Page 102 of Every Broken Piece
“Yeah? Is my son sitting there?”
“Yes.”
He chuckles. “He treating you right?”
“He’s just like his father.”
Pax groans. I grin.
“Hey, listen, Tess. I’m so sorry but this meeting’s lasting way longer than I thought. I wanted to be home for dinner but I’m not going to make it. I hate like hell that I’m abandoning you on your first day in Denver.”
“Don’t worry about it. Pax and I are looking for apartments for me. He’s been very helpful.”
The line goes silent for a long moment. “We’ll discuss that later.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. I can’t impose on you forever.”
“Later, Tess. How are you feeling? Is your head hurting? Your wrist?”
I’ve been typing on the computer most of the day, so my wrist is killing me, and staring at the screen is making my head ache but I’m not telling him that. “I’m fine.”
He sighs. “I know you, Spitfire. Take some ibuprofen and take a break.”
“Yes, sir.”
He chuckles. “I’ll be home as soon as I can.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Bye, Tess.”
“Bye, Gabe.”
I hang up but clutch my phone to my chest as warmth spreads through me. This feeling of being wanted, cherished, and cared for, is so foreign and so addicting—like a drug. I want more of it and yet I fear it. I fear that this deep need for Gabe, for the way he makes me feel, will wreck me in the end. That the road it will lead me down will be beautifully painful, achingly heartbreaking, and in the end, profoundly devastating.
“Let’s eat.” Pax jumps up and heads to the kitchen where he pulls out last night’s Chinese leftovers.
“You just had a whole pizza and a half. You can’t be hungry.”
“I’m always hungry and it’s dinner time. Let me guess, Dad won’t be home.”
“No,” I say quietly. I told Gabe I understood but that doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed.
Pax tosses a container in the microwave and pushes some buttons. “You ever play Go Fish?”
“Go Fish? As in the kids’ card game?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s been a few years, but yes, I’ve played.”
His grin is wicked. “After dinner we’ll play.”
Chapter forty-seven
Gabe
Ilean my head against the seat rest and breathe out an exhausted breath, happy that this marathon meeting with Montrose is done. For now.
