Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“Yes, he was. It’s going to be amazing.”
“Trust me, you have no clue. He’s a master,” she urged, nudging his arm.
Oh.
She was in love with him.
I wondered if Gabriel knew it.
Ramona stayed close to his side. “But we should get going, since you have a big day in the office tomorrow.”
“You work on the weekend?” I asked, somewhat surprised.
“It’s busy season,” he replied.
“Every season is busy season,” Ramona countered. “Gabriel is a bit of a workaholic. I try to get him to take vacations but his mind doesn’t shut off.” She held her hand out toward me. “It was wonderful meeting you, Kierra. Thank you for letting us come to one of the Henry Hughes dinner parties. They are as legendary as I’ve heard them claimed to be.”
I shook her hand. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”
“That’s the understatement of the year. It was remarkable. Can I ask… What is it like being married to the future of technology? I can hardly process how incredibly wise Henry is. And handsome, too. It must be a gift to have such a man to call your husband.”
I chuckled quietly. “It’s interesting to say the least. Henry is very gifted. There’s no getting around that fact.”
“And handsome,” Ramona insisted once more.
Gabriel frowned and took his coat from Ramona. “Thanks again for having us, Kierra.” He held his hand toward me, and I shook it. “I’m positive we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other over these next few months.”
“I look forward to it,” I said. “I hope you both have a great evening.”
They thanked me and began to walk away. I studied Gabriel the whole time until I went to rub my arms and felt his jacket against me.
“Oh, wait! Gabriel!” I called.
He looked over his shoulder and saw me waving his suit jacket in the air. He whispered something to Ramona, and she nodded before continuing toward the front of the house where their car was waiting. Gabriel walked over toward me.
“Sorry, I almost stole your jacket,” I said, handing it over.
“Not a problem. And I do apologize for Ramona’s comments on Henry. I blame it on one too many glasses of wine.”
“No worries. Henry is handsome. I hear it all the time. Plus, our dinner parties do have quite an array of alcohol flowing. It’s part of the Henry Hughes experience. Most of the time, guests arrive in their own cars and are sent off in taxis.”
Gabriel didn’t smile this time. I wasn’t even certain he was completely taking in my words. He hesitated as if falling back into thought. His mouth parted and then he said, “This is going to sound crazy, but I swear I’ve seen you before?” He asked it as a question.
I swallowed hard. “I—”
He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Do you get coffee from Florence Bakery?”
My gut dropped. I nodded my head. “I do. Every morning before I go into work.”
He snapped his fingers. “That’s it. That’s where I’ve seen you before. I go every morning, too.”
We’ve crossed paths in Florence Bakery before? How many times? Have we bumped shoulders before? Has his arm grazed mine? How many months have we been in the same room, breathing the same air? How have I not noticed him? Sure, Florence is normally packed, but still… I can’t believe that for months I may have been so close to him, but still so far away.
It pained me slightly, seeing that he’d only recognized me from the bakery. It was clear he didn’t recall me completely. It was clear that Amma made sure to never share anything about me with her son. A part of me resented that, but a bigger part of me understood. I’d already taken so much from their lives. The least I could do was keep the promise I’d made to Gabriel’s mother during the darkest season of her life. Especially when those dark days were caused by me.
Besides, Gabriel seemed good. He seemed happy. I feared if he learned about his and my connection, it would only add confusion to his life. I didn’t want that for him. All I wanted, all I ever wanted, was for him to be happy. Even if that meant he’d never have any memories of me.
“They have great coffee,” I said, uncertain of what else to express.
“And cinnamon muffins.”
I smiled. “I always get their cinnamon muffins. I get there extra early to get one, because they always sell out. I’ve never not gotten a cinnamon muffin from them.”
He gasped. “Never?”
“Never.”
“I have cried for hours over losing out on the muffins,” he teased. “And now I’m almost certain it’s you who is getting the last one before me.”
I shrugged with a smug look of pleasure. “That’s on you for showing up too late. Step up your game.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”