Page 50 of Desired By you (Always & Forever #3)

Chapter Forty-One

Gabriella

I wake with a heaviness in my chest, guilt the emotion I’m feeling.

I don’t owe Patrick anything. We aren’t really together, so why do I feel like I cheated?

Brad’s arm lays heavy across my body and I slide out gently, so as not to disturb him.

I pick up my discarded undies and dress and slip them on, feeling dirty and cheap, because even though I didn’t technically do anything wrong, that’s not how the rest would view it.

To the outsider, I cheated on my boyfriend last night.

Well done, Gabby. Another fuck up to add to your mounting list.

But it felt good. So good, to be in arms again and hand my body over to him, because I trust him with it.

I need to figure this out. Maybe come to another arrangement with Patrick that will have him backing off.

I slip on my heels and search for my phone when Brad stirs, sitting upright, his sleepy eyes trying to focus on me.

“Are you leaving?” The morning gruffness in his voice almost has me climbing back into bed with him.

“Yeah, I need to check on Ali. She was sick last night, and I need some time to…” My words trail off.

“To what?” he questions, pushing his fingers through his hair. He throws the covers back, rolling out of bed and picking up his briefs off the floor and slips them on. He steps towards me, every muscle in his body ripples when he walks, and he’s not making my choice to leave any easier.

“Don’t tell me you are running back to him.” His tone is annoyed.

“Brad, I, it’s complicated. I need to—” He cuts me off.

“Are you fucking serious? You’re going to go back to that piece of shit? How can you be that na?ve, Gabriella. He’s controlling you. What does he have hanging over your head? Why do you let him treat you like that?”

My hackles rise because he’s hit a nerve. “Don’t judge me. You don’t know anything about my relationships, and besides, you pushed me away. You were the one who said we were done.” My voice is a lot louder than I intended.

“I did that to keep you safe.”

I furrow my brow. “Safe? Safe from what?”

“From me, Gabriella, and trust me, the less you know, the better.”

“Oh, so I’m supposed to tell you things, but you can keep secrets? Is that how this works, Marco?”

He sneers at the use of his real name and I regret it the moment it leaves my mouth. ‘I’m sorry, I—”

“I think you need to leave. Shut the door on your way out.”

The cab ride back felt long and lonely. I replayed my conversation over and over with Brad and decide I need to sort my life out.

I’ll call Patrick later and ask him to meet for dinner, find an agreement that works for us both and pray I can appeal to his kind side that has to be buried deep inside him.

I reach our floor and the faint sounds of an argument can be heard in the hallway.

Convinced it’s one of our neighbors, I turn my key in the lock, but the yelling gets louder as I step inside. I make my way to Ali’s room, where I can hear the voices.

“Al, you in here—” I enter her room and stop, my eyes widen as I look between Ali and a half-dressed Harry.

“What’s going on, are you two…”

Ali closes her eyes, and Harry hangs his head and stares at the floor, looking utterly defeated. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones.

“Can someone explain, please?” I plead.

Harry hands me a folded piece of paper. “Don’t leave her on her own,” he says firmly before he grabs his clothes and heads for the door. Before he disappears from view, he says, “I mean it. I’m not giving up on you.”

His footsteps fade away, and the door slams.

A sickening silence falls between me and Ali as my shaky hands unfold the paper and I read the opening lines.

Dear Miss Hart…

My blood runs cold, and my hand flies up to cover my mouth. Ali chokes on a sob.

“Ali, I…” I gasp, looking up from the paper and watch my beautiful, strong friend, who has been through so much in her twenty-nine years, crumble in front of me.

Guilt and disgust at myself hits me like a slap to the face.

How did I not see? How could I be so blind to her pain?

I knew something was wrong, and I ignored it.

I should have been here. Instead, I was selfish and went to Brad, instead of being where I should have been.

“They want to let him out Gabs, they are going to let him out,” She sobs, her legs giving way and I reach her just before she hits the ground, the letter falling from my fingers as I hold my broken friend up.

“I’ve got you, it’s okay, I’ve got you,” I repeat, holding her and pulling her in towards my chest as we sit in the middle of her room.

I reach for Ali’s phone that lies on the floor and dial, bringing the phone to my ear, relief flooding me when she answers.

“Hey, Ri, it’s me. Ali needs us.”