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I’m not signing my life away. Only looking for information.
I enter my personal details, only to have it ask me what I’m looking for in terms of a sperm donor. I enter my requirements and complete the procedure. The screen tells me someone from the company will be in touch in the next seven days.
I put my laptop to one side and bring my feet up. Clicking the remote for the enormous television Gabriel has attached to the wall. I flick through the apps and streaming services. Gabriel has a full house. Why does that not surprise me? Why do without when you don’t have to? I find a rom-com I was hoping to see at the cinema a while back, but Vince blew me off for a work meeting, or so he said.
I push the thought aside and allow myself to sink into the story’s romance. My eyes get heavier. I dream of romance, and babies, of love and family.
I wake with a start. The room is dark, except for one of the table lamps offering a subtle illumination. The television is off, and my laptop is closed on the coffee table. I stretch, only to find that one of the throws covers me.
Oh, help! Gabriel must have come home and found me sprawled out on his sofa.
I throw back the blanket and stand up. After folding it carefully, I make my way up the stairs. The last thing I want or need is for Gabriel to come back downstairs and find me still asleep in his living room. Way to irritate the person who’s opened their door to you. A thought hits me - What if he brought a woman home? How awkward would that have been? Oh, I’m so stupid. What was I thinking? Goodness, what happens if he wants to bring a woman home? My stomach cramps in protest. I need to raise it with him. Maybe we need to have a sign, then I can make sure I stay up in my room, out of the way.
I creep upstairs and into my bedroom, collapsing on my bed.
I need to find a way to apologise.
CHAPTER 16
GABRIEL
“How’s Leah doing? Has she settled in, okay?” Caleb asks.
I freeze at my brother’s question. It’s been a week since Leah moved upstairs, or in, or whatever I want to call it. My conversation with Mark was unhelpful, to say the least. I know I could live with him because I did. That wasn’t my point. But then again, I’m not sure what my point is any more. I’m used to being in control of my thoughts, feelings, and actions. A certain communications officer has uprooted my life on a monster scale. And now Caleb is asking after her.
What’s with all his interest in Leah?
I want to ignore him, but I don’t.
“She’s settled in fine. I don’t see her, apart from at the office,” I lie, squeezing my eyes shut in case he calls me out on it. I still haven’t told him about the flood or about our dinner arrangements. I don’t want or need him ribbing me or reading things into it.
I know Caleb. He will probably try to snag himself an invitation and the thought of that. Not happening.
“Not surprising,” he says, shrugging. “It’s a big place.”
He should know. He’s the person whose company designed and built it.
My mind wanders back to last week.
When I finally made it down to the pool for my early morning swim. I found Leah swimming laps in an otherwise empty pool. I stood for a moment before I eased myself into the water, submerging myself before swimming the entire length underwater, popping up next to her and grabbing her waist. Leah shrieked before turning in my arms and splashing me, her laughter filling the air. Suddenly aware of her close proximity, I let go, pushing backwards.
Shit, what was I thinking.
“God, you scared me,” she says, splashing another round of water in my face. I’m relieved to see her smile.
I return it with a grin of my own, the tension leaving my shoulders. I wipe the droplets away. We’re still the only two people in the pool, which is not surprising as it’s just gone five am.
“You’re up early,” I say. “I’m usually the only one here.”
Leah grins. “I needed a wake-up. I used to go to the gym all the time before work when—” She stops herself. “Anyway, I saw the pool last night and decided it looked too tempting to pass up.”
I can’t fault her there. Caleb’s architect did an amazing job designing the pool area. It’s unusual to have a pool this size in an apartment block. But El Castillo is not just any block.
“I agree. I swim in the mornings and hit the gym on weekends.”
I’m unsure why I’m telling her my schedule.
“Speaking of swimming. I want to get in a few more lengths,” Leah says, grinning before pushing herself away from the side.
