Page 75 of Scoop Me Up
Jennifer nodded her encouragement, a wide smile on her face. “Good luck.”
I ducked out of the coffee shop and speed-walked home. Hurrying inside, I found Gabe at the kitchen table, staring at his laptop, a cup of coffee next to him.
He glanced up at me, his face brightening when we made eye contact. “You’re back.”
I nodded. “I’m back. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to wake you.”
“It’s fine. I got your text. I’ve just been… clearing some things up.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about the job offer?” I blurted.
Gabe’s expression slid into confusion, with a frown and a furrowed brow. “What?”
“I ran into Jennifer this morning at Special Blend.”
His face fell and he nodded once. “Yeah.”
“She told me you turned down a job offer. A big one that would've taken you out of state.”
A moment passed and he nodded again. “That’s true.”
My knees wobbled and my stomach fluttered as I sank into a chair next to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Gabe ran his hands through his auburn hair and groaned. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured about our… relationship. Whatever this is between us. I didn’t want it to feel like you couldn’t say no, or you had some obligation to stay with me because I’d turned it down.”
I bit my lower lip and hesitated for a moment, holding eye contact with him for several moments before speaking. “Remember when you said you’re invested in me? In us?” When he nodded, I continued. “Is that what you meant?”
“It is,” he said quietly.
My stomach flipped again and heat washed over me. I didn’t know what else to say. As far as I knew, he hadn’t made any concrete moves to stay in Maplewood, even though I desperately wanted him to. “Are you staying in Maplewood, then?” When he didn’t say anything immediately, my mind began to race. “Actually, don’t answer that,” I said quietly. “I don't know if I can handle it if you say you’re leaving after all.”
“Sam, I’m staying,” he murmured.
“You are?”
Gabe nodded. “It’s going to take a little while to wrap everything up, but I want to stay in Maplewood. I’m going to ask Miles to help me find a place to live. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Really?” My throat tightened again and tears stung at my eyes. “You’re sure?”
“So sure. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this sure.” He paused for a moment. “But only if you want me to. If you don’t, I’ll get out of your hair for good. I promise.”
“Of course I want you to stay.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, and his breath hitched before he spoke again. “Thank you.”
A giddy laugh bubbled out of me. “You’re staying. Officially.”
Gabe reached over and pulled me to him, kissing me gently. “I’m staying. Officially.”
Chapter 30
Gabe
The week moved quickly and soon we were facing down the final day before the grand opening of Scoops on Maple. I woke to the soft sounds of birds singing outside my window and rolled to my side before remembering Sam had slipped out of my bed and back to their bedroom after our late-night activities the evening prior. It was becoming our routine, but something was missing and I knew it. I didn’t want to wake up without Sam in my bed any longer.
It had been a week since I’d told Sam I was staying and I felt more and more confident in the decision every day. I’d convinced my landlord to let me terminate my lease early, pending my finding a place in Maplewood to live, and Miles and I had been hunting for rental properties ever since. There was one big task to accomplish still and that was talking to Ellie.
A little over an hour later, I picked up Ellie from her mom’s house and we walked together to Red’s for breakfast. As always, we sat at the Formica counter, her little legs swinging as she pursed her lips and studied the menu.
