Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,47
“I like Gabe’s style.”
Eli nodded. “It’s a shame Rick here still hasn’t said what we need to hear.”
Rick ignored the byplay. “Fine. I’ll talk to my people about Natalie’s supposed leverage and how, if it truly exists, it might be time to rethink tracking her down in any way.”
“Your people?” Eli shook his head. “It doesn’t make you throw up a little in your mouth to say that?”
Rick stood up. “I need a secure room.”
“You know where it is.” Andy almost hated to add this part: “Take Eli with you for confirmation.”
But Rick didn’t balk. Phone in hand, he walked out with Eli trailing right behind him. That left Andy alone with Wade, a combination Andy did not like one bit. And he could sense Wade knew that.
Better to jump to the offense, or at least Andy hoped that was true. “You know I’m not going to make a move, right?”
“On Eli?” Wade scoffed. “Fucking right you’re not.”
“So, you can drop the jealous act.” Though Andy couldn’t blame him. Despite the sometimes surly mood, there was something compelling about Eli. Something that reeled you in and made you want to know more. Those quiet moments, the ones that provided a promise of more. Andy had bought in. Eli told him not to, but turned out Andy didn’t have a fucking choice.
Wade leaned forward and tapped an abandoned pen against the table. “I’ve been where you are.”
Since he lived with Eli, and Andy never got the opportunity, Andy doubted it. “Oh, really?”
“It’s easy for me to say, and God knows I couldn’t do it, but you need to move on.” Wade looked up and pinned Andy with a serious gaze. “Take my advice. Find someone else.”
“I’m not still hung up on him.”
Wade shook his head. “Yeah, you are.”
“You don’t—”
“You need closure. I’m giving it to you.” Wade stood up. “It’s over.”
“Confident.”
“I’m not letting him go, Andy.”
He knew that before Wade ever said it. Andy had checked up on them, asked around. Eli looked as domesticated and assured as ever. People, mostly Bast, said that came from Wade. Still, Andy could hope. “You could fuck up.”
“Probably will, but that won’t create an opening for you because I’m the one he wants.” When Andy started to talk, Wade talked right over him. “Not trying to be a shit here. Just being honest. You can get all twisted up and act like Rick or move on. I’d move on.”
The words left a hollow pit in Andy’s stomach. “Thanks for the advice.”
“Take it.”
• • •
They ended up on the floor.
Gabe lay there on his back with Natalie cuddled half on his side and half on top of him. He loved this position. Loved being wrapped up with her, with her leg lying over his. The softness of her skin.
They both wore their shirts and sweaters but their pants sat tangled in a jumbled mess by their feet. Soon the stove would need stoking and a chill would fall over the room. He saw it all coming but couldn’t move. Not after the sex against the wall and another round with her riding him on the floor.
Not after her admission about her father. The idea of her living through that hell made him sick. What happened explained so much about who she was and how she handled crisis. She grew up to be the one who carried the gun. The person who gave orders. Her need for control, the way she protected herself and fought off too much hovering over her, all fell into place in his head.
It bordered on a miracle that she trusted him enough to even spill what she did. She didn’t have to. He was being a complete dick. He’d been spun up about Rick and lashed out at her. She should have kicked him, thrown him outside . . . something. Instead, she fought with him, pushed and then opened up.
“I was an asshole.” It was a flat-out truth he couldn’t deny, so he said it.
“Absolutely.” She didn’t open her eyes as she mumbled the word against his skin.
“Like, a totally fucking asshole.”
“I’m not disagreeing.”
“Rick is a touchy topic for me. I . . .” Every time he thought about the fracture in their relationship he got hit with that same raw, inside-out sensation.
She leaned up on her elbow and looked down at him. “Because?”
“I don’t want him in my life.”
But that was only half true. They’d all been close—had to be, with their dad. Gabe had depended on Rick to