We Have Till Dawn - Cara Dee Page 0,58

his little head against Gideon’s leg.

“I can’t believe this,” Claire said.

I cupped Gideon’s cheek. “We’re almost there.”

“You have no right to be here,” Claire added irritably. “You two were supposed to see each other discreetly.”

“I’m not disagreeing with you, but your fit’s gonna have to wait,” I told her. “I’ll leave once he feels better.”

“I can take care of my own fiancé,” she snapped.

Someone give me strength.

Gideon clutched at my arms the second the elevator dinged, announcing our arrival on the top floor, and Claire took the lead. I wasn’t at all bitter and jealous about her having keys to his place. There were only two doors to choose from, and I remembered Gideon mentioning a Mrs. Nelson.

Claire opened the door, and I registered the bare minimum, wanting my focus on Gideon. And maybe there was a side of me that just didn’t wanna see his place now that it was tainted. She had ruined it.

Actually, I had ruined everything.

“Where’s his bedroom?” I asked, shrugging off my jacket and kicking off my shoes. They landed on the floor. Gideon’s jacket was next. He’d told me that the thing he disliked most about the studio apartment was that there was no hallway to hang your coat and put away your shoes. He didn’t like wearing those items indoors, so I assumed he didn’t want to walk farther in those shoes either. I helped him take them off.

Claire looked as if she didn’t want us to go near that particular room, but I hoped she’d realize it would’ve been beyond stupid to think…I didn’t even know, that I’d take him in there now to bend him over for me? Cazzo. But down the hall she gestured. Surrounded by shiny hardwood floors, intricate moldings, art, and rich colors, I ushered Gideon toward an open door and saw a big bed in the middle of the room.

He’d fucked her here, hadn’t he? Of course he had.

I did my best to swallow the jealousy, and I sat Gideon down on the edge of the bed and stepped between his legs.

“Breathe with me, baby,” I murmured.

He nodded jerkily and struggled to suck in a longer, slower breath.

“We’ll push that pause button,” I repeated. “You set the pace. Everything can wait.”

Including me, even if he only wanted to see me later to explain why he was going to marry Claire.

He wrapped his arms around my midsection and pressed his face to my chest.

“I’m so fucking sorry for showing up unannounced.” I pressed my lips to his hair and breathed him in. For all I knew, I wouldn’t get another chance. It almost made me wanna beg him to keep coming to the apartment for whatever little time we had left of our two months, as if we could pretend after this. As if I could stomach his nightly visits for another week, knowing full well that he’d made his decision.

Chester appeared at our feet and head-butted Gideon’s leg, then stood up on his hind legs and clearly wanted to get on someone’s lap.

“Want me to get him for you?” I asked.

Gideon sniffled and shook his head before he released me. He was breathing easier now. In mere minutes, I wouldn’t have a reason to stay anymore. He was getting better.

He picked up Chester and hugged the little dog to him.

It hadn’t occurred to me before that Chester was his emotional support animal. Even if it wasn’t intentional, even if Chester hadn’t been trained as a support dog, that was clearly his role, and he seemed to be doing a great job. He wagged his furry little tail and tried to jump up toward Gideon’s face.

I could take a hint. Time for me to bounce.

“I’m gonna go.” I combed my fingers through Gideon’s hair, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I’ll be there tonight, okay?”

He nodded once and exhaled unsteadily. “And you promise we p-pushed the pause button?”

“I promise.” I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. “You tick things off one at a time, and I’ll wait. Don’t rush on anyone’s behalf.”

“Thank you.” He squeezed my hand briefly. “I think I can be there around eight or nine.”

“All right, I’ll wait.”

On the way out, I picked up my jacket and put on my shoes, and I avoided Claire altogether. Then I texted Anthony in the elevator, and by the time I reached the ground floor, he told me he would be outside the entrance in a minute.

Mannaggia, I couldn’t believe myself. Too