Page 107 of Loving Wild

“You’re making me hard.”

“That’s because you’re a freaky little weirdo.”

“That’s because you’re warm, naked, in my bed, and have psychopathic tendencies.”

“You finally noticed that?”

“That you’re warm and naked in my bed?”

“Hardy haha.”

I have to kiss her then. And grind against her. Which makes me want to suck her nipples and stick my cock inside her. Which I do.

Chapter 22

Lauren.

Life returnsto our kind of normal.

Gabe calls me from work on Monday morning to tell me Jarrod Summers has been charged with serious assault and being under the influence of and in possession of a drug of dependence but is bailed by the court until September. He was also served with an intervention order mandating he keeps away from me and Dani.

I worked through the rest of Monday, but Gabe took Tuesday off, and we spent the morning both explaining what we felt went wrong last Sunday when I left.

I miscommunicated my meaning when I said I’d never be over Jay. What I meant was that I wasn’t sure I’d ever get over the betrayal, that I’d probably always be a little bit insecure because of it.

What Gabe heard was that I’d never be over Jay. That I’d never get over losing him, I’d always love him.

That doesn’t warrant Gabe’s reaction, but at the same time, I knew what I was doing when I pushed his buttons by asking if it was okay if Jo came up. I knew it would piss him off, but I did it anyway. I again wonder if that’s ame, kind of behaviour, or just awomankind of behaviour? I wanted the last word, to strike the final blow. Instead, I got a whole lot more when Gabe lost his shit and threw the glass.

We both need to grow the fuck up, explain things better, and talk things out without leaving or even threatening to.

We book in for couples counselling with someone Jess recommends for the following Wednesday evening. I’ve never had any kind of counselling, so I’m interested to see what it involves and what it might bring up for both of us.

In the afternoon, we go and pick up my shiny new car.

It’s white, a four-wheel drive, SUV type thing. That’s about as far as my knowledge on it goes.

Alysa once again greets us at the showroom, but this time I’m prepared. My hair, makeup, and outfit are on point, and I walk in there like I’m the Queen of fucking England.

Gabe knew what I was doing and totally played along, touching me, laying little kisses on my temple and the top of my head, taking photos of me posing with my new car.

To be fair, Alysa didn’t bat an eye and even offered to take pics of the pair of us with the car.

She’s probably a very nice girl.

But Gabe still fucked her and I’m still jealous.

Wednesday, Gabe got a call from Dean to say Lena was in labour, so he finished work early and collected Ava from school.

I wasn’t sure how she’d be feeling about a new baby, so we took her out to dinner during which we both noticed she was quiet. When we got home, she went off to her room to do her homework, then showered and went to bed.

And now, it’s Thursday morning. I’m sitting at the kitchen bench drinking coffee, Gabe’s leaning back against the bench scrolling through his phone.

He was up early and went for a surf at the back beach and has just showered. He’s wearing grey trackies and a white T that is stuck to his pecs because he didn’t dry properly before he pulled it on. His hair is damp and curling around his neck and ears as it dries.

It’s moments like this, when I take in all that’s him, that I can’t believe he’s mine, that I got that lucky.

And then Ava appears at the top of the stairs, walks right into her dad’s open arms, which he wraps around her and kisses the top of her head.