Page 13 of Mine to Love
“It’s a difficult topic and might be unsettling,” Liberty continued.
“Are we moving again?” Gabriel jerked his head.
“No. No. Honey. It’s not that. But I’ve made a hard decision. It involves you and I wanted to tell you. I thought having Miles here might help with the transition.”
Oh boy. While Miles could understand the gentle touch and the kind, soft tone, he couldn’t get behind the way she spoke to him. It was as if she were talking to a two-year-old, which he wasn’t. But it all came back to Miles’ lack of understanding how Gabriel dealt with his raw emotions. So, Miles would have to sit back and let this one play out for now.
Gabriel placed both hands on the table and rocked back and forth, as if he were preparing himself for the worst.
Miles had seen this behavior before at the shop, twice. The first time had been when a customer, who hadn’t been made aware of Gabriel’s special circumstances, became abrupt and spoke tersely. Miles had been terrified he was going to have to call Liberty at work, but he’d been quickly able to redirect Gabriel. It hadn’t been that difficult to do, and he certainly didn’t coddle the man. At least not with his tone or demeanor. He spoke to him the same way he would any other person. The only difference was he didn’t expect Gabriel to justget over it.Miles knew that wasn’t possible. Instead, he spent time under the hood with Gabriel until Gabriel calmed down to the point he could focus on something else. It had taken a good forty-five minutes. But it was well worth it to see Gabriel excel and move past a trying situation.
Liberty rose, moved to the other side of the table, and sat down next to her brother, resting her hand over his, holding them and rubbing her fingers over his palms. “Gabriel. I didn’t mean to frighten you. We just need to make a few changes and I know change can be hard for you.”
Gabriel sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly but didn’t stop rocking. He kept his gaze on his water glass and didn’t say a word.
“I’ve asked Charlie to stop coming around. He’s not my husband and it’s time for me to have a clean break.” She leaned forward. “I’m sorry this affects you, but I can’t have you spending time with him either. It’s going to be an adjustment, but we have each other.”
“You don’t want me to see him or talk to him? Ever?” Gabriel asked.
“I know that’s asking a lot, but yes. It’s time for us to have a fresh start. Just the two of us,” she said.
Gabriel’s chest rose and fell with a huff. “I’m tired and want to go to bed.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Liberty asked. “I know Charlie means a lot to you and I’m not?—”
“I don’t. Want. To. Talk. About it.” Gabriel slammed his hands on the table and stood. He shoved his chair back so hard it fell over. He stomped off through the house and out the front door.
Liberty jumped to her feet and lunged forward. “Gabriel. Come back here.”
Miles stepped in front of her, wrapping his arms around her tiny waist. “Let me go.”
“You don’t know how to handle him when he gets like this.” She glared.
“Let me try.”
“He’s my little brother and he’s… fine, but if he’s self-harming, you have to promise to get me.”
“I will.” Miles squeezed her shoulder before leaning in and kissing her cheek, letting his lips linger longer than he should have, but he wanted her to know he was on her side as much as he was Gabriel’s. He turned and made his way outside where he found Gabriel pacing across the front yard, tugging at his hair and calling himself names.
Damn, that broke his heart.
“Gabriel. Come sit with me.” Miles took a seat on the last two steps of the porch.
“I. Don’t. Want. To. Talk. About it.” Gabriel gave his head a good pound.
Shit. “I don’t either,” Miles said. “And I’m not asking you to tell me anything. Just to come take a load off.”
“Okay.” Gabriel kicked the grass before stomping over, at least with his hands at his sides.
With a big huff, he fell back on the steps. “She treats me like a baby. I’m not a child. I’m a man.”
“That you are.” Miles leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “But are you angry because of how she talked to you or that she told Charlie not to come around anymore?”
“Both,” Gabriel whispered in a small, childlike voice. “But I still don’t want to talk about it.”
“I can’t force you to do that.” Miles rubbed the back of his neck. “However, I’d like to give you some advice.”
“What’s that?”
