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“I think that’s a good idea. This was the whole point, right? Help you feel comfortable finding someone. This thing we’ve been doing. It’s gone too far. I think we need to go back as we were now we’re home.” He says it with a calmness that’sborderline uneasy. I slide off his lap and wince when he gets up, grabbing the bottle of whiskey and the empty glass before he walks to the kitchen.

I think it would have hurt less if he’d slapped me. I came here, ready to open up to him, ask for his help, and he wants to toss me aside. I won’t cry, I refuse. I was stupid to believe he would want more or to continue this. LA wasn’t real, it was temporary. I was stupid to think that he would want more. I am the fool for falling for him. Stupid, young, naive Gabby. Of course, this is how it would end.

Life is returning to normal now. Everyone is returning from their trips, and now with Patrick’s threats hanging over me. I need to focus on getting through that. I’ll play the part of his girlfriend to hide my secrets and protect my family. I ruined their life once; I won’t do it again, so maybe this is for the best.

I clear my throat, standing up and squaring my shoulders, doing my best to keep myself from falling apart. “Yeah, sure. I think I’m going to give things a go with Patrick. He really likes me and he’s a nice guy, so…” My words trail off as I watch Brad’s body stiffen and his fingers grip the edge of the counter.

“Good, I’m happy for you. He seems like a good guy.” God, he has no idea.

“Yeah, yeah, he does,” I lie. A silence so thick it could suffocate us both edges it's in and I want to scream, tell him the truth, but I know him. When he’s made up his mind about something, it’s a done deal. He never promised me anything other than what he has delivered on, so I need to go, walk away, and handle the mess I have now got myself in.

“I guess I’ll go then,” I say, my voice shaky, but I wait, pray, he will tell me not to go, beg me to stay, but the words never come.

“Yeah, I have work to do. I’ll see you around.” His voice is quiet and frosty, nothing like the warm and comforting tone I am used to. He doesn’t look up, washing the single glass, avoiding mygaze. How did we go from all that we were in LA to this? I turn away and place my key on the countertop. I head for the door and run towards the elevator. Just as I hear the front door close, the sound of shattering echoes out, and I’m not sure if it’s the glass he had in his hand or my own heart breaking.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Brad

It’s been weeks since Gabriella walked out of my apartment, taking a piece of me with her. The urge to fall back into my old coping habits becomes stronger every day. I spend my nights tossing and turning, battling with myself, but I know keeping her at a distance, making my family believe she means nothing to me is the only way to keep her safe. It’s maddening when, in reality, she is everything. I wake up groggy, skipping workouts, and I bring work home when I can instead of working from the club. With Harry still in London and Jack on his honeymoon, it’s been easy enough to fly under the radar, but tonight we have a busy night at the club, and I have to be there.

The club is packed, the music so loud it vibrates beneath my feet. The smell of high end liquor never normally bothers me, but tonight it pulls old cravings to the surface, making my handstwitch and my body feel on edge. There are only two things that could calm these feelings: giving in and drinking past my usual one, or her, and I can’t have either.

I spotted Ali in here earlier with Cassidy, and that just sent warning signals. I’ve had a quiet eye on her all evening, something is off. Harry said Ali left without saying bye and has been avoiding his calls. I’ve dodged the girls’ apartment because until I have a grip on my emotions, I can’t set eyes on Gabriella. I feel like a shitty friend to Harry because I haven’t tried to speak to Ali for him so I make it my mission to speak to her tonight, calmly, and try and get to the bottom of what’s going on. But when I see the face of a man I sure as fuck know isn’t Harry, all over Ali, I’m rounding the bar and ripping the fucker off her.

“Ali,” I call. She turns and her face falls. “I need to speak to you.”

“I’m a bit busy right now,” she says, holding a hand in the air that’s linked with the drunk bastard.

“That's exactly what we need to talk about,” I yell, directing my focus to the guy. “I’m gonna need you to fuck off,” I say through gritted teeth.

The guy scoffs, “Excuse me, she’s mine tonight.”

“I don’t think so.” I take Ali by the hand and drag her toward my office, leaving the drunk stranger standing alone, utterly dumbfounded.

“Get off me,” she shouts, trying to free herself from my grip. I open the office door and pull her in, slamming it behind me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I bark, my voice bouncing off the walls.

“Excuse me. What the hell was that?” she bites back, stepping into my personal space.

“I wasn’t about to let that guy fuck you in a back alley.”

She grins, her eyes heavy and drunk. “Oh really, did you want the job instead?” she slurs, moving closer, pressing herselfagainst my chest. My body stiffens. What is she doing? This isn’t her.

“What the fuck?” I say, eyes widening.

“Come on, let’s have some fun. God knows, you need it. You are wound so fucking tight most of the time.” She reaches for the button on my pants, and I grab her wrists, stopping her.

“Ali, I am not going to fuck you, nor will I ever, and I’m not going to let you go with anyone else either. Not on my watch.” My heart’s hammering.How could she do this to Harry?

“Since when did you become my keeper and have a right to tell me what to do?” she spits.

“Since you started fucking around with my friend, that’s when. What the hell, Ali?” I growl, letting go of her wrists, and she stumbles back on her heels.

“Well, for your information, we’re done. Over. No more fucking around, so I can fuck around with whoever I want.”

“Does he know that?” I question.