“Okay. If you’re sure.” Maya nodded again. “Well, I’ll be working in the office again this week, so I’ll see you there. Let me walk you out.”
Gabe got her jacket from the back mudroom and held it out for her to slide her arms into. It didn’t take long for her to get her things together and then at the front door, she pulled on her boots. Gabe had also grabbed his jacket and boots and followed her out into the cold night air.
There was a tall light pole that illuminated the parking area, so they had no trouble getting to her car. Once there, Gabe opened the door for her, but then held out his arms for a hug. Maya stepped into his embrace, relishing the feel of his arms around her. This was the only good part of saying good bye.
“Thanks for coming out,” he murmured against her ear. “It was a lot of fun.”
It had been…until she’d seen that he’d had even more fun when the hockey game had started. How he’d really come to life when he’d had the chance to skate with speed, taking risks, and crashing into the boards. And from the conversation she’d heard that day, that had been mellow for him.
Though her heart wanted to love Gabe, Maya just couldn’t allow herself to love a man who so thoughtlessly put his life at risk when she’d fought so hard to save hers.
11
Gabe watched as the taillights of Maya’s car disappeared as she turned onto the highway. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He’d noticed that she’d spent lots of time observing the stuff going on around her. Whether it was how the other couples interacted or the conversations between him and his siblings, she had watched them all. It made him wonder about her social life in light of her lack of siblings. Maybe he should have asked her to bring a few friends of her own. She might have been more comfortable if she’d had some people she knew well there too. It was her first time to be submerged into his family so much, and maybe it had just been too much for her.
Turning, he headed back into the house, the snow crunching beneath his boots. Though he would have preferred to spend the remainder of the evening with Maya, Gabe was still going to enjoy himself. He grabbed his skates from the mud room and went to the log benches to put them on once again. He grabbed a stick and a puck and stepped back out on the ice. While most the others were moving slowly around the ice to the music that was playing again, he and Mitch skated around them more quickly and passed the puck back and forth.
By ten o’clock, most everyone had left, and the house was quiet. Mitch was still there, making himself a cup of coffee. Gabe sat across the island from him, just the two of them in the kitchen.
“Want one?” Mitch asked as he pulled his cup from the Keurig machine.
“Sure. Why not?” Gabe watched as Mitch got another mug from where it hung on the spinning cup holder next to the Keurig. Once it was done, Mitch slid the mug across to him, knowing he took it black. “Thanks.”
“Is everything okay with Maya?” Mitch asked as he leaned a hip against the island counter. “I noticed she didn’t stay to skate again after supper.”
“Yeah. She hasn’t skated in awhile and figured she’d be sore enough as it was.” Gabe wasn’t sure that was the real reason, but it was the one she’d given him, so it was the one he gave Mitch. “And she’s an only child. I can only imagine how overwhelming our family must be for her.”
“So it’s been a couple of weeks now, have you told her yet that you spend less than two months out of the year here?” Mitch lifted his mug and took a sip.
Gabe scowled at his twin. “She knows I’m leaving.”
“Yeah, but does she know that you’re not coming back for awhile?”
“What is your problem, bro?” Gabe asked, not appreciating the way Mitch was pressing.
“My problem is that Maya deserves to not be led on,” Mitch said.
“She’s a grown-up. She’s not your responsibility.”
“No, but she is my friend.” Mitch met his gaze without flinching. “And for some reason, I feel like I need to protect her from you.”
Gabe and Mitch hadn’t physically fought since they were youngsters, but right then Gabe felt like throwing a punch. “I’m not planning to hurt her.”
“Best laid plans…” Mitch let him finish the thought.
Gabe sighed. “What am I supposed to do? I mean, I feel things for Maya that I’ve never felt for anyone else.”
“What are you supposed to do?” Mitch scoffed. “Change your lifestyle. Like seriously. How is that not even crossing your mind?”
It had crossed Gabe’s mind, more than it ever had in the past. He just didn’t know if he could sustain that change. He thrived on the lifestyle he’d chosen. The heart racing, blood pumping, adrenalin high was what he lived for. Was it even possible for him to switch to a less exciting lifestyle without feeling a constant restlessness?
The next morning, Gabe headed into the office to meet with another of his teams. This group worked with him conducting social media revamping for companies and also working on the app company he’d taken over. His business interests were as varied as his entertainments. Between the gym, his work with Tennyson and Forrest and the social media/app company, Gabe never found himself getting bored with his work.
Maya wasn’t at her desk when he came in, but it looked like she was somewhere in the building. Makayla’s door was closed, so he assumed she was in with her. Gabe pushed aside his disappointment and headed for the boardroom where Bennett had agreed to let him work with his employees.
He’d told his team to text him when they arrived, so when his phone chirped with a text from one of them, Gabe made his way to the front door to meet them. The other two showed as they stood talking in the area in front of Maya’s desk.
“C’mon back, guys.” Gabe motioned for them to follow him.
His social media team was made up of three people. Sophia was the senior member of his team. She was a whiz with web page and app design. Jonathon also worked on the web and app design. Amberly took care of the social media side of things, helping companies build up a positive presence online. Thankfully, they all worked well together and required minimal supervision from him which was a bonus since he was usually somewhere other than Winnipeg for the majority of the year.
Just like Mitch had pointed out the night before.
Prior to the meeting, the trio had sent him a list of the things they wanted to discuss, and Gabe had added his own topics. Thankfully, none of them were into a lot of chatter, so they moved through the agenda quickly. As they worked together, Gabe wondered if he could do this full-time. Bring his focus in business and life in general back to one solitary place. He’d chosen the businesses he had because of his interest in them and because he’d had partners willing to work with him. He’d been able to deal with them from afar with his partners’ help. Being in Winnipeg would mean doing more hands-on work with the businesses which wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.
But on a personal level, was there enough in Winnipeg to keep him entertained? For the first time, he was thinking that maybe there was. But beyond the entertainment factor, for the first time, there was someone that might be enough to keep him there.
When lunchtime rolled around, Gabe went out to see if Maya was available to join them for lunch. He thought it would be nice for her to meet his team. Unfortunately, the front desk was still empty, and now he wondered if Maya was really there in the office at all. Makayla’s door was open, so he headed over there.
“Hey, sis,” Gabe said as he walked through her door.
Makayla glanced over at him as he sat down in the seat across from her. “Hey. What’s up?”
“Do I need a reason to stop by?” Gabe leaned back, stretching his legs out under her desk.
She laughed as she punched a couple of keys on her keyboard then turned to face him fully. “No, probably not, except in this case, I’m thinking you do.”
Gabe shrugged. “Okay. Sure. I was wondering if you knew where Maya is.”
Makayla fr
owned at his question. “Did you text her and ask?”
“No. I just saw she wasn’t at her desk and thought you might know where she is.”
“As it happens, I do know. She’s out with Mitch visiting a couple of the job sites. She’s been doing it on occasion to get to know that side of the business and what it is that C&M Builders does. Being in the field also gives her the opportunity to meet some of the people she’s been doing things for with regards to some of the HR projects we’ve been handling.”
She was out with Mitch? Neither of them had mentioned that the previous day. Gabe wasn’t sure what to do with the information. It meant he likely wouldn’t get to see Maya as he was heading out to meet with Hunter after lunch. He’d hoped to have lunch with Maya and then go to his meeting, but now he wasn’t sure what to do. Well, he did know what to do. He’d go to lunch with his team, and then he’d go meet Hunter.
And hopefully, he’d at least talk to Maya later in the day.
“I have to meet my team for lunch,” Gabe said. “And then I’m meeting Hunter, so I’ll just text Maya to let her know I was sorry to not see her.”
Makayla gave a nod. “Sounds like a plan.” She hesitated. “Am I correct in assuming a few people have asked you recently what exactly you’re doing with Maya?”
Gabe huffed out a breath as he got to his feet. “Yeah. No worries there.”
He could tell Makayla wanted to say something more, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with her input on the subject of Maya. Makayla could be like a dog with a bone if she got it in her mind that something deserved her attention, and he didn’t need that at the moment.
After saying goodbye, Gabe left her office and went back to the boardroom to gather up his things. He’d made arrangements to meet the other team members at a nearby restaurant, so he left right away since he didn’t want to keep them waiting.
“Want to grab a bite to eat before we head back to the office?” Mitch asked as they left the last job site. “It’s a little bit late, but I’m hungry.”
“Sure we can stop somewhere. Makayla told me she’d cover for me until mid-afternoon.”
Maya had thought they might be back to the office in time for her to see Gabe, but she suspected that she’d missed him. She didn’t mind going to lunch with Mitch since she’d always thought he was a nice guy, friendly and respectful.
“So, I know it’s probably not my business,” Mitch began once the waitress had taken their orders. “But are you hoping for something serious with Gabe?”
Maya felt apprehension rise within her. She looked at Mitch, seeing the sincerity in his gaze as he watched her. “I think it would be foolish of me to have that hope.”
Mitch’s brows rose slightly. “I’ll admit I’m surprised to hear you say that, but it is a relief. I mean, I love my brother with all my heart, but he’s a bit of a rolling stone. Never staying in one place for very long.” Mitch paused. “I do think meeting you has given him pause. For the first time, it seems that he’s found someone he enjoys spending time with.”
“Do you think he would ever settle down?” Maya regretted the question as soon as she asked it. She didn’t want to let herself hope for something that might happen in the future. There was no way she should allow herself to be tied up in something that was strictly a distant possibility.
“Maybe.” Mitch’s shoulders slumped a bit. “I know we’re identical twins, but in this aspect, I just don’t understand his need to constantly be off on one adventure after another. And not just regular adventures either, he goes for the extreme ones. The more dangerous, the better, apparently.”
It was the confirmation that Maya needed for what she’d thought the previous night. She really hadn’t needed to hear Mitch say the words, but maybe it was a good thing that she had. It wasn’t that she would no longer spend any time with Gabe, but she would just keep in mind what she’d discovered and use it to build a wall around her heart. She couldn’t afford to let her emotions get involved with someone who had no intention of settling down. Even with her.
The thought hurt, but it also helped her to answer the question of whether she should tell him about her family and her medical history. This relationship was going to be a lighthearted, casual thing. Too bad this was her first experience with relationships and love. She really had no idea how to keep things lighthearted and casual, but she was going to have to figure that out if she was going to survive this.
It probably was a good thing that he was leaving in less than a week. Hopefully, that meant she would be able to find a way to accept that the man her heart felt so strongly attracted to was more interested in his next adventure than he was in staying with her.
Her phone buzzed as the waitress brought their food, and Maya pulled out her phone to check it.
Gabe: Sorry I missed you at the office today. I’m off for a meeting with Hunter so will try and call you later. : )
Sounds good. Sorry I wasn’t there when your meeting finished. I was out to a few job sites with Mitch. Hope your meeting goes well.
Gabe: Don’t believe anything Mitch tells you. ; ) He likes to think he’s the better twin, but really, I am.
Haha Well, I have to say you both have many redeeming qualities.
Gabe: As long as you like my redeeming qualities better, it’s all good.
LOL. No worries there.
Maya let out a sigh as she typed her reply. She kinda wished that she felt about Mitch the way she did about Gabe. It would have made everything so much easier, but that wasn’t how it had worked out. The unfortunate thing was that Gabe’s over-the-top zest for life was a big part of what had attracted her to him. The very thing that would take him away from her was the thing she lo—uh…—liked the best about him.
Gabe: Heading into the meeting with Hunter. Will chat with you later.
They spent the rest of the meal just chatting about the previous afternoon and evening. Mitch filled her in a bit on the friends that had been there that Maya hadn’t known. It was a nice way to spend a meal once they had finished talking about her relationship—or whatever it was—with Gabe.
She really did want to forge friendships with the people she worked with. It might not have been something she’d have done in a different sort of workplace atmosphere, but at C&M, with so many of them related, friendships didn’t seem to be a thing to avoid. She just hoped that whatever she’d had during the holidays with Gabe would just sort of fade away in the minds of the people who had witnessed them together. That wasn’t how it was going to work for her, but hopefully, that’s how his family—and Gabe—would view it.
It wasn’t until much later that night—after she’d finished her work day, after she’d eaten dinner with her mom, after she’d had a brief text conversation with Gabe—that Maya finally allowed the feelings that had been building up slowly over the course of the day to break free. She’d run herself a bath and as she sat in its warmth, the tears she’d held back since the previous night began to slip down her cheeks.
Maya hadn’t known that heartache was real. She hadn’t realized that it could spread to every part of her body. That it was a real overwhelming pain that couldn’t be ignored. Bits of pain had caught her off-guard throughout the day, but it was nothing like what she felt then. Her chest tightened, squeezing the breath from her lungs and not allowing her to draw air back in.
Though Maya hadn’t known for sure if she was in love with Gabe, the heartache she was experiencing made her think she was. But if this wasn’t love, she never wanted to experience the heartache of things not working out with someone she did love.
In the seclusion of her bathroom, Maya let her pain out in sobs, knowing that she’d have to be strong in the days until Gabe left, and she didn’t have to face the prospect of seeing him on a daily basis.
“Don’t you have a Facebook or Instagram account?” Gabe asked as they sat side by side at the weekly Friday staff lunch. “I did a search for your name but came up empty.”
Maya fough
t the urge to laugh. Facebook? Who on earth would be her friend beside Lainie and now maybe the Callaghans and McFaddens? She had never felt the need or desire to have any sort of social media presence. “No. I don’t have any social media accounts.”
Gabe gave her a perplexed look. “Why not?”
She shrugged. “I don’t have that many people I want to be aware of the goings-on in my life.”
“Well, I, for one, would totally like to be aware of the goings-on in your life.”
It was a painful reminder that he was going to be watching her life from afar. “Or maybe I should have said that I don’t have much goings-on worth putting on social media for the world to see.”
“You should at least follow my social media accounts then,” Gabe said. “My accounts are open, so you don’t even need to get an account of your own to see my stuff.”
“Okay. Send me the addresses, and I’ll check them out.” And she would…for this trip anyway. She had no desire in the future to see him posting pictures of himself with the woman who either was brave enough to join him on his adventures or who captured his heart so completely that he was finally willing to make one place his home.
“But if you want to comment or like photos and videos, you’ll have to create an account.” Gabe smiled, causing the heartache to bleed through the walls she was struggling to keep in place. “And you’ll really like my videos. Dalton edits them for me, and he does a great job.”
“Edits them? You mean like for YouTube?”
“Exactly!” Gabe said with a nod. “I have a YouTube channel where Dalton uploads them then he links each video on my social media so you can find it from there.”
The conversation around them turned to plans for New Year’s Eve, and Maya was very relieved to have a solid reason to turn down the invitation that was issued to her for the party at the Callaghan and McFadden home.
“I’m sorry I can’t make it, but I’m going to be spending the evening with my parents.”
The Love of Her Life: A Christian Romance (The Callaghans & McFaddens Book 3) Page 14