I follow Gabe back into his bedroom. Like the living room, it’s spartan. There is a bed with no headboard and a chest of drawers.
On the floor are two piles of clothes, a pile of darks and a pile of lights. Gabe pulls a pair of black jeans from the darks pile and a T-shirt from the lights pile.
I’d assumed they were piles of pre-separated laundry, but after putting on a pair of boxers from the chest of drawers, he puts on the clothes he got from the piles.
“Jeez, you really are a bachelor.”
Gabe shrugs but otherwise ignores my comment. I pull on my pants and do them up. They feel weird with no panties underneath. I retrieve my bra from the floor.
“Leave that off for now.” Gabe slides his hand down my arm and hooks his fingers into the bra straps. “I’m not done enjoying the view yet.”
“Is that so?” I put my hands on my hips and try not to laugh.
“It is,” he says, smirking.
“You took my view away. If you want to keep yours, I suggest you take your shirt back off.”
He chuckles, a rich, deep sound that fills the room. I keep my hands on my hips, tilt my head and raise an eyebrow at him. Still chuckling, he pulls off his shirt, revealing the incredible body underneath.
“Better,” I say, and break down laughing.
While Gabe goes to the kitchen to make breakfast, I snoop around.
His apartment is huge, and covers the entire top of the tattoo parlor below. There’re two more bedrooms, but both are empty. There’s a separate room off the living room which is clearly supposed to be a dining room, but instead it is filled with more weights and a few other pieces of exercise equipment.
There is one more room, an office. A desk is up against a window overlooking the street. It’s clearly used, but is surprisingly neat and organized. I glance at some of the papers on it, they’re invoices for Incredible Ink. It seems like he organizes his business very differently from the way he organizes his life.
Sitting by itself on the far corner of the desk is an envelope. The name on it catches my eye. Kaylee Johnson. I wonder why she left when she did. I’d be pierced right now if she hadn’t. And probably still wouldn’t know what it felt like to have an orgasm.
“Breakfast,” Gabe calls from the kitchen.
My stomach rumbles. I guess I worked up an appetite last night. And this morning.
In the kitchen, Gabe sets two plates of food onto a round table. I glance around and I’m glad that the room is clean. He may live like a bachelor, but at least he’s a clean one.
I slide onto the wooden seat and waste no time in starting to eat. Gabe sits across from me.
“How come Kaylee left?” I ask, take a bite of my cheese omelet.
“Still more questions?”
“Yes.” Gabe’s barely asked me any questions about my background. He hasn’t asked any about my family, or my job. I don’t know if he doesn’t care, or if I asked him so many that he’s sick and tired of questions.
“I fired her.”
“But why? Why right when I had an appointment to see her?”
“Coincidence.”
Coincidence? That’s a strange answer. It makes me think that it wasn’t a coincidence.
“I get it, you saw my name on the appointment sheet, and you wanted me all for yourself so you fired her to get her out of the way.”
Gabe bursts out laughing, “If that’s you want to believe, then yes, Jewel, I wanted to get my hands on you.”
I don’t know whether to believe him or not.
Eloise
“Look at you, showing up at work in the same clothes you wore yesterday,” Marcy says the second I walk through the door.
“Good morning, Marcy.” Maybe if I ignore the comment, she’ll drop it.
I walk by the reception desk and beeline down the hall, and bump straight into my mother.
“Oops, eager to start work today?” my mom asks.
Marcy’s snort carries down the hall.
“It’s Friday, my favorite day of the week.”
“All set for dinner tomorrow? I’m making a rack of lamb.”
“That’s a nice anniversary dinner. Of course I’m coming.”
“You can bring someone, if you like. There’ll be plenty of food.”
“I still don’t have anyone to bring since you asked me that yesterday.”
Marcy erupts in a fit of laughter, I turn around and glare at her.
“Anyway, I’d better get ready for my day.”
“Sure thing, sweetie.”
I enter my room, and close the door behind me. Marcy had better get over this fast, my nerves can’t take it.
A moment later, she comes into my room without knocking first.
“What is it?” I ask.
“We need to talk.” She perches against my desk.
My heart pounds against my ribs but I look at her as coldly and calmly as I can.
“About?”
“You know exactly what about. That sexy man you committed a crime in here with yesterday.”
“It wasn’t a crime. Don’t be stupid.”
“Maybe not, but what you did with him was unethical and against the rules of this medical practice. I have no choice but to raise the matter with the owners.”
“The owners? You mean my parents?”
“Your relationship with them is neither here nor there.”
“Come on. You’re being ridiculous.” I stop myself before I start calling her names. Like tit and bitch.
“I don’t think I am. You’ve put me in a bad position, and I don’t like it.”
“So forget you ever saw anything and we’ll forget all about this.”
“I don’t think the image of your bare ass laid over the table is anything I can forget anytime soon.”
“Please, we both know what your eyes are on and it sure wasn’t me.”
“God, he’s hot. Where did you find him?”
“I went to school with him. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
Marcy’s shoulders drop and she frowns. She doesn’t say anything and I raise my eyebrows at her, challenging her. I don’t know where she expected me to say I found Gabe, but my elementary school apparently wasn’t it. Perhaps she expected me to say somewhere like a tattoo parlor.
“Are you lying?”
“Nope. He sat behind me in Mrs. Singleton’s class.”
“I have to set up the coffee machine, but this isn’t finished,” she says, and slinks out of the room.
I throw myself back in the chair, flinging my arms out to the sides. Once the pounding of my heart has calmed, I dig my phone out of my backpack and text Gabe.
Marcy’s on the rampage. She noticed my clothes right away and is threatening to tell my parents about what happened.
He texts back straightaway.
Fuck her.
My first patient arrives, a woman who dislocated her shoulder in a car accident months ago, and still in pain from it.
After she leaves, I open the folder to jot down some notes. As I lean over the desk, Marcy barges into the room. My heart rate immediately skyrockets.
“Anyway, I’ve been thinking about our little conundrum and I’ve concluded it’s only fair of me to give you the chance to tell your parents first.”
“Why can’t we just forget the whole thing? Why are you being like this?”
“I have to follow the rules. I have no choice. I could lose my job if I don’t. I’ll give you until Tuesday.”
I don’t say anything in response, and she leaves the room. Maybe I should’ve shown her some of Gabe’s drawings, to get under her skin as much as she’s under mine.
I pick up my phone again, but this time I send a text to Sophie.
Marcy walked in on Gabe fucking me at work, and now she’s giving me until Tuesday to tell Mom and Dad about him.
-OMFG you didn’t tell me you’d had sex with him.
I’ve been busy having more sex with him. Little orgasm proble
m long gone.
-And Marcy saw one of the sessions?
Yes, and now she’s holding it over my head and I don’t know what to do.
-l literally cannot stop laughing.
You’re really supportive.
-Did my straight-laced big sister really let that hunk of man do her in her office?
I find him impossible to say no to.
-How sweet. Now what are you going to do?
Whatever my super smart med school sister tells me to do.
I toss the phone on the desk and my next patient arrives. It’s Mrs. Bletchley, one of my mother’s friends. She’s been seeing me for a sore lower back for over a year, but never does her exercises.
“How are you feeling today?” I ask.
“My back is killing me today. The pain is so bad that I’m going to see the doctor later about increasing my painkillers.”
“Have you done your exercises?”
“Once or twice.”
Figures. Marcy’s put me in a bad mood, and I don’t feel my normal sympathy.
“You should sign up for a Pilates class. Studies have shown that they’re more effective for back pain than painkillers are.”
My phone beeps, drawing my attention from Mrs. Bletchley. Is it a text from Sophie or Gabe? Most likely Sophie. I wonder what she thinks I should do.
I realize Mrs. Bletchley’s been talking but I have no idea what she’s been saying.
“Why don’t we get you on the bed today, and I’ll try some acupuncture on the area. Maybe that will bring you some relief. I’ll let you get your top off, and comfortable on the bed under the blanket. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
I grab my phone and leave the room. The text is from Sophie.
Bring him to dinner tomorrow.
My finger taps the screen as I contemplate the idea. It might work. I type out a quick text to Gabe.
Want to come with me to my parents’ anniversary dinner tomorrow?
Marcy appears at the end of the hall, and I rush back into my room. Mrs. Bletchley is still struggling to get the flimsy blanket pulled up to her shoulders as she lies on her stomach.
I massage the areas for five minutes, stick her with the acupuncture needles, grab my phone and hurry out of the room again.
Nothing.
I have to give the needles time to work. Normally I’d go chat to Marcy. Today, I decide to hide in the staff room. I make myself a strong cup of coffee to calm my nerves.
The phone is in my hand, and I jump when it beeps. It’s Gabe. This text is one word.
No.
My heart sinks. That really could’ve solved my problem. I realize now that I’m going to have to tell them tomorrow and I really could’ve used him there for support. I text Sophie again.
Gabe won’t come to dinner tomorrow.
-Why not?
I don’t know, I didn’t ask.
-So ask.
I can’t help notice the time in the corner of the screen. I have to get back to Mrs. Bletchley. But first I send Gabe a quick text.
Why not?
He doesn’t respond right away, and I go back to my patient. There’s still no word from him by lunch. I’ve chewed away the fingernails on my left hand.
I sent Sophie another text.
He’s not going to come, what do I do?
-Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you.
Eloise
“I can’t believe this. I got them a framed picture and a box of chocolates, and you went and gave them this?” I throw up my hands at the garden fountain. “I mean, it’s beautiful but it must’ve been super expensive. How much did it cost?”
“One pair of panties, red lace, worn out dancing on Friday night,” Sophie says, and cackles.
I close my eyes and shake my head. My sister is nuts.
“Do you measure all your costs in panties?”
“Pretty much. But I’m going to finish med school with barely any debt so I’m not complaining.”
“Thank God for the perverts of the world.”
“I’m tapping the Japanese market now. It’s a gold mine.”
“Don’t Mom and Dad wonder where you get the money from?”
“I put your name on the garden fountain, and told them you paid for most of it.”
“You could’ve told me before I went and bought the picture frame.”
“Dinner,” my dad calls from the back door.
“Coming,” I say.
Sophie grabs my hand, and says, “Remember, I’ve got your back in there.”
I look at her and smile. She’s got my back everywhere, she always has. I only wish Gabe had come for dinner. I practically begged him last night but he wouldn’t even consider the idea. It was an outright no, end of story whenever I asked.
“Wow, you even put the little white hats on the bones. Very fancy,” I say as we sit at the table.
My mother has gone all out this year, with a rack of lamb formed into a crown placed on a silver platter at the center of the table.
“Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad,” Sophie says.
We all clink glasses and chat as we start eating. When we’re nearly finished our meal, just as I’m about to take a bite of steamed green beans, Sophie clears her throat and kicks me under the table.
“Eloise has some big news.”
“Oh?” my father and mother say in unison.
My cheeks start to flush, and I say, “I don’t know if it’s big news.”
“Eloise has a boyfriend,” Sophie blurts. My cheeks burn.
Mom looks at me sideways, her eyes wide and her smile is uncontainable. I brace for whatever’s coming next.
“What’s he like?” my mom asks.
I clear my throat, and say, “Actually, we went to school together.”
“Really? Anyone we know?”
“Gabe Irwin. I doubt you remember him. He moved away in seventh grade.”
My mother and father look at each other in a long, steady gaze. My mom’s fork slips out of her hand.
“You should see him now,” Sophie says. “He’s a tattoo artist and is covered in ink. And he’s smoking hot. Marcy saw him at the medical practice and practically died.”
Dad looks back across the table at me, and asks, “Is he a patient at our practice?”
“Yes, but I was seeing him before he came for physiotherapy.”
I expect my parents to complain about my boyfriend also being my patient, but no comment comes.
“I’m so pleased for you, sweetie. I hope you’re really happy together. Sophie makes him sound like a nice boy.”
“He’s nice and wonderful.”
“You’re obviously smitten with him, your face is beaming. I haven’t seen you this animated when talking about a man ever,” my dad says.
I feel like I’m in bizarro land. My parents are both aware of Marcy’s reaction when Gabe first came to the practice. Sophie’s told them he’s covered in tattoos, and I know for a fact neither of my parents likes visible tattoos.
I’d expected them to freak out when they learned their daughter was dating someone like Gabe. But they’re both being so supportive.
Why did I doubt them? They always support me. I’m glad Marcy pushed me into telling them about Gabe. Not that I’m about to tell them everything Marcy wants me to tell them.
“I really wanted him to come to dinner tonight, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea because it’s your anniversary. But next week, for sure, I’ll bring him so you can meet him.”
“Oh, I don’t know. You don’t need to drag the poor man to our house. It would probably bore him,” my dad says.
“Not at all. He loves pool, you could play him,” I say to my dad.
“Oh sweetie, don’t bring him around here, that’s boring. You two should be out having fun. Go to dinner and a movie or dancing,” my mother says.
“We don’t get a lot out of free time together. He works weekends, and takes Wednesdays and Thursdays off. I was hoping you’d let me chan
ge my days to match his.”
“That’s a great idea,” my father says. “Having you work Saturdays and Sundays is better for our patients anyway.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. Thank you!”
“Anything to help. Now you can do all sorts of fun things together,” my mother says.
“They’re coming here for dinner next weekend, it’s already arranged,” Sophie says.
“It is?” my father says.
“Yes, it is,” Sophie says with such authority that none of us challenge her.
My parents each take a mouthful of food, and I scoop some mashed potatoes into my mouth and let them dissolve on my tongue. We finish our plates in silence, but I can’t help being relieved and excited at the way things have turned out.
“Are you seeing him tomorrow?” my mother asks.
I set my fork down, and say, “He has a lake house, and he took tomorrow off so he can take me tonight. I’m going to his place, and we’re leaving as soon as I finish here.”
“You didn’t need to come tonight. You should’ve left earlier since it’s such a beautiful day to be on the lake,” my mom says.
“But it’s your anniversary.”
“We’ve finished the lamb now. What are you waiting for? Get going!” My mother says.
I jump up from my seat, sending my napkin to the floor. My mother and father look at me with tight-lipped smiles. Sophie grins widely and winks.
“Love you guys,” I say, and head out the door.
My body is buzzing. I don’t know why, but I hadn’t expected my parents to react the way they did. Just talking about Gabe has filled me with excitement.
As I back my car out of the driveway, I realize how badly I need to feel his arms around me right this second.
Gabe
“They were amazing and supportive and happy for us,” Eloise says as soon as I open the door to my apartment. Her face is glowing, and she’s buzzing.
“That’s great,” I say, cringing at the idea of flattering her mother. “Did you tell them Marcy threatened to tell them we fucked in your physio room if you didn’t tell them about me?”
Her shoulders drop, and she says, “I left that part out.”
Pierce Me: Satisfied by the Bad Boy Page 11