Keeping Secrets in Seattle - By Brooke Moss Page 0,67
But I should go. I’ve missed enough of the show already.”
I started to pull the door open, but Gabe’s warm hand touched my arm, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. “What were you doing on the upper level? Were you looking for me?”
I shook my head. “What? No.”
He frowned. “You sure?”
I cringed. “Okay, I was. I’m sorry. I knew that you guys were here, too, and I came to say hi.”
He laughed, his eyes twinkling. “By sticking your head in VIP seating?”
“Well, I didn’t realize that you were hanging with the mayor. You might want to keep an eye on your fiancée. She looked like she was getting cozy with him.”
Gabe smiled sheepishly. “Yeah. That. Alicia really gets into the whole elbow-rubbing thing.”
“So…” I fidgeted with my purse.
His hand slid down my arm. “Why are you really here?”
“I told you. I’m here with Kim and Betsy.”
“Give me a break. You were looking for me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m here with friends. Friends who are probably missing me by now.” I grabbed the door again. “It was good to see you.”
“Wait.” Contrition filled his eyes. “Listen, I know I’ve been unavailable lately. But I’m here now. Let’s talk.”
I shrugged. “You’re freaked by what happened at the bachelor party, just admit it.”
His nostrils flared. “I’m not freaked.”
I pointed at his face. “Your nostrils are flaring. They only flare like that when you’re lying.”
He touched his nose absently. “They do not.”
“Yes, they do. I’ve been your best friend for twenty years.” When he looked away, I knew that I’d won.
“I don’t mean to avoid you.”
“Yes, you do. Ignoring me isn’t cool.”
He looked up, chagrined. “I’m sorry, Vi.”
I couldn’t help it when my voice shook. “I don’t want you to be sorry. I just don’t want to be ditched by my best friend.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Hey, shh.”
My voice was rising. I didn’t care if I made a scene. Whatever it took to make Gabe listen to me. “I know that my timing on this sucks, but there are some things you need to know about her.”
“Come on, let’s not do this,” Gabe said, gently guiding me through the front doors of the building.
I followed Gabe around a corner, where we stood by a brick wall. “You don’t have a clue what kind of woman you’re marrying.”
“Of course I know who I’m marrying, Vi.” Gabe’s frown pulled his features down. “She’s my fiancée.”
I looked into his eyes. “Even though she’s a liar?”
“Where is this coming from? I thought you and Alicia got along?”
“We did before. Sort of.” I folded my arms across my chest.
“Before what? Before we almost kissed?” He lowered his voice. “That was—”
“A giant mistake? Yes. I realize that.”
“It wasn’t a mistake.” He put his hands in his pockets, and shifted between his feet a few times. “It…”
I folded my arms across my chest. “What, Gabe? Spit it out.”
He looked around nervously, even though there was nobody around. After a few beats, he just shook his head without saying a word.
“Fine.” I put my palms out. “Fine. I get it. It was an awful mistake.”
His features softened. “I was going to say amazing.”
My anger fizzled, but confusion flared. “Oh…I guess.”
“I haven’t been returning your calls this week because it seemed safer not to.”
I shook my head. “Are you really that afraid of being alone with me?”
Gabe’s eyes darkened. “Yes.”
“So you’re going to avoid me for the rest of our lives?”
His cheeks flushed. “That’s the plan, yes.”
I pushed his chest. “What the hell? I’m in your wedding. I go to every holiday at your parents’ house. How will you avoid me forever?”
He rubbed his eyes. “Things are changing, Violet.”
There was nothing being said, but the air between us was thick with everything unsaid. I started to release his hand, but he laced his fingers through mine. My gut twisted. “I’m sorry that it happened.”
“My Vi.” He sighed and stepped closer to me.
A vision of Landon in his apartment, cheerfully dropping folded shirts into a suitcase, popped into my head, but I quickly shoved it to the back of my mind. “I have some things to tell you, Gabe.”
He looked down. “Every time I’m around you, I can’t keep my hands off you. What’s wrong with me?”
I could feel that all-too familiar magnetic pull between us, and my resolve started to crack. If Gabe kept touching me, I wasn’t going to be capable of fighting my desire much longer, and I was going to suggest making out in the