Page 73 of Not Safe For Work

“Come on sleepyhead,” Liv chirps, taking my hand as we walk off the plane.

I pull my hand away when I feel my phone vibrate with another message.

Gabby:

When will you be home? We need to talk about this

Me:

Just landed. I’ll see you soon

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Liv asks once we get in the Uber. I know I’m being a dick and have barely said a word since we landed, but all I can think about is how this conversation is going to go with Gabby.

I can’t let her give up school.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m just really tired still.” I rest my head against the backseat window and close my eyes. It’s not a lie. I am tired. Exhausted, really. Just not the way she’s thinking.

She lays her hand over mine and for a split second I forget about my sister and debt and everything in the world that sucks right now. All I see behind my eyelids is the amazing weekend I spent with the girl of my dreams.

I should be happy right now, but I can’t enjoy this feeling anymore until I talk to Gabby. Until I’m sure she’s not going to do something drastic to her future.

The car pulls to a stop, and I open my eyes.

“Do you wanna stay here? I have a very comfy bed you could be laying on in less than ninety seconds.” She taps her fingers across the back of my hand.

“I can’t. I gotta get home. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I lean forward and ask the driver if we can make another stop.

“How could you?”Gabby greets me at the door.

I take a deep breath to steady myself and march past her so I can put my stuff down. “I want to talk about this. I really do. Can you let me shower off the drugs first?” I can barely keep my eyes open.

She huffs, which doesn’t surprise me, but I need a few minutes of solitude to figure this out. I shower quickly, and when I step out of the bathroom, Gabby has a suitcase by the front door.

“What’s going on?”

“I’m staying at Kadesha’s. She’s coming to get me in a few.”

“Okay, but what’s with the jumbo-size suitcase? Don’t you have stuff there already?” I ask.

“I’m not just staying tonight, Gav. I don’t want to be anywhere near you. Casi que ni te puedo ver la cara.”

“I thought you wanted to talk,” I argue. Because that’s what her last text said. “Can we please discuss this? Just let me explain what’s going on.”

She walks over to the couch and sits. “We can talk, but I know what’s going on. After I saw the mail, I decided to do a little digging. How are you paying for my school, Gav?”

From the tone of her voice, it’s obvious she knows the answer.

“Gabby,” I start, sitting down next to her. “I have the payments under control. There’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“You think this is about the money?” she bellows. “We’ve had nothing, and we survived. Hell, wethrived,” she laughs. “You and I can get through anything together. But not if I can’t trust you.”

Her voice breaks on the last word and tears start to pool in her eyes. It breaks my fucking heart.

“Gav, you never lie to me. We never lie toeach other. Never about the big stuff. Never about the stuff that matters. I could have taken out a loan myself. I could have chosen a different school. I could have done a million things if you’d just talked to me instead of coddling me like you always have.”

We both turn at the sound of someone knocking on the door, Kadesha I assume.

“Gabby, please don’t leave like this.”

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