and I found what I was looking for.
Five minutes later I was just getting ready to go back to her room when I heard hushed whispers.
“Mom, I love you guys! Let me help!”
“It is too much, mija,” Gabi’s mother said softly. “You can’t keep giving us all of your money. You are not eating. You’re skin and bones! You even bring us food! Do we look like we need food?”
“Yes!” Gabi raised her voice. “You do! You have to take care of Dad, and I know you’re both tired, and it’s only until he finds something!”
“Gabi, he will find something, but in the meantime, you need to take care of yourself. It’s not that we don’t appreciate it. We do. We appreciate that you would sacrifice so much for us, but I’m worried about you.” Her mother sighed heavily. “Your father did find a small job working on the construction of the new Victoria’s Secret at the mall. The pay isn’t great, but he’ll be fine.”
“Construction?” Gabi repeated. “Mom, he’s so much better than that!”
“I know. But we do what we must. Now, take back your envelope full of money and fill your pantry with food and buy yourself a new dress.”
“But—”
“Mija.” Her voice was more stern this time. “Do as I say or I’m going to tell Ian.”
All talking stopped, and then, “I love you, Mom.”
“You too, mija.”
I quickly backed up a few steps and then ran down the hall so I wouldn’t get caught.
My head throbbed with sudden realization. The food I’d been giving her, she was giving to her parents.
The money she’d been earning at the club.
The money she was making from Wingmen.
All going to her parents.
“Hey.” Ian slapped me on the back. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”
“Do I?” My voice sounded hollow. Why the hell was I so pissed? I should feel sorry for her, right? I should feel bad, pull her in for a hug, tell her I’d help in any way I could.
But it wasn’t that.
It felt intense.
I felt like I’d been betrayed.
Like she’d . . . lied to me.
I had her body.
Did I have anything else?
Because I realized, in that moment, I wasn’t happy with just parts of her. I wanted every last piece.
And she’d purposefully withheld parts of herself. Was that life’s final cruel trick? I finally settle down with someone—find the person I care about the most in the world—only to discover that she’s been sharing the surface level of her heart and refusing to let me hold the rest.
It sucked.
It hurt.
More than it should.
But I wasn’t that guy, the one that got pissed and bailed. I deserved answers and I’d demand them—before I had a freaking nervous breakdown.
Chapter
Forty-One
Gabi
I wiped the tears from my cheeks and then splashed more water on my face. It would have to do.
I still looked semi-puffy, but knowing the guys, they’d probably be too focused on eating to notice.
Lex wasn’t in my room when I returned. Then again, he probably didn’t want to get caught hanging out on my bed where Ian or my dad could find him. It would look too suspicious.
My stomach clenched.
I was keeping secrets from Ian, secrets from Lex, and both sucked. I felt like I was ready to burst from it all.
“Hey.” Ian pulled me in for a hug once I was back in the living room. “You okay?”
Now he notices? Whoa. Where had that come from? I was ready to lash out at my best friend. For what reason? I took a step back from him.
He’d been so preoccupied lately.
And I’d purposefully pulled away because of Lex.
“Gabs?” Lex rounded the corner. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Have you removed all pointy objects from the kitchen?” Ian teased.
Lex’s jaw ticked. “Laundry room. Safer there.”
He didn’t look amused.
I tried to read his expression, but he turned around and started walking away before I could do more than stare after him.
“Better go see what he needs. Just try not to kill him.” Ian pushed me after Lex.
The laundry room was small. There was only space enough for a washer and dryer and a small sink. It smelled like Tide.
“You lied.” Lex’s eyes met mine, nailing me to the wall, making it impossible to breathe, to move. He seemed hurt and sad. “You lied to me.”
I racked my brain for anything I could have lied about. I would never hurt him, and I had no secrets except—
“Your parents.” He clarified.
“No.” I shook my head, desperate to