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I run a hand down my face in exasperation.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m in love with her.” I await a teasing comment from Harry, but it doesn’t come. Instead, they all give me a prideful look, and my throat feels thick with emotion.

I’m in love with Gabriella Monroe and I don’t care who knows it.

“So that relapse you had, that was to do with this?” Jack asks. I nod, still ashamed I let myself fall so far off the wagon.

“You could have told us,” Harry says, his features softening and even though we all banter, I know these guys would quite literally go to war for me.

“You all had shit going on. I thought I had a handle on it, but it turns out love really does do a number on you.”

“Sure does,” Harry and Jack say in unison. I glance over at Noah, who stares at a blank spot on the counter, deep in thought. When he catches me looking at him, he looks like a child that’s been caught eating candy when he shouldn’t.

“So, what are we going to do about this prick, Patrick?” Noah asks.

“He’s first on my hit list,” Grinding my teeth in anger at the mention of his name and everything he’s done to her.

“Well, we’ve got your back, whatever you need,” Jack says and Harry and Noah nod.

Chapter Fifty Four

Gabriella

Shame, embarrassment, regret, all feelings I am very well acquainted with, but nothing could compare to how I feel knowing our friends walked in on us and now think I am some cheating skank.

I’ve been sitting in the bathtub, hearing whispers from the kitchen, as I’m sure Brad relays all the sordid details of our affair.

Well, Gabriella, this may be your best fuck up yet. Take a bow girl.

I sink under the water and hold my breath. Enjoying the silence and the feeling of being weightless for just a second. I rise to the surface, smoothing my hands over my face and hair and scream in fright when two figures stand beside the bathtub.

I move into a seating position, water splashing over the sides onto the tiled floor.

“What the hell?” I yell.

Ali and Ria look at me, confused.

“What are you doing?” Ria asks.

“Washing away my sins.” I sigh, laying back in the tub.

“In your t-shirt,” Ali says, pointing at me.

“Yes, it's tainted now. So let me drown in peace, please,” I mumble.

Ria snorts. “Come on, stop being so dramatic. It can’t be that bad.”

“No, it’s worse than you think,” I confirm.

“Well, the dildo of consequences never arrives lubricated Gabriella,” Ali says, folding her arms.

Both Ria and I turn to look at her as if she has two heads.

‘Huh?” Ria says. “Do you hear yourself before you say the words, or do you just say it?”

“I just say it,” Ali says, shrugging her shoulders.

Ria pats her on the back. “Thought so, but it’s why we love you.”