or whatever the country folks say.”

  “I think it’s no harm, no foul, country or not,” she says, sitting up. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Hailey, it’s fine.” I look up and then down. “I promise I’m okay.” I get up from the table, grabbing my cup of coffee and walking up the stairs while my phone continues to buzz in my purse. I close the door, then take my phone out of my purse.

  “Hello.”

  “You just left,” he says angrily.

  “I told you I was leaving.” It isn’t a lie; I did. “And you mumbled something and turned over.”

  “I’m pretty sure if I had heard you say you were leaving, I wouldn’t have let you leave,” he says while I start to undress. “I swear to god, I’m going to cuff you to me next time,” he says, and I hear rustling in the background.

  “Well, too late. I’m home now, and I’m going to bed to sleep till Monday.” I laugh. “You wore me out, and I don’t think I can move.”

  He chuckles. “I have to get up and get my truck. Call me when you wake up.”

  I close my eyes, ignoring the feelings creeping into me. The butterflies starting to fluff their wings. “Gabe.”

  “Later, doll face,” he says, hanging up.

  “Why the fuck is he calling me doll face?” I shake my head and crawl under the covers, hating my bed all of a sudden. I don’t know if it’s so much that I hate my bed or that I love his more. “Ugh.” I get back up to close the shades and make the room as dark as possible, then fall sound asleep. When I wake, it’s still dark, or darker, I should say. Grabbing my phone, I see it’s almost seven p.m. “Fuck, I actually slept the whole day.” I get up and go downstairs, finding a note from Hailey on the counter.

  Gone to have dinner at Jensen’s. Be back later.

  With a smile, I open the fridge and find nothing that I like or, better yet, nothing I can pop into the microwave. I groan, shutting the fridge door. I go upstairs and take a shower, which makes me feel a little bit more human and refreshed. I grab my phone and the truck keys. “Pizza,” I say to myself, making my way to D’Amore. I park the truck, walking around the corner, and stop in my tracks. There in the middle of the sidewalk is Gabe with a blonde holding his hand. My stomach falls, my heart speeds up, and heat rises up to my neck.

  “This was fun.” I hear her giggle when she turns to look at him as he smiles at her. Asshole. “We need to do this again soon.”

  I don’t stay around for him to answer. I walk back to my car with my head down. I put the key in and then reverse out of my parking space, trying to get out of here, but they walk right in front of my car. Gabe and the blonde as she still holds his arm with both his hands in his pocket. He sees me, and his face goes white, his mouth opens and closes as the blonde pulls him along with her. I turn, driving out of the parking lot, and make my way to the house. I close the front door and turn off all the lights, walking up to my room. Ten minutes go by when I hear a knocking at the door. “Crystal, open the door!” he shouts, and I brace myself, get up, and walk to the door, swinging it open.

  “What is it?” I tell him, my hand holding the doorknob so hard I think it might snap off.

  “Why did you just take off?” he says with his hands on his hips.

  “Well, I went out for food, then I got sick to my stomach, so I came back home.” I look around him. “Where did you leave your date?”

  He glares at me. “I wasn’t on a date.”

  “Whatever, doesn’t really matter to me.” I shrug. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bath that is calling my name,” I say and slam the door in his face. I hear him curse and then storm down the steps. I walk upstairs to my room and sit here in the dark with my back against my bedroom door. I look down at my phone, see that he is calling, and send him straight to voicemail. I crawl into bed, his name popping up on my phone.

  Would you please let me explain?

  Crystal

  Please

  I shut off my phone and place it on my bedside table. It’s for the best; it couldn’t go anywhere anyway, I tell myself. Except for the first time in my life, I’m sad that it’s over. For the first time in my life, I let my walls down, and for the first time in my life, I cry for a boy.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gabe

  My feet drag against the sidewalk as I walk into D’Amore. I spent the whole fucking day fixing my truck and the four slashed tires. Cut straight through.

  I rub my neck while I look around to see if someone can take my order for takeout. I look down at my phone to see if Crystal has texted me.

  It’s been all day, and nothing. No word. I’m giving her until nine, and then I’m going to her house. I don’t give a fuck. I place my order with Luigi who comes over as I’m scrolling through my emails.

  “Gabe.” I hear from beside me and look over to see Felicia. “I thought that was you.” She smiles, coming over and kissing my cheek.

  “Are you here alone?” she asks me.

  “Um, yeah, I’m picking up some pie for home,” I tell her.

  “So am I,” she tells me, standing there. “Look at us with our crazy Saturday night plans.” I chuckle. “Are you in a rush?”

  “Not really,” I say the truth; I’m biding my time till I can go to Crystal’s.

  “Great,” she says. “Let’s sit and eat. I’m tired of eating by myself.”

  “Sure,” I say, pointing at a table. “Luigi, I’m going to eat here,” I tell him as he nods at me. Our pizzas arrive a couple of minutes later. We talk about her moving back, what she’s missed since she’s been gone, and we laugh about stories from when we graduated.

  I get up to walk out, and she wraps her hand around my arm. I look down at her fingers, wanting to shake her hand away from me.

  “This was f
un,” she says when we get to the sidewalk, and she faces me. “We need to do this again soon.”

  “Um. Felicia. I’m not ready to date anyone,” I tell her, and she nods her head. “Just so we are clear.”

  She nods her head. “Crystal.” The word makes my stomach flip. “I’m parked over there.” She points behind her.

  “So am I,” I say. When we turn to walk to our vehicles, she grabs my arm again. I’m looking down, not paying attention, when a car pulls up while we are walking. Looking at the car, I feel my stomach that was flipping two seconds ago fall. As I take in Crystal’s eyes watching us. I don’t say anything because Felicia pulls me along. I turn to say something to Crystal, but she just rushes off.

  “Sorry.” I shake her hand from my arm. “I have to go.” I jog to my truck, pulling out and making my way to her house. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chant, pulling up to her house and seeing it pitch black. I rush up the steps and bang on the door. “Crystal, open the door!” I shout. I’m not sure she is going to answer the door, but she surprises me when she swings it open and I see her in her black yoga pants and a thick sweater. She’s so beautiful.

  “What is it?” she asks me, her hand holding the door.

  “Why did you just take off?” I ask her, putting my hands on my hips.

  “Well, I went out for food, then I got sick to my stomach, so I came back home,” she says and then looks around my shoulder to the left and to the right. “Where did you leave your date?”

  I glare at her. “I wasn’t on a date.”

  “Whatever, doesn’t really matter to me.” She shrugs, and I have this incredible urge to pound my fist somewhere. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bath that is calling my name.” She slams the door in my face.

  “Fuck.” I throw my head back and rub my face with my hands. I turn, walking back to my truck, and slam the door so hard I’m surprised the windows didn’t shatter. I drive back to my house, slamming the front door. “Un-fucking-believable,” I say to the empty house. I pull out my phone to text her.

  Would you please let me explain?

  Crystal

  Please

  I stand in the kitchen, waiting for her to answer, waiting for something, but nothing comes through. I march up to my room, pulling off my clothes, and finally climb under the covers only for her smell to hit me right away. “Fuck,” I groan when my cock wakes up, thinking she’s near me. I toss and turn all night. The fact she’s pissed at me bugs the living shit out of me. I get up and make my way to Walker’s house; he’ll know what to do. I pull up and see that Brody’s truck is already there. When I open the door and walk in, I see Brody, Darla, Walker, and Hailey.

  “What the fuck? Is this a meeting?” I ask, walking to the counter, opening the doughnut box, and taking one out. A knock on the back door has us all turning to see Crystal there looking in. “Fuck,” I say as I bite into the doughnut again. Hailey walks over to the door and opens it.

  “Seriously, you can’t go out without your phone. I was texting you all night,” she tells her as I start coughing. Funny, she didn’t answer me all night.

  “You spent the night?” I ask as I continue to choke on my doughnut. “I need water.” I open the fridge and grab a beer instead. “Why are you here?” I point at Crystal.

  “I was making sure she was okay. Why are you here?” She folds her arms over her chest, bringing her tits up on her chest.

  “This is my cousin’s house,” I say, and I watch all four heads go from me to Crystal as they follow our conversation.

  “Well, my cousin went out for dinner, and it’s breakfast, so …” she says as she tosses her hair behind her shoulder, leaving her neck bare. A neck I want to bite.

  “So you thought you would cock block her?” I smirk. “Nice.”

  “I wasn’t cock blocking her; I was making sure she was okay. Why are you here? Did your date wake up and notice what an asshole you were?” I knew she was pissed about that.

  “I told you, she wasn’t a fucking date.” I smash the can of beer in my hand.

  “Whatever. I couldn’t care less.” She rolls her eyes at me, and I want to smash a wall.

  “Okay.” Walker claps his hands together. “Who wants breakfast? Darla?”

  “I’m sorry.” She blinks her eyes. “She spent the night?” She points at Hailey. “And Gabe wants Crystal?”

  “I don’t want her,” I say at the same time Crystal yells, “Oh, he doesn’t want me,” and we glare at each other.

  “I actually slept on the couch,” Hailey says, “and nothing happened.” I don’t listen to anything that anyone is saying. Instead, I look at Crystal.

  “Honey,” Darla says to Brody. “I think we need to go outside and walk back inside,” she whispers as he bends down to kiss her.

  “I would love, love something to eat,” Crystal says as she walks into the kitchen and grabs a doughnut. “I can make the toast.” She chews on a piece of doughnut. “Hailey makes the best pancakes of life.”

  “I can make pancakes,” Hailey says, wrapping her hands around Walker’s waist.

  “I can make the bacon,” Brody says.

  “I can set the table,” Darla says.

  “That means you can leave.” Crystal looks at me. “You might have another date waiting.” She smirks at me, and I grind my teeth.

  “I’m not leaving.” I cross my arms over my chest, and I’ve fucking had it. This is over. “Me and you are going to have words later,” I tell her as she rolls her eyes at me.

  “I don’t have to speak to you before Monday,” she says as she turns to face me, “so I guess we can talk then.” I’m done with this. I walk to her, and when she looks up at me, I bend over and throw her over my shoulder. I’m going to make her fucking listen to me if it’s the last thing I do.

  “Now.” I carry her outside to the backyard, but I don’t go far because she starts screaming.

  “You asshole. You’re hurting me,” she yells, and I stop and put her down. The horror that I actually hurt her makes it too much for me to breathe.

  “Where are you hurt?” I ask, checking her out, as she slaps my hands away.

  “You hurt my stomach,” she says as she tries to shoo me away.

  “I didn’t mean to,” I say softly, putting my hand on her stomach and she lets me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she says, walking away from me and back into the house.

  “Are we going to eat or not?” she asks as she opens the fridge and takes out a water bottle.

  No one says anything as I look at the sky, mumbling to myself, “What the fuck?” We all go into the kitchen and take our places to try to cook breakfast. The saying too many cooks in the kitchen is in fact the right one. With every turn, we are bumping into someone. We finally finish and all eat outside.

  Brody and Darla are the first to leave, kissing us all goodbye, Darla smirking at me the whole time.

  “Let’s go,” I tell Crystal when I stand. Enough with the stalling.

  “No, thanks,” she tells me as she turns and walks out the back door, slamming it on the way.

  “That fucking woman is going to be the death of me,” I say, turning and walking out the front door, slamming it. “Fine, she doesn’t want to talk. I won’t bother to explain myself,” I say out loud. “Her loss.” But I don’t take one more step. Instead, I turn around, walk through the house again, and run out the back door, yelling her name.

  I finally catch up to her on the beach. “Would you please give me a fucking second to explain?” I stop her from walking by standing in front of her with my hands on my knees as I try to catch my breath.

  “Nothing to explain,” she says, the wind making her hair fly all over the place as she tries to catch it in her hand.

  “Really?” I say, standing up now. “So you’re not pissed that you saw me with another woman?”

  “Nope,” she says, shaking her head. “I mean, if you saw me out with another man, you wouldn’t care either, right?”


  The thought of her on a date with another man has me flexing my hands into a fist. “It would piss me the fuck off.”

  She crosses her arms over her chest. “Really?” she says.

  “Fucking really,” I say, looking up at the sky and back down again. “Felicia and I went to school together, and she just moved back to town. I saw her at Gram’s when she had the dinner and then again when I went for pizza,” I say, walking closer to her. “I was out eating and waiting for your phone call. I was biding my time until you called me, or until nine, when I was just going to show up at your house,” I tell her, tucking her flying hair behind her ear. “I wasn’t on a date.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” she says, not giving in, but my hands go to her shoulders. “We said we wanted one more night, and we got it.”

  “What if I want another night, or two nights?” I ask her as she looks up at me. “What if we just continue doing what we are doing without a timeframe?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” she asks.

  “I like you, when you don’t drive me crazy,” I tell her. “And I want you all the time, even when you drive me crazy.” I smile at her and lean down to kiss her lips. “Sometimes more when you drive me crazy.”

  “This is a really bad idea,” she says, but her hands go to my hips. “Like really bad. I don’t want to be known as the whore of the clinic.”

  “We don’t have to tell anyone, well except for the four people who already know.” I raise my eyebrows. “And we can just take it one day at a time?”

  “No hanky-panky at work,” she tells me. “That is a fine line I refuse to cross. If at any point I feel you pushing it, I will cut you.”