Page 110 of Townshipped
Gabriela gently grabs the back of my arm and gives me a conspiratorial squeeze. I can’t look at her, or I’ll lose it.
Aiden looks mortified. “I’m so sorry. She must feel a little threatened. That’s her alarm call. We’ve got pregnant goats this week, ready to drop their kids, so she’s probably picking up on all the hormonal changes in the air.”
“I see,” Mom says, attempting to appear nonplussed—a nearly impossible feat, considering the llama spit spotting her outfit and hairdo. But leave it to Mom to carry off a dignified persona while covered in animal spittle.
“Let’s get you some towels,” Aiden suggests.
Once we’re inside, Aiden shows my mom to the hall bath and gives my dad a few hand towels at the kitchen sink. Mom took the brunt of the spray. Gabriela and I were standing too far back to be hit.
I tell Aiden, “I’m going to take Gabby into the guest room. Can you show my parents to the living room once they clean up. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
He nods. I can’t help myself. I look into his eyes. We hold one another’s gaze. Every emotion and memory I’ve been trying to carefully contain threatens to beat its way out of my chest. A prickling sensation presses from behind my eyes and I fight it with everything inside me. Aiden looks like he has something to say, but then he breaks our eye contact.
I can’t figure Aiden out. He’s probably concerned for me, maybe even overwhelmed by all the people here, and by this unexpected turn of events. We only found out my parents were coming yesterday—and here they are.
“Take your time,” he tells me with a smile that feels only partially real.
Once we’re in my room—my old room, the guest room—Gabriela starts in.
“Oh, mija. Aiden’s whew. I mean, wow.” She fans herself for emphasis—as if any were needed.
“I know.” I smile.
“Tell me there’s more going on between you two than meets the eye. I want the juicy details.”
I turn my back to Gabriela and pretend to be looking across surfaces for stray items. When my face feels neutral, I turn back toward her and shrug. Thankfully she seems to move on to another subject.
“It’s so good to see you,” she says, flopping onto the bed. “Are you packed? Do you need help?”
“I’ve got almost everything. I just need to go through the drawers again to be sure I’m not forgetting anything.”
My parents’ voices mingle with Aiden’s in a conversation in the kitchen.
Sadness threatens to rise up again when I realize I won’t see him after today. I won’t see Ty or Paisley either. The three of them have burrowed under my skin, right into my heart.
Gabriela’s sitting on the bed, twirling the edge of a decorative pillow in her fingers while I pull out drawers and search to make sure they are empty of my belongings.
“I told you to consider finding some men on this trip,” she says with a teasing wink. “Whew-eeee, chica. You went for it. He’s …” She stops mid-thought.
“What?”
I need to hear her thoughts on Aiden, even though they won’t change anything between us. He’s letting me go.
Gabriela stands and paces around the room, taking in the various lamps and decor, peeling back the curtains and checking out the view. Then she turns with her hands on her hips appraising me. Her lips pucker and her eyes go wide.
“Your face!” she says.
“What about my face?”
“Am I seeing what I’m seeing?” Her eyes zone in, and there’s no hiding from the way we know one another.
“Do you?”
“Do I what? My memories of you involved you being way more direct. I don’t recall you ever having a problem speaking your mind.”
“That’s probably because I never saw you in love. Oh, Mal! You’re in love. No doubt about it. You went and found yourself a man you love!”
“Keep it down,” I chide, hoping her animated outburst didn’t carry to Aiden’s ears.
