Page 102 of A Lot Like Adiós
The climax hit her fast, sudden and devastating. She cried out, digging her nails into his shoulders as she shook and shattered. A second later, he groaned and pressed his forehead to hers, his body heaving as he came.
And then it was over.
Tingles still spiraled through her, but he’d stopped moving. Her heart pounded like it was going to jump right out of her chest and follow him to California.
Gabe finally opened his eyes and met her gaze. His expression was bleak, but he raised a hand and brushed aside the hair that had fallen into her face during his vigorous attentions. Then he reached for the box of tissues—and froze. Michelle glanced over to see what he was staring at. When Gabe had pushed everything aside, a yellow legal pad had shifted out from beneath the pile of notebooks.
And on it, her Pros and Cons list.
With a shuddering sigh, Gabe slipped out of her and backed away, grabbing a handful of tissues from the box on the desk. He wrapped them around himself, then raised his pants before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. A moment later, she heard water running in the sink.
Michelle let out a long shaky exhale and slid down, trying not to think about the fact that she’d just had her bare ass onher dad’s desk. Thank god her parents had left early that morning to go to the beach.
She retrieved her panties and shorts and put them on. She could leave the basement while he was in the bathroom. Just go and lock herself in one of the upstairs bathrooms, waiting until he’d left. But she wouldn’t make this easier for him.
Besides, she wanted one last look at him.
Michelle relived the last few minutes in her mind as she waited and tried not to cry. She’d never felt this way with anyone else before, and she knew no one in the future would ever come close. Gabe was special. He was hers.
But it wasn’t meant to be, and she had to get used to that fact.
She was still leaning against the desk with her arms crossed when Gabe exited the bathroom a few minutes later. He paused when he saw her, like maybe he’d expected her to be gone, but he crossed the carpet and, with the gentlest movements, took her face in his hands and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
Michelle’s heart twisted into a knot as she watched him walk away. A heavy sense of finality settled over her.
This was truly the end.
Without a word, and without looking back, Gabe went up the stairs and disappeared from sight.
Michelle waited until she heard the door at the top of the stairs close. Then, with trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and sent a message to the Primas of Power group text.
Michelle:He’s leaving.
Ava’s reply came a second later.
Ava:I’ll be right there.
UPSTAIRS, GABE TOOKa quick shower and packed the last of his belongings.
He hadn’t planned to have sex with Michelle, but damn it, he hadn’t been able to walk away from her without at least one last kiss. And when she’d reached for him, he’d given in to the impulse to be with her.
One last time.
No matter how much he’d prepared for this moment, it was still tearing him apart to leave her again. He’d thought doing it a second time would hurt less than the first, but if anything, it was worse. As close as they’d been as kids, it was nothing compared to how deeply they’d connected over the past week. Walking away from her downstairs had felt a bit like dying.
It was tempting to leave now and head straight for the airport, thus avoiding yet another uncomfortable goodbye. But he recalled Michelle’s words from a few days before, from outside the quinceañera venue.
It’s not too late, you know.
For what?
To run away.
That’s your MO. Not mine.
She was right. His natural inclination was to run away from emotionally uncomfortable situations, to protect himself by avoiding whatever was making him feel too much.
Just like her MO was to make a joke, using humor to dispel the tension and change the subject. They both had their patterns.
