Page 74 of Miss Manage

Chapter Forty-One

GABRIEL

Iwas in a mood. No denying it. The kind of mood my family had long since learned to steer clear of. Each of them orbited around me with exaggerated care, like I was a live wire they didn’t want to touch. Which, naturally, only served to piss me off even further.

The backyard, big enough for a crowd, was done up exactly as you’d expect of my parents. Café lights that would glow after sunset were strung above the tables set up for lunch. They entertained often, and it showed, from the cushioned patio chairs to the smell of lilac drifting from the flower beds. Today’s occasion was their forty-second anniversary.

“Enough brooding,” my mother scolded, thrusting a crystal vase of roses into my hands. “Put this in the center of the food table.” She was the only one who refused to deal with my bullshit.

“Yes, ma’am,” I murmured, forcing a smile in Samantha’s direction when she caught my eye from across the yard. She smiled back, and for a moment I forgot my annoyance.

Six days. That’s how long it had been since Charlotte and I had spoken about anything outside of work tasks. Thankfully, I’d been away for two of the days, but once I returned to the office this week, she had pretended nothing had ever happened between us.

Meanwhile I’d spent sleepless nights replaying every moment of our last conversation and wondering if I should apologize.

I’d told myself I could be patient. But instead I’d pushed too hard and too fast, not giving her the space she’d asked for.

Maybe this was karma. Tanya had once told me I’d left her starving for scraps of affection while I threw myself into work. At the time I’d brushed it off as exaggeration. But now I knew what it felt like to want to be with someone who didn’t reciprocate those feelings.

“Hey, Gabe.”

I turned to find Kelsey, Dominic’s girlfriend, walking up, her smile warm. Knowing her background with an abusive ex, I immediately softened my stance and tone. I never wanted to cause her a moment of uncertainty.

“Hi. How’s it going?”

“Great, thanks.” She tucked her brown hair behind her ears, her eyes dancing with mischief. “You have guests.”

My heart thudded once, twice, hard enough I nearly dropped the vase. “Where?”

Kelsey tilted her head toward the patio doors. “Right over there, speaking with your mom. She’s really beautiful.”

I followed her gaze. Charlotte stood inside the glass doors in a dark blue dress with a black cardigan. A head above her in height, her son stood beside her, sporting a collared shirt and jeans.

My chest went tight, and the bouquet trembled slightly in my hand.

“How about I take those?” Kelsey offered gently, sliding the roses away.

Just then, my brothers appeared, like sharks scenting blood.

“Is that her?” Dominic asked, grinning like an idiot.

“She has a son?” Leo chimed in.

“Yes, and yes.” My voice was gruffer than I intended.

They exchanged one of those silent, brotherly conspiratorial looks that never meant anything good.

“Your innocent faces aren’t fooling me. Whatever you’re plotting, whatever retribution I deserve, I’m begging you not to do it today. Please.”

My brothers’ eyes widened in unison. “Jesus,” Leo grumbled. “You really like her.”

“Yeah,” I admitted. No point denying it. “I really do.”

“She’s stunning.” Addison, Leo’s girlfriend, had walked up to the group.

Yes, she certainly was.

Walking out on the patio, Charlotte laughed at something my mom said, chitchatting with ease.