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He helped me onto one of the barstools, then turned to retrieve us some plates and forks. While he did that, I reached into the bag and my mouth watered at the plastic container which had two large tiramisus inside. I haven’t had one in quite a while, but it had been even longer since I had authentic deep dish pizza.
The place he ordered from was the one we used to have on speed dial, and again it touched me that he remembered these small things. I’d convinced myself that I had become forgettable after breaking his heart.
I placed the dessert to the side and retrieved the salad. They had the dressing on the side and when he set two small bowls in front of me, I opened that container and it wasn’t long before I put a little of it in each bowl. I then doused them with the Caesar dressing. I half expected him to sit beside me, but he chose to stand on the other end of the island across from me.
“Damn, this pie looks good,” he said, and I arched my brow.
“You act as if you haven’t had it in a while,” I remarked.
“Not from here,” he told me, and I saw his expression as it changed briefly. I decided to drop any questions as to why.
“They have some pretty good pizza in Portland, but nothing beats a good slice of Chicago deep dish.” I took my fork and broke off a small piece of it and brought it to my lips. After savoring it, I shook my head. “Nowhere in Portland beats this.”
He simply began eating and quiet settled over us. On occasion, we would say something, and sometimes it was at the same time. There was an awkwardness I hated. It was one I created with my lies, and that only compounded my existing shame. The meal was otherwise spent in companionable silence. I had eaten nearly an entire slice of my pizza and a few bites of my salad before I pushed it into the center between us.
“You need to take your medicine now,” he told me, and I begrudgingly did so.
Dr. Peterson had obviously gone over my treatment plan with Gabriel, and he was laser focused on making sure I adhered to it. After I chased the two small pills down with water, I stood up. There was a stiffness from sitting on the bar stool, so I had to slowly stretch to loosen back up my joints.
When I was finished, I noticed he was watching me. I flashed a smile, then grabbed my dishes and spent the next few minutes washing, drying, and putting them away.
Halfway though, Gabriel joined me and did the same for his own. I then watched as he put the pizza and tiramisus into the refrigerator for us to eat later if we got hungry. I didn’t know what else to do so I just stood there watching him.
When he was done, he rechecked the locks which I appreciated, then he helped me back up the stairs. At the top of them, I saw the room I had previously stayed in and began to walk in that direction until he stopped me.
“Where are you going, Harper?”
“I need to lie down,” I told him, then noticed his scowl.
“The bed in my room is much more comfortable than that one. I think you should—”
“I don’t want to impose more than I have already. I appreciate you taking care of me tonight, but don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair in the morning.”
“You’re not imposing on me at all. I want you to stay in my room tonight. I could take the guest room if you would prefer.”
We sounded like strangers arguing over who got to sleep where instead of former lovers who’d once planned to get married and be together forever. For everyone who ever claimed time and distance didn’t affect a relationship, they were partially wrong. The ones who said no foundation could ever be sustained on a mountain of lies had also been true. I shook my head at his words.
“No, I don’t want you to have to do that. We can share the room.”
I walked past him and into his bedroom. He soon followed and when the door closed behind him with a snick, I expelled a short breath. I didn’t have time to just stand there and second guess everything because he told me he had an extra toothbrush in the top drawer, so I walked to the bathroom and spent the next several minutes brushing my teeth.
He eventually joined me and it wasn’t long before we were both standing by the bed. He removed his sweats leaving only his boxer shorts on, and I removed mine, but kept his T-shirt on. I normally slept in the nude, but that seemed wholly inappropriate now, given the circumstances.
Gabriel climbed into bed, and I did the same. I was prepared to sleep beside him until he pulled me onto him so I was now in his arms with my head on his chest.
GABRIEL
Considering we’d already had sex twice since she’d come back to town, it was almost ironic that she seemed so nervous now. I was then reminded of everything she’d gone through earlier in the day, and it angered me all over again. The only thing keeping my rage in check was that she was back in my arms where she’d always belonged. Her face was resting against my heart, and as I brushed her hair off of her cheek, one of her hands moved to my chest. It was pressed against me, but that was all.
“Are you all right?” I asked, mainly just to hear her voice.
“I will be. I’m just so thankful you were able to disarm Jayson. If he... I don’t know what I would’ve done if... Just—”
“I’ll be honest and tell you that I almost didn’t come at all.”
She began to fidget, her fingers tracing some design or pattern on my skin as she responded, “I guess I deserve that.”
I tipped her chin up until she was looking up at me.
