Tangled with the Tight End (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 14

fourteen

NORAH

After taking a shower and putting on comfortable clothes, I hop on the sofa with a warm blanket wrapped around me and grab my Kindle. Dealing with fictional men is easier than real men. If they do something stupid, I swipe pages until they get their heads out of their asses.

Real men? Not so much.

On the way to take my parents home, they kept reminding me that I had a hot temper as well. And brothers will be brothers and all that. I agreed with them but didn’t feed into their conversation. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was he’s on his way back to Kansas City, and I’ll never see him again. That’s what’s wrong. The fight? Not that big of a deal. The topic of the fight….

I sigh and drop the Kindle to my chest, staring up at the ceiling. What’s wrong with me? Why do I keep doing the same thing repeatedly? Falling for unavailable men is like a sickness, or maybe all men are unavailable. At least as far as I’m concerned.

When my phone rings, I snatch it up, eager to avoid feeling sorry for myself.

“Hey, Norah.” My best friend’s tentative voice fills the air. “I’m sorry for today.”

There’s a rustling sound and Marco’s voice breaks in over Eden’s. “It was all my fault. I should’ve never confronted Gabriel in front of an audience.”

“Don’t you think you should apologize to him, not me?”

“I’ve apologized to everyone. Including my brother.”

“It’s fine.” I rotate my neck and massage the muscles between my shoulders and neck. Actually, I enjoyed the banter between the brothers. As an only child, I didn’t get to experience that growing up. I just didn’t enjoy the words Gabriel was saying.

Somehow, I’d already managed to weave a story in my head that Gabriel would retire after the season, decide he adored Evergreen Lake, come back or never leave, and profess his undying love for me. Yeah, I’m pathetic and a hopeless romantic. It’s stupid.

“You missed the ending where they wrestled on the floor like 12-year-olds do.”

“Hey, I won,” Marco pipes in.

“Did you?” The question in Eden’s tone is clear. He either didn’t win, or it was a tie.

“I’m going to eat a piece of pie.”

Seconds later, Eden lowers her voice. “So, if you weren’t upset that my Neanderthal husband showed his ass in front of guests and ruined Thanksgiving–”

“I heard that.”

“Go away, I’m talking to Norah.”

“Fine.”

I chuckle at their teasing play-by-play. The love they have for each other is that special kind of love. The kind that makes your heart swoon and your belly flop. I’m so happy they found each other, even if it depresses me at the same time.

“Okay, he’s gone. What’s going on?”

“It’s nothing.” I toss the cover to the foot of the sofa and sit up.

“No, it’s not.”

“Fine,” I sigh with exasperation. “It’s stupid, but over the last few days, I started seeing Gabriel in a different light and foolishly hoped something would happen between us. When he dropped the bombshell that he was leaving in the next week or two, my stomach sank. And it kept getting worse the longer he talked about returning home and re-signing another contract. I know it’s foolish. We just met, and we’re complete opposites, so it wouldn’t work anyway.” I roll my eyes even though she can’t see it. “It’s probably my biological clock ticking and nothing else. My prospects here are slim to none, so the first good-looking guy to show up, I’m ready to pounce on him and make him stay. And that’s not going to happen with Gabriel.”

“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

“That I want something I can’t have? Gee, thanks. With friends like you, I don’t need enemies.” I shove off the sofa and pace the floor.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you know what I mean. Marco and I would love it if the two of you got together. Gabriel deserves someone who cares about him for him and not who he is, and you 100% deserve a happily ever after.”

“But it’s not going to happen. He’s adamant he’s returning to Kansas City for at least another three years.” I rake a hand through my still-damp hair. “He’ll find someone else in three years. Probably lots of someone else’s.”

“Don’t give up on him.”

“Eden, I have to. It’s more of a fantasy at the moment than reality. If I keep wishing for things that won’t happen, it’s only going to hurt worse.”

My doorbell rings. “Eden, I’ve got to go.”

“Keep an open mind. You never know what the future holds.” The phone clicks dead in my ear.

Yeah, I do. Cats and books. That’s my future.

I swing open the door and nearly swallow my tongue. Gabriel stands on my front porch with a container and a wry smile on his lips. “I’m here to give you a peace offering.”

I arch my eyebrow. “What’s the peace offering?”

“Dessert.” He lifts the container higher. “Mine and my brother’s childishness had you rushing off before you had dessert, and I feel awful.”

“You should.” I cross my arms over my chest and block his entrance. Not that he’s indicated he wants to come inside. Damn it, my foolishness knows no bounds. I’m still hoping he sweeps me off my feet. I straighten my back and shove all those teenage girl fantasies out of my head. Happily ever afters happen to someone else.

“Again….” His eyes are solemn as the humor drops from his face. “I apologize. I’m sorry. I hate that I ruined your Thanksgiving.”

“It’s fine,” I sigh and shake my head. “It wasn’t ruined. The meal was delicious. My parents enjoyed meeting you.” One corner of my mouth rises. “Especially my father.”

“Can I come in?”

I glance at his Jeep, not seeing Gino tucked inside. “Where’s Gino?”

“Marco and Eden are watching him for a few hours.”

A few hours? Sweat pools in my armpits. What is he doing for a few hours? Panic swirls through me. “Uhhh….”

His lips purse together. “You’re seriously going to leave me out here in the cold?”

“No, come in.” I step out of the way, take the container from him, and watch as he shuts the door with a snap. This is a mistake. I’m supposed to be standing resolute in my defense of staying away from him and moving on from foolish fantasies. But here I am…. Weaving all kinds of dirty scenarios of things we could do. Sex against the wall. Sex on the sofa. Sex…. Well anywhere.

“Are you okay?” He cups my cheek and studies me.

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“Your face is flushed, and you were staring at the wall.”

“Oh….” My face grows even hotter as I spin on my heel, letting his arm drop and place the dessert on the table. The table isn’t big or sturdy, but I’d let him take me on a test drive on it as well.

“Have a seat.” I snatch the blanket up, fold it, and deposit it on the sofa arm along with my Kindle. Maybe I’m just horny. It’s been months since I’ve had sex with anyone or anything besides toys.

He settles on one end of the sofa with his arm along the back of the cushions and waits. His eyes bore into mine, and my stomach flops. Shit. Of course, it’s because I’m horny. This is not good.

“I should get us something to drink.” I step toward the kitchen, and he grabs my hand, running his thumb in a circle over my pulse point. The small touch sends a shiver along my spine.

“Can we talk instead?”

Talk? He wants to talk?

“Sure.” I plaster a smile and return to my seat, putting ample distance between us. “What do you want to talk about?”