Page 115 of Yours, Finally

"Why did you stop me? We could have had this conversation sooner."

I shook my head. "I had a lot to work through. From my history to my loyalty to you and your parents… and I didn't know if Vi felt the same."

"I can't speak for her, but something tells me you should talk to her. It might go better than you think."

"Right." I cleared my throat. "I know how she feels. We… uh… we’re in a relationship."

Gabe's smile faltered, and he pulled his hands away. "You… what?"

I gave him a nod. "Vi and I figured out a few things. We're together, but we messed up. We hid it, Gabe. I'm sorry."

He shook his head like, out of everything, this was the one thing he couldn't compute.

"How long?" he asked.

"The gala. Right after I became a VP. That part was above board, I promise."

He sighed. "Two months. Then you sang a song you wrote about her, and decided to tell everyone."

I gulped. "You're missing a few critical points but, in essence… yeah."

He considered me for a long time, a deep wrinkle on his brow. I let him process the news and adjust to it himself, my eyes fixed on him and open.

"Are you going to tell my parents?" he asked.

"Yes. Tonight. But I wanted to tell you first, since you… well, since you're you. I owe so much to you."

"You don't owe me anything. I didn't become your friend with a spreadsheet in mind."

"Then why did you?"

He shrugged. "Because I liked you. Then I loved you. I didn't need any other reason."

"The day you sat next to me for lunch was the luckiest day of my life."

He smirked. "Don't let Vi hear you say that. She's going to want to know why that day isn't the day she told you she had feelings for you, too."

I chuckled. "I'll tell her it's because I haven't had a chance to propose yet."

Gabe's eyebrows went high on his forehead. "Is that right?"

I nodded. "I've loved her for years. I don't need much more time to know I want her in my life that way."

"Then go talk to my parents."

I shifted on my feet. "What do you think they'll say?"

"Please tell me you're not asking them for permission to marry Vi. My sister wouldn't want you to tell them first. She would want to be the one to give you permission, I think."

I chuckled again. "I'm not asking for their permission to marry her, and I'm not proposing yet. All I need to know at this time is if your parents will be against us. What they will do when Itell them I've kept these feelings for her tucked away. It's what I needed to know from you, too."

"I'm happy for you two." He smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "I love you both. Ever since I noticed the change in vibes between you, I've wondered if anything would happen. I've had time to prepare, you know?"

"Do you think your parents suspect, too?"

Gabe shrugged. "No idea, but you have to be brave enough to face my parents anyway. Then maybe you'll see there was no reason to be worried in the first place."

"I'm prepared. I need to stand by myself in front of them and take their reaction. Anything, to make it right. For me, Vi… all of us."