I stepped back, surprised by his tone. “Hey, I—”
The doorbell rang. We stared at each other for another moment, neither of us ready to give in. The doorbell rang again.
Without a word, Tyler grabbed the box and marched to the hallway leading to the bedrooms.
I let out a sigh and rushed to the door.
“Hi,” the man standing at the hallway said as soon as I opened the door. “We’re here to deliver some furniture. Are you Gabriela Fernandes?”
“Yes.”
Soon, he and his colleague brought my new furniture to my bedroom and they started assembling it. Meanwhile, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Tyler appeared in the living room and kitchen every few minutes, to get more of his stuff into his bedroom, but since he had been so sensitive about me touching his stuff, I didn’t offer to help.
Instead, I made sure the guys putting my room together had all they needed, then I left the apartment. I needed time and space. I needed fresh air.
I walked aimlessly around the neighborhood, trying to pay attention to the little shops and services nearby. Better than thinking of Tyler and his snappy mood. So that was how our two years living under the same roof would be? I couldn’t touch his stuff or he would freak out. Well, I better put a line dividing the kitchen then, so I wouldn't risk losing a finger if I used one of his mugs or plates.
I let out a long breath.
This was ridiculous. We couldn’t live like that for long.
No, we had to sit down and talk about this. Establish rules. Otherwise, he would drive me nuts, and we would never be able to have anyone come over.
I walked around for over an hour—with a quick pitstop at the cute, local bookstore, and a small pet shop—then I decided it was enough. It was almost seven in the evening and now I was hungry.
I stopped by a Chinese restaurant and ordered dinner for Tyler and me.
Back at the apartment, the living room looked much better, with the couch and the TV stand in place, and with only a few more boxes pushed to the side, and a few more boxes along the kitchen’s counter. The men working on my furniture were gone, and Tyler seemed to be in his bedroom, from the shuffling and rustling and dragging sounds coming from there.
I halted at the end of the hallway, wondering if I should call him for dinner, or simply leave the food on the counter and hope he found it.
In the end, I decided to be the better man. But, as I started walking down the hallway, Tyler crossed by his door and saw me.
He straightened. “Hey.”
I lifted the bag in my hands. “I brought dinner. I hope you like Chinese.” Then, without hearing if he did like or not, or if he wanted to eat or not, I turned and marched to the kitchen.
There were some plates and knives and forks on the counter now, but with these we wouldn’t need them. I picked a box with noodles and leaned against the counter.
A second later, Tyler emerged from the hallway. He came to the kitchen, picked up his box, and leaned against the counter, standing across from me.
He gestured to the box. “Thanks.”
“De nada.” I looked down at my food.
I had eaten almost half of it when Tyler cleared his throat. “Um,” he started. I looked up at him. His expression was relaxed and his body wasn’t tense. “I want to apologize … for before. I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I just … my family is a sensitive topic, and I usually shut anyone out before they can ask me about it.” He paused. “But that’s no excuse for being a jerk. So, I’m sorry.”
Not the best apology I had ever heard, but that would do. For now. “It’s okay.” Then, I frowned. “As long as you don’t turn into a psycho who is going to bully me all the time and treat me like dirt, it’s okay.”
He had noticed my teasing tone, otherwise the corner of one of his lips wouldn’t have curled up. “I’ll try my best.”
I rolled my eyes, then went back to my dinner.
Saturday was an awkward day.
The apartment was mostly organized, and now that there wasn’t much to do with it, Tyler and I didn’t know what to do when around each other. He wasn’t the warmest person I had met, but thankfully he hadn’t been a jerk.
In the morning, I went grocery shopping, while Tyler finished organizing the last of his stuff. In the afternoon, I made a list of things we needed for the apartment—new curtains, more dishes, a good frying pan, some cute mugs, more vases and glass decorations for the living room, and maybe a painting or two to hang on the walls—while Tyler went out for a couple of hours.
Before he left, I had told him about a dinner at my brother’s apartment.
“Another one?”
I sighed. “Yes. It’s like that almost every Saturday. And many other days of the week too.”
He grumbled something about rich people not having anything to do, then left without letting me know if we would have dinner with my family or not. And I wouldn’t go alone. I would rather lie again that we had something else planned than show up there alone.
While Tyler was out, I took a shower and got dressed—cropped jeans, an off-the-shoulder blouse, and ballet flats. I brushed my long, wavy hair until it shone, then decided to put it in a ponytail.
Then, I waited.
And waited.
So I wouldn’t bite my nails, I texted Pri.
Me: What are you up to tonight?
It took her a few minutes to reply.
Pri: The usual. Going out to dinner with Lucia and Adriana, then we’ll probably go to a club. You?
Me: The usual. Going to my brother’s apt for dinner.
Pri: And how are things with your man?
I almost asked her “what man? I don’t have a man” but decided she didn’t need to know about that yet. I planned on telling her the truth, but I would rather do that face-to-face.
Me: It’s all good.
Pri: When am I gonna meet him?
Me: I’m not sure. I have to talk to him about going down there.
Pri: Yes! Bring him and let’s show him what partying really means.
I shook my head. Partying in Brazil wasn’t that much different than here. It just started later and went into early morning.
I was typing some funny retort when she texted again.
Pri: I gotta go now. Talk to you later.
Me: Okay. Have fun!
Pri: Always!
I smiled at my phone, suddenly missing her and wishing she was here, so she could make my days less awkward. More fun. So I could tell her the truth and she could make the situation less dire. Lighter.
I was still smiling when my phone rang again with a new text. This time though, it wasn't from Pri.
Mateus: I tried letting it go. I tried not caring. But I can’t. I have to know. Is it true?
I inhaled deeply.
Me: What’s true?
Mateus: That you’re staying there because you’re engaged to some dude.
Since the beginning of our relationship, Mateus had always been jealous. Even my brother and cousins and best friends weren't as bad. And, even though we had broken up eighteen months ago, he still acted like a jealous jerk.
Me: Sim.
Mateus: I don’t believe it. That’s not like you.
I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t reply.
But he did.
Mateus: You’re doing that for a green card, right? You’re getting married to some punk just to be able to stay there.
I pressed my lips tight. Droga.
Me: If I tell you it’s not like that, you won’t believe me, so … believe whatever you want.
Mateus: You sold yourself.
Me: If you’re gonna insult me, then I’ll block your number.
Mateus: It’s not an insult if it’s the truth.
Grunting, I dropped my phone on the couch and stared daggers at it. Who did he think he was? He hadn’t been this much of a jerk when he was my boyfriend.
The front door opened fast, startling me.
My hand flew to my racing heart. “Meu Deus,” I whispered.
Without looking at me, Tyler strode to the kitchen, opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, and took a long, long sip. He settled it on the counter and finally acknowledged me.
“Are you ready?”
I frowned. “For?”
“To go to your brother’s apartment.”
I gaped at him. “I … I didn’t think you wanted to go.”
“I don’t,” he snapped. “But it’s all part of the facade, right?”
I stood. “Tyler, we don’t need to go. I can just—”
“No, it’s fine.” He finished the beer in another swallow. “Let’s go.”
21
Tyler
From the passenger seat, Gabi gave me the eye. That eye, that told me she wanted to say things, but was holding her tongue. What? Did she want to lecture me about drinking and driving? I had had one measly beer. That was nothing.
So far, my Saturday sucked.
Besides the awkward feeling of having to stay around Gabi in the morning, I had gone to visit my father at the hospital in the afternoon. He wasn’t doing well. I had hoped to take him home the next week—even though I would have to tell Gabi about my father—but the doctor said that he couldn’t make any promises.
Before heading back to the apartment, I stopped by a coffee shop with my laptop so I could do some planning. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t feel comfortable looking at my bank accounts and my debt with Gabi around.
So, I planned. I made a list of bills that I still hadn’t paid and needed to as soon as possible, and the ones that would have to wait. I also calculated what I needed to live a little better than before, taking into consideration my salary at the vet clinic, and set that aside. If nothing crazy happened, the amount should be enough until I got the second part of the payment from Gabi.
I was better than before, but the stress and worry still ate at me. Incredible how the money simply disappeared, and I was sure to accumulate more debt until I got the full payment.
I hoped I would because that meant my father would live longer.
Shit, I should have asked for more when signing off on this deal.
I glanced at Gabi. She was still staring at me from the corner of her eyes, those two blue lasers boring holes on my face.
“What?”
She cringed, averting her eyes. “Nothing,” she muttered.
I let out a long sigh. The night at her brother’s promised to be bad, making my day even more sucky.
Thankfully, Gabi didn’t say anything for the rest of the ride, or when we arrived there, and took the elevator to the apartment.
Only when the elevator doors opened, she extended her hand to me. “We gotta keep pretending, right?”
I groaned on the inside. “Right.”
I slipped my hand in hers, and together, we walked out in the hallway. The apartment’s door was open, and voices and music drifted from inside.
“Ready?” she asked, squeezing my hand.
I wasn’t sure why I didn’t answer. Instead, I tugged on her hand and pulled her into the apartment with me.
At first, nobody noticed us.
Garrett, Pedro, Leo, and Guilherme were seated on the big couches, watching a trailer from an upcoming video game.
Bia, Hannah, Hilary, and Ricardo were around the kitchen’s island. Ricardo seemed to be getting some drinks ready, while Hilary and Hannah organized appetizers, and Bia, wearing an apron, checked the oven.
“Boa noite,” Gabi said from beside me.
All eyes turned to us.
“There you are,” Leo said, smiling. “I thought you two had gotten lost.”
Pedro elbowed him in the ribs. “Maybe not lost, but busy.”
Guilherme rolled his eyes. After a pointed look at me and Gabi, he stood and went to the kitchen.
After some more quick hellos and how are yous from everyone, Garrett beckoned me to the couch. “We’re gonna start a new game.”
Trying to be a sympathetic fiancé, I turned to Gabi first, as if asking her permission to leave her and join the guys.
She smiled at me. And even though the smile didn’t reach her eyes, my heart skipped a beat. Those eyes, that smile, that exposed neck and shoulders, and the sweet scent of her perfume wrapped around me … I shook my head once, erasing all of those kinds of thoughts from my mind.
“Go have fun,” she said, her tone light, as if we hadn’t been ignoring or snapping at each other a few minutes ago.
For the sake of pretending, I leaned into her and pressed my lips to hers. Just a light, brief touch. When I pulled back, her eyes widened in surprise, but she recovered and pushed me away.
I let out a long breath.
Leo and Pedro called dibs, and when the game started, they were seated on the center couch, joysticks in hand. Ricardo and Guilherme came back from the kitchen with drinks for us. With a slight frown, Guilherme handed me a beer bottle.
“Thanks,” I said, genuinely surprised. I took it before he changed his mind and dump it on my head.
He nodded, then sat as far away from me as possible.
Progress, then a step back?
Who cared? I wasn’t here to make friends. I was here to pretend. To earn my part of the deal.
Laughter came from the kitchen and I looked over. Bia was tending to the range, while Hannah prepared more drinks. Hilary had a sketchpad on the kitchen counter and she drew a little, then talked a little. Gabi took a seat on a stool among them.
Hilary said something else and Gabi smiled at her. A true smile, one that did reach her eyes. My heart skipped another beat. All the women in the kitchen were pretty, but Gabi … Gabi was something else. She was beautiful. And right now, among her family and happy, she was stunning. Breathtaking.
What the fuck had I done?
“Hey, Gabi,” Pedro called from beside me. I stared at him, wondering if he had read my thoughts and would now tell her about it. I hadn’t even seen when he switched places with Garrett. Gabi turned a soft smile to him. “Are you coming to practice this week?”
I frowned.
“Probably,” she said, taking a few steps closer to the living room. “It depends on my schedule.”
“And what schedule is that?” Gui asked, his voice tight.
Her smile faded. “I want to play polo, don’t I?” Did she? “I won’t find my own team if I keep practicing with you.”
“She has a good point,” Pedro said, nodding to Gui then to me. I nodded too, even though I was still lost on what they were talking about.
“So, my plan is to go to a few practices so I won’t get rusty, but I’ll also work on getting my own team together.”
“I like that,” Ricardo said. “Any idea on how you’re gonna do that?”
Her smile stretched, one corner higher than the other. “You’ll see …” Then, she turned back to the other girls.
I kept staring at her.
Pedro let out an amused chuckle. “I like her guts.”
“It’s a shame the club doesn’t sponsor mixed teams,” Ricardo said. “We could certainly get three guys to play with her.”
A team of three males and one female? Gabi playing alongside three guys? For some reason, that didn’t sit well with me.
“I haven’t been feeling the game lately,” Pedro said, his face serious. Gabi had told me Pedro and his girlfriend had broken up right before Valentine’s Day, and nobody knew what happened. “Maybe I’ll break an arm. I’ll need at least a month, maybe two to recover. She can play in my place.”
Guilherme slapped him on the knee. “Don’t joke like that. No one wants to see you with broken body parts.”
Pedro shrugged. “I’m just saying …”
The conversation paused as the guys played video games and drank, except for Leo, and my thoughts turned to the new information it had received.
So Gabi played polo too?
That was interesting.
22
Gabi
Hil showed her drawing pad. “Something like this.”
The dress was beautiful. Dark green, summery, and flowy, but a little revealing. It looked like a beautiful piece for Hil’s showcase.
Someone touched my elbow. I turned and found Gui, his face taut, standing behind me.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Apprehension pulled in my stomach. “Sure,” I muttered.
I followed my brother to the balcony. He rested his elbows on the rail and looked up at the night sky. Clouds drifted in from the ocean, covering the moon and the stars, and supposedly bringing rain tomorrow.
I stood two steps back, waiting. He had barely talked to me since Tyler and I announced our engagement. Even last week, when I was still in this apartment, he only said bom dia, tudo bem, and boa noite. Although, he had asked me if I needed any help moving. He even offered to leave his Jeep with me for the day, but I told him I had everything handled.
Finally, Gui turned to me and fixed those eyes, mirrors of mine, on me. “I’m sorry.”
I frowned. “For?”
“For being a jerk.” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to freak out last week, and I definitely didn’t mean to shut you out. I just … needed time to process it all. But I’m okay now. I mean, I think it’ll take me a little while to be totally okay with you getting engaged so suddenly and moving in with a guy I barely know, but … I’ll try to be more understanding from now on.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. “Thank you. That’s all I wanted.” I tsked. “That and a little help with pai. He’s still not answering my texts and phone calls. Even mãe seems to be a little upset with me.”
Gui hissed. “That is all on you.”
I slapped his shoulder. “Coward.”
He chuckled. “Come on! Who wants to go head to head with Luis Carlos Fernandes? Oh, yeah, Gabriela wants to.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re impossible.”
He looked at me, his shoulders relaxed. “Give them a little time. They will come around.” He shrugged. “After all, you won’t change your mind just because they are upset, certo? So eventually, they will have to reach out to you.”
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