“He gets it,” I mumbled, pulling my shepherd’s pie to me, too. I wasn’t about to wait around to eat when I was that hungry and ready to get the hell out of there. I shook my head. “Somehow I just don’t believe that.”
“I calmed him down. He was heated, yes it’s true, but I did get him to understand. It doesn’t matter what you do in your own time, and he shouldn’t be so hard on Gabrielle for doing whatever she wants to do in her life. Even if he is in the eye of the public at all times. This isn’t some backwards small town. This is L.A., and it’s seen it all, pretty much. When I put it that way, he got it. Plus…” she let her voice trail off, shrugging one shoulder, “I may have some special powers of persuasion.”
I made a face, groaning to myself. “Really. Did not. Need. To know that.”
Mom giggled a moment until we both burst out laughing, me taking a hearty bite of my food and letting it digest for a moment before looking back at her. “Thanks, Ma. For sticking up for me.”
She gave me a knowing smile and nodded. “Of course, baby. You know I’d do anything for you.”
There was a loud knock at the door, startling both of us, before she quickly hopped up, smoothing down her dress, and quickly walked over to the door. With one more look back over her shoulder at me, she winked, and pulled open the door, revealing the man of the hour.
I shoveled another bite of pie into my mouth, swallowing hard, as I listened in to see if I could hear whether or not his tone sounded particularly murderous.
Their footsteps approached from behind, and I slowly turned, meeting Leonard De Leon’s eyes right away. I stood up, sticking out my hand.
He hesitated for a moment, but shook mine, not nearly as hard as I figured he would, before nodding. “Jacob. Nice to see you again, son.”
I gave my mom a kiss on the cheek, thanking her for dinner and giving a quick wave to Mr. De Leon before heading out the door. Whatever was about to happen in that duplex was nothing I wanted any part of whatsoever. I was going to be putting on a pair of my favorite bass-heavy headphones, just in case.
Lying in bed, I thought back to dinner and our conversation. Mr. De Leon did seem to be over his anger, and actually asked me about the job, awkwardly jumping from that to my going to med school. My mom nearly burst into tears when I mentioned I’d found out that I had passed the latest exam, and even Mr. De Leon himself seemed rather impressed. All in all, it was a successful dinner, I guess.
Deciding not to punish myself by diving right back into studying, considering I deserved a break, I shoved my textbook aside and sat up, feeling the urgent need to get in touch with Gabi.
I’d been so nervous about what would happen if people found out about Gabi and me. It didn’t feel like it before, but I really was. I didn’t want her to say fuck it and ditch me just to keep things easier on herself. But the whole time the problem had only been in my head. I shouldn’t have gotten so bent out of shape and avoiding her, even if I was studying.
The truth of the matter was that Gabi meant something to me, and I was being a douchebag by ignoring that. It left me open for something I didn’t think I was ready for.
It hit me that she hadn’t texted or called at all that day, and something thick and heavy sunk down in my stomach. What if she was over me? I couldn’t really blame her—I mean, I had been a total asshole for not talking to her all week.
I grabbed my phone, quickly scrolling to her name and pulling it up, the cute picture I’d snuck of her sitting pretty above her number.
It was time to face the truth. Not only was I free to date her without any of the repercussions I had in my head, but I was really starting to feel something for her. Something more than I thought I’d be able to.
I was going to need to apologize to her. And with any luck, she’d accept.
13
Gabi
I knew I
shouldn’t have been standing by the front door, impatiently pushing the curtain open to see if I could spot Jacob’s truck coming up the drive, but apparently I was a glutton for punishment.
I didn’t answer him straightaway, when he’d texted me two days before. I wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction, not when he’d been ignoring me for over a week. He had tried to explain that it was partly because he was studying so hard for his next big exam, but he did finally acknowledge that he’d been an asshat who should’ve texted a quick yes I’m here, yes I’m alive.
I let the string of apologies roll in, text message by text message. At one point, I had even managed to convince myself that he just wasn’t worth it. But that didn’t last long. And when I showed up earlier to my father’s office and saw Jennifer, she wasn’t about to let me walk past without saying something.
“I know he’s been a jerk, Gabrielle, but just give the boy a chance. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
Later on, after finishing up at the office, I finally gave in and texted Jacob back.
Oh, so now you’ve got your mom in on it?
It only took him a minute to text me back:
No—did she say something to you? Oh my God, I’m sorry. I told her not to. But hey… Whatever she said must have worked!
I was so mad at myself for grinning at him. Only a few hours later, there I was, just waiting for those headlights in the window and hoping I hadn’t made a mistake by letting him come over.
I poured myself a glass of wine, wondering whether or not I should leave the music on or turn it off, my nerves getting the better of me. I was supposed to be pissed off at him, not anxious to see him!
But of course, when I heard him pull up in front of the house, my heart did of couple of somersaults in my chest. So much for being angry.