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“I don’t know. She disappeared into her room, and I didn’t see her until about half an hour ago when she came to get some water.”
My body stirs at the memory of her nipples pressed against the material of her nightgown.
“So, she stayed out of your way?”
“I just said that,” I reply. Where the hell is this conversation going?
“Does she have any awful habits? Suck her teeth? Eat with her mouth open? Pick her nose or toenails.”
“Now you’re just being ridiculous!” I say, my tone sharp.
Mark laughs. My heckles rise. “Are you listening to a word I say?” I ask.
“Every word, but Gabriel, you need to chill out. Leah living with you is not forever. You do nothing on the spur of the moment. You’re the least impulsive person I know. As a result, your body has already accepted Leah in your space. Your brain just needs to catch up. Stop worrying. Enjoy her company. It might surprise you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You may find I’m not the only person you can live with.”
“Leah works for me.”
Mark chuckles. “That she does,” he adds cryptically.
“You were supposed to help,” I huff.
I drop back in my chair and stare at my phone. Why did I ring him? He knows me too well, cuts through my BS like a razor-sharp knife.
I decide to change the subject. “How’s Josh?”
I spend the next ten minutes listening to Mark tell me all about Jen, Josh and parenthood. Every time I listen, a twinge hits my chest. It’s one thing I envy about my friend. I might have a few more billion than him, but he has a family. When I held Josh in my arms not long after he was born, my heart melted. I swore I’d be the best godfather, knowing it is unlikely I’ll ever have a little Josh of my own. I hate the fact my friend lives so far away with his family.
“Send me some videos,” I say when Mark ends his latest update.
“On their way.”
My phone pings with a tirade of incoming messages. “And Gabriel, don’t overthink it. I know it goes against your nature, but not everything in life is clear-cut and predictable.”
I know he’s right. It just isn’t the answer I want to hear.
We say goodbye, and I tell him to give his wife and son a hug from me. When the phone disconnects, I stare at my desk. I need to get some sleep, especially if I want to make the pool by five.
CHAPTER 15
LEAH
Iarrange to meet the girls at our favourite coffee shop for lunch the next day.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” Stella asks, standing up and giving me a hug when I move to the table.
“Not a fire,” I say, pulling out my chair and dropping into it. “More of a flood.”
They both fix their eyes on me.
“The apartment flooded last night,” I say.
“Oh, Leah,” Nat says, gripping my hand over the table.
“How?” Stella asks.
