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“I said I deserve it. You told me to never come back. And yet, I’m here.”

“That’s not all you did.”

“I know.”

My throat felt like I’d swallowed a ball of cotton. I knew I didn’t have long before I lost it. Gabriel’s eyes widened and I had no doubt he knew what I was thinking.

“Just stay away from me,” I managed to say. “Don’t talk to me. Don’t look at me. Got it?”

“Got it.”

I hated that he agreed. I hated that I wanted him to fight it.

A dangerous swirl of misery rose within me, and I was out of time.

I ran home and slammed the door behind me. Next door, I could already hear the noise of Gabriel’s girls. If I had to bet, Atticus was watching them.

There was a part of me that wanted to go knock on the door. I bet I could wrangle his kids. I bet I could do it better than anyone else.

Why? Why did I want to give so much of myself to a man who left? Why did I not learn my lesson? He was being clear. He was telling me what his plan was.

I must have ripped out my own heart all those years ago. Maybe he still had it because he held way too much of me. I’d survived since he left, but it wasn’t the kind of living it had been when he was here.

If only he would have stayed. If only things could have been different.

A tear slid down my cheek the second I was alone. It turned into a hiccupping cry that took over my entire body. I sat on the other side of my door, foolishly hoping he would come and ask me one more time if I was okay. I’d tell him. I’d admit it all. I’d let myself sink into him again and fall apart once more when he walked away.

It was good that I told him to stay away.

Exhaustion made my eyelids heavy and I knew I was in for rough sleep. The stress meant I would definitely be sleepwalking, and while Gabriel was near, he couldn’t know I still did this.

If I woke up in his bed, that would be a massive mistake.

With a sigh, I locked the door using the extra locks I’d installed myself. I shoved my table and couch in front of it, all in the hopes that my sleep self wouldn’t let anyone see that I still desperately wanted Gabriel Sinclair.

At this point, I was sure it would never change.

6

GABRIEL

Dad Company (But Sometimes Good Advice)

G Singh: I’ve left them at home with my stepfather, but I fear for his safety.

Comments:

Robert Colt: Is he good with kids? And patient?

G Singh: Yes and yes.

Robert Colt: Just don’t let them burn another apartment down.

Oliver Brian: Is your stepfather educated in fire safety?

Beatrice was hanging off Atticus when I opened the door.

My stepfather looked haggard, and I was sure three of his buttons were missing from his dress shirt. He hadn’t called, but after Jade left, I knew I couldn’t go back into the bar.