Page 65 of Desired By you (Always & Forever #3)

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.”

Ali beams with pride.

“I don’t get it,” I say.

“I mean, the consequence of our actions are never going to be easy to accept. But whatever it is, it’s going to be okay. We can help.”

I huff in frustration. “I don’t know. My sins are pretty bad.”

“Well, move over. If you have sins to cleanse, I sure as hell have more,” Ali says, kicking off her shoes and standing in the tub and lowering herself, fully clothed in her sweatpants and sweatshirt she was wearing.

I burst into laughter as the water splashes over the side.

“Make room for my pregnant ass,” Ria says, taking off her jumper, so she’s left in a stretchy back dress that showcases her perfect bump.

I move to the middle of the tub and sling my legs over the side so they hang over the edge, knowing Ria will need the width of the tub.

The water rises when she gets in and more water splashes over the side and we fall into a fit of giggles.

The three of us look ridiculous, sat fully dressed in the bathtub.

A moment of silence falls between us all. I know they are waiting for me to spill, but where to begin.

As if they can read my thoughts, each of them takes a hand and squeezes it.

Ali is the first to speak. “Why don’t you start at the beginning, little G.”

“Yes, and don’t leave anything out…” Ria says, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

I take in a deep breath and exhale.

“Girls, I really messed up…’

I’m not sure how long we’ve been sat in the bathtub, but Ria has topped up the hot water twice to keep us warm. I told them everything. Every sordid detail, every secret I have been keeping for months.

“So yeah, that’s everything.” I say, flicking the water, waiting for one of them to speak.

“That’s… a lot,” Ali says. I nod.

“And you quit working at Diamonds?” Ria asks.

“Yeah, I wasn’t stripping. Can I stress that again.”

“Babe, we couldn’t care if you did. We’d be there with a wad of dollar bills cheering you on,” Ali says, and Ria nods in agreement.

I sniff. I really do have the best friends. They don’t judge, they just listen. Every girl needs friends like that.

“Gabs, you could have come to us,” Ria says softly.

“I know but you had just got married and found out about the baby. I didn’t want to ruin any of that, and Ali,” I say, turning to face her.

“You had the court case and everything you were going through. I just figured I could handle it all. I didn’t want to burden anyone with it.” I hang my head in shame, my nose burning with the threat of tears.

“You are not a burden,” Ali says.

“No, never,” Ria echoes.

“Can we make a promise: to never, ever think we are a burden to each other again? I don’t care if I’m in labor, if you need me, you call me, got it, both of you,” Ria says firmly.

“Agreed, anytime, it doesn’t matter,” Ali says.

“Agreed.” I sniff.

“I told Brad everything,” I say quietly, flicking the water with my index finger and thumb.

“Everything?” Ria asks, surprise in her tone. “The stuff with your parents, what happened to you?”

I nod.

“What did he say?” she continues.

“He was, understanding, compassionate. Told me it wasn’t my fault.”

“Because it wasn't,” Ria confirms.

“No, it wasn’t,” Ali echoes.

“I think I see that now.” I exhale.

“So,” Ali says, bumping her shoulder with mine.

“Do you love him?”

I can’t help the grin that sweeps across my face and the heat in my cheeks.

“Yeah, yeah I do.” And I have never been surer of anything in my life.

Both Ria and Ali let out girly squeals and we all burst into laughter.

“I’m so happy for you Gabs.” Ria says, tucking my now drying hair behind my hair in that affectionate way a mother does. Ria has such a nurturing way about her and I am so lucky to have her in my life.

“Me too, little G,” Ali says, wrapping her arms around me. “But I had a feeling.”

“A feeling about what?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at her.

“That you and Brad would get together, I think he’s always secretly loved you. It was just a matter of time till you both found your way to each other.”

I don’t say anything, I just digest her words and realize that maybe she’s right. Maybe Brad and I were always going to be. It just took us a while to realize it.

“I think we should get out of this tub my fingers look like prunes,” Ali says, holding up her hands, now white and wrinkly.

“Same, I must resemble a killer whale in this tub,” Ria jokes, rubbing her hand over her belly.

I snort a laugh and then we all fall into a fit of laughter. Tears of contentment roll down my cheeks.

“I love you both.”

“We love you,” they say in unison just as a knock at the door echoes and the door creeks open.

There stand the guys, who assemble into the small bathroom one after the other.

“What are you doing?” Harry asks in confusion.

“What girls do best. Crying it out in the bathtub and putting the world to rights,” Ali answers.

Jack shakes his head and laughs.

“Girls are weird,” Harry mumbles.

“Come on, help your pregnant wife out the tub.” Ria waves her arms in the air and we all chuckle as Jack lifts Ria and water splashes everywhere.

My eye catches Brad, who’s leaning against the doorframe, now wearing a pair of sweatpants. He gives a wink and first the first time in a long time, I finally feel like everything might be okay and work out after all. I just need to deal with Patrick.