Page 41 of Make Us Yours
When his lips hit my cheek, I expect something to happen, a feeling of unease to wash over me. But again, it never comes. Yesterday every time he touched me, I felt calm. I suspected it was because of my state of mind, but now I’m questioning if maybe something in me has shifted. Maybe my mind and body finally understand that I have nothing to fear from Gabe, that he’s harmless.
That he’ll never hurt me like Victor did.
“Noh should be arriving soon. He had an interview with a reporter to do before leaving the arena. I’m off to nap. See you at the game later, Vixen.” He walks backwards and heads for the stairs as he finishes talking.
“Okay, I’m gonna head out now. Thank you for the phone, and good luck tonight!” I call out as he takes the steps two at a time, up to his room.
I head to the elevator just as it opens with Noah inside. “You leaving?” he asks as we switch positions, him in the foyer and me in the elevator.
“Yeah, but I’ll see you at the game tonight.” I grab his shirt quickly and kiss his cheek. “For good luck.” I wink.
He smiles broadly. “Bye, Veronica.”
“Bye, Noah,” I say as the doors to the elevator close.
I make my way down while texting Aubrey to find out where she is. She tells me she’s still at her brother’s house with all the girls and to join her there since she has my car. Once in the lobby, I get myself an Uber and head over to Emma’s. Forty-five minutes later, I’m finally at my destination.
“Hello, my beloved puck ladies,” I say with a smile as I march into the kitchen where all the girls are gathered around.
“Ugh, we never did end up changing that name. It makes us sound so old,” Emma whines while wrinkling her nose.
“Well, last I checked, there were still little humans around with tiny ears. So we can’t use the B word anymore,” I point out to her.
“I still think it sounds classy,” Morgan provides.
“I agree,” Aubrey says, nodding her head.
“Of course, you do, Miss Prim and Proper. You just don’t like being called a B-I-T-C-H.” I narrow my eyes at her, and she smiles.
“How are you feeling today, Ronnie?” Morgan questions softly. “Gabe said you weren’t doing so well yesterday.”
“He told you that?” I furrow my brows.
“Yeah, I called to invite them over for dinner, but they said you were napping andwanted to stay home to check on you. It’s really sweet if you ask me,” she finishes with a swoony sigh.
“That’s if it’s really what was going on.” Cecilia smirks.
“It was.” I point a finger at her. “Don’t start thinking things. Nothing’s going on there.” I turn back to Morgan. “And I’m feeling much better now.”
“Oh, good! I would hate for you to miss their game tonight.” She smiles at me. Morgan is a huge supporter of her husband. She practically goes to every single one of his games.
Emma reaches behind her for a wineglass, holding it in my direction. “Want one?”
It’s then I notice all the girls already have glasses. I’m tempted to say yes, but then Gabe’s warning voice pops into my head, and I groan. “I can’t. Gabe forbade me from having anything that could make my cramps worse. He literally made me a list of what I can and can’t have. Did you guys know he was such a health nut?”
They all frown as they rack their brains. “Actually, now that you mention it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ellis eat anything that wasn’t healthy. Even when we’ve ordered pizza in the past, he always claimed he wasn’t hungry because he had just raided Silas’s nutrient bars,” Cecilia speaks up.
“It’s true. Except for drinking beer, I’ve never seen him eat junk food. He wouldn’t even have a piece of cake on my birthday, or at Gracie’s,” Em says.
“He didn’t want any dessert at your baby shower either,” Aubrey adds, addressing Cecilia.
“How are we just figuring this out? We spend so much time with those guys.” Morgan looks perplexed. “Jesus, I’ve fed him so many times, and I’ve never noticed.”
Now that actually makes me curious. Gabe and Noah often eat over at Morgan and Clay’s, yet Gabe is a phenomenal cook himself. Why eat somewhere else when you can make it yourself? Plus, he really seems to enjoy cooking. It seems both the boys are really good at hiding secrets.
I look around, noticing Dante and Gracie aren’t with their toys in the living room. “Are the kids napping?”
Emma holds up a water bottle this time, and I nod as she passes it over. “No, they’re out with their grandparents, though they should be coming back soon. We’re putting them down a little later, since they’ll be up past their bedtime and we don’t want them getting cranky at the game.”
