Page 44 of Loving Wild

“Dancing one?” I question.

“You’re no fun, Just Dance is the best,” Ava calls back.

“Ava, we’re totally playing the dancing one,” I shout out. Gabe narrows his eyes on me. “You want me to sit on your face while you talk Italian?” I narrow my own and ask quietly.

“We’ll play the dancing one, but only if I get to choose dinner,” Gabe calls out.

“Works for me,” Ava and I say in unison.

Because it seemed like the right thing to do, we ordered Italian, then we played Just Dance, Gabe beat us all. Later, when we were alone in bed, I had no option but to sit on his face when he wouldn’t shut up telling me how good he was at dancing.

Chapter 11

Lauren.

We spendSunday down at Sorrento behaving like tourists. We browse the boutiques, stop for lunch at the hotel, then despite the cold but sunny day, we buy ice creams and walk along the one hundred and fifty-year-old pier, watching the fishermen do their thing and the ferry and tour boats pulling in and out.

After purchasing vanilla slices to take home with us and eat later, we head back to the car.

Driving along the esplanade, Lady Antebellum’s ‘Just A Kiss’ plays quietly in the background as Gabe reaches out and takes my hand, moving it to rest on his thigh, his hand resting over mine. I don’t look at him, instead, I stare out my window and take in the stunning views of Port Phillip Bay. It’s after five, and the sun is beginning to set, turning the sky a beautiful hue of oranges and reds as it dips below the horizon.

The scene before me, Gabe’s hand covering mine, the words of the song, all of it, leaves me with a sense of calm and contentment that I haven’t felt in such a long time, it’s so strong, so overwhelming, it warms me from the inside.

“Thanks for a great weekend, Dad and Ren, I’ve had the best time.” My heart squeezes and attempts to fight its way into my throat at Ava calling me Ren.

I take a moment to swallow down my emotions and keep staring out the window. I’m not sure if Gabe knows I’m choking to get any words out, but he gives my hand a squeeze and jumps in with, “Any time, bub, you know that.”

I turn and look at Ava over my shoulder with a smile. “It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know you. Can’t wait to have you back next weekend.”

“Ooooh yeah, Grandpop’s birthday. Sophie’s so excited to be coming, she can’t wait to see my room and to meet you.”

I straighten in my seat before the smile leaves my face. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to handle Gabe’s step-mum, knowing what she did to him. I know how I’d like to handle it but swinging her by her hair and cunt punting the bitch probably isn’t appropriate behaviour the first time I meet the in-laws.

I decide to put that thought out of my head for now and instead sink lower in my seat, bathe myself in the golden glow of the sunset, and close my eyes. The next thing I’m aware of is Gabe’s lips brushing mine before he whispers for me to wake up.

* * *

Because Gabe hasto leave early in the morning to get Ava to school and himself into the office for a nine-thirty meeting, we decide to have dinner at home and a quiet night in front of the telly. I introduce the Aussies to the delicacy thatisWorcestershire Sauce, smothered over cheese on toast and grilled to a bubbly golden colour. We followed this with our vanilla slices and cups of tea.

It’s just before nine when Ava says her goodnights, giving us both a kiss and a cuddle before heading down to her bedroom.

Gabe spreads out on the sofa, pulling me on top of him. Lacing my fingers together on his chest, I rest my chin on them and look up to meet his eyes.

“You okay?” he asks, tucking the wayward strands from my messy bun behind my ears. “You’ve been very quiet since we got in the car earlier.”

“You’ve raised a beautiful human,” I tell him quietly. “I just get emotional getting to know her, watching you two together and discovering this part of you.” My nose tingles as I speak, but I manage to hold back the tears.

“I’m not sure I can take much credit for that beautiful human, Ava’s very much her own person. I can’t say I see much of Lena in her personality, but I don’t see much of mine either, which probably isn’t a bad thing.”

“What’s wrong with your personality?” I ask, my voice high pitched with indignation on his behalf. “And I call bullshit. I can see a lot of your personality traits in her. She’s very practical and matter of fact, exactly the way you are. She has very little filter. If she has something to say or a question to ask, she goes for it, same as you do. I forgot so many times over the weekend I was talking to a twelve-year-old girl because of her level of maturity, but then she squeals and jumps around when she gets excited, and I’m reminded.”

“Yeah, blame Dani for that, because hand on heart, babe, I don’t think I’ve ever squealed in my life, so she definitely doesn’t get that one from me.”

“Bet I could make you squeal,” I offer.

“Yeah, wanna show me how?”

Without answering, I pinch his nipple.