Page 113 of The Reluctant Hero

“Come sit down,” Gabriel turns so he can see me from the corner of his eyes.

I hurry to sit on the couch with a decent space between us and stare at the blank screen tensely.

When Ace brings in a disc and starts it, my face is on fire with shame. It starts with me marching out and hissing at her, the throw and highlighters flying everywhere. I see Vanessa rear back from me with eyes wide enough to pop out. Then me shouting, which is weird with no sound. I look like a psycho when I take my shoe off and threaten her. By the time I slap her with it, I have my face hidden behind my hands.

Mikael clears his throat. I’m hoping it’s because the video is over.

“Play it again,” Gabriel says in a shaky voice. I sink lower into the couch and pray a hole opens up to take me to another world far away.

And then he starts laughing. It starts off small and then builds until he’s bent at the waist. My hands drop to my lips in horror. I broke him. I single-handedly broke this man, and Ican’t do anything about it. He has tears streaming from his eyes. A look around shows Cade struggling not to laugh. Ace has a hand over his mouth as he watches the screen. I don’t want to look at Mikael.

“It’s not funny. It’s embarrassing,” I snap, and he looks at me and gets louder.

“Stop it,” I protest hotly. If my face gets any redder, I might pop a blood vessel.

“Vanessa is looking up how to make highlighter bouquets,” Ace says helpfully. “Why is that, darlin’?”

“Shut up, Ace,” I glare at him intensely, and he breaks into laughter too.

“Thank you for defending my honor,” Gabriel says in a tone that shakes with laughter. He suddenly looks so much lighter than the heavy weight he had on his shoulders a few minutes ago.

“You don’t deserve it,” I snark without thinking and cross my arms. “And it was your delicateearsI was protecting you ass.”

“And you just happened to have noise-canceling headphones in your purse?” He asks slyly.

My eyes widen with guilt and he starts laughing all over again.

“You know what you need? Some alcohol,” I slap my hands on my thighs and stand up to get him a glass of whatever he has back there. It turns out to be whiskey or gin. Nothing else. I go with whiskey and hope for the best.

They’re still watching the video on repeat. I put the glass on the coffee table and settle at my desk to ignore them as best I can.

Things go back to a sort of normal. Gabriel stays on the couch, watching the video over and over while chuckling randomly. Cade leaves on some errand. Then Ace and Mikael do,too. I don’t realize it’s just us until Gabriel pulls up a chair next to me. Where did he get a metal one?

It startles me because I’ve been zoning out, so I won’t hear them laughing at my dramatic ass. The first chance I get, I’m stealing that video and breaking it.

We sit in silence at first. I’m nervously trying to ignore him, my eyes laser-focused on finding more names. With only one highlighter left I’m a little limited, but it’s all I can think of to do.

“Someone told you about today?” He asks in a stiff voice.

I swallow hard, my shoulders slumping in defeat. I fiddle with the highlighter for a second.

“Only a little. Enough to keep my mouth shut. Sorry I ruined that.”

He makes a thoughtful sound, his eyes focused on some memory that he probably shouldn’t be seeing. He needs a distraction.

“So-” I start feebly, ready to offer him another drink. If I have to replay the damn video, I will. Pride be damned.

“My parents had an arranged marriage.”

Oh shit. He’s opening up to me.Why?I’m nobody to him.

Then again, if I’m just passing through, he might see me as a therapist. Oh God, was South my warm-up? I’m not ready for another life-altering event talk!

I try to shut that shit down quickly.

“I’m not a-”

“I don’t think my mother would have ever left him. No matter how many mistresses he had.”

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