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)
As she walked away, my chest filled with heavy levels of guilt as if I’d made a mistake by telling Gabriel. But I knew I hadn’t. That made it hurt even more.
I stayed in the hallway for a few minutes longer. I didn’t know if I could find the strength to walk back into the baby shower to see Gabriel. To face Amma again. Maybe she was right. Maybe I should’ve stayed out of Gabriel’s life, but it felt like the universe had brought him back to me. How was I supposed to simply walk away again after I was given a second chance?
“Mom? Mom!” Ava called out, hurrying into the hallway. The moment she found me, her lips turned up in the biggest grin. “Hey! What are you doing here? It’s time for cake.”
I pushed out a fake smile and tried to keep myself from sobbing. I wrapped an arm around Ava as I nodded my head. “Yes, okay. Let’s have some cake.”
20
Kierra
When one week passed by, I didn’t get the chance to make sure that Amma told Gabriel about Elijah because he didn’t show up at Florence Bakery. When I texted him, he ignored my messages. If he came to my house to check in on the property, he’d do his work, say hi to Ava, and be on his way. When I picked Ava up from GS Architecture, he was always mysteriously busy and nowhere to be found.
I was officially being ghosted, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it.
A part of me thought he couldn’t go on forever avoiding me, but then again, why couldn’t he? There was no real reason for him to be forced to interact with me. Plus, with what he’d learned, I didn’t blame him for wanting nothing to do with me. Still, it hurt. Still, I missed him. It was like having a wish come true only to have the dream ripped away.
“You need to try harder,” Rosie told me as we met up for our monthly spa trip. “You need to go all nineties rom-com and tell him he has to see you and talk to you.” She tightened her robe as we walked into the Zen room to wait for our massages.
I grabbed a glass of lemon-and-lime-infused water and shook my head. “I’m not going to push myself into his life. He’s made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me.”
“Did he? Or are you just deciding that on your own? Maybe he just needed a little time, Kierra.”
“It’s been two weeks.”
“Exactly. So now you push into his life. Men are stupid. They don’t know when they’ve had enough time. Show up at his house, stand on his porch in the pouring rain, tell him how much he means to you,” she ordered, flopping down into an oversized chair. “Otherwise, we’ll be ninety in nursing homes talking about how you never took a shot at building another friendship with Gabriel…or more than a friendship.”
“Rosie. Stop. I’m married.”
“To a fucking dick, Kierra. I’m not saying it’s right, but you should dream about the possibilities at least. One day, God willing, Henry is going to be out of your life. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Gabriel be in it? I’m telling you…” She shrugged her shoulders. “You two were the reason I ever even believed in love—real love, that is.”
“I just…” I didn’t know what to say or what to do.
Rosie grew somber. “Just consider trying to talk to him, Kierra. And tell him how sorry you are for not telling him sooner.”
“Okay. I will.” If anything, Gabriel deserved an in-person apology.
She smiled. “Good. But also, Kierra…if you go to him, you have to tell him the truth. The whole truth.”
I sighed. “I was afraid you’d say that.”
***
After my massage with Rosie, I headed over to Gabriel’s house, uninvited. A part of me was hoping his car wouldn’t be there. It would’ve given me a reason to turn around and drive away. Yet his pickup truck sat in the driveway, and the lights were on in his house.
It took me a solid five minutes to build up enough courage to climb out of my car and go knock on his door.
The moment I did knock, more butterflies formed in my gut. The nerves rocking through my whole system made me want to break into hives.
When he opened the door, he seemed somewhat surprised to see me. He narrowed his stare. “Kierra. Are you okay?”
Are you okay?
What an odd first question to ask.
He seemed to ask me that more than not. I couldn’t help but wonder how many I’m-not-okay vibes I was giving off daily.
“Yes, well, no. I mean, well, hi,” I breathed out, tugging on the ends of my long sleeves.
Bewilderment showed in his stare. “Hi? What’s up?”
What’s up? You ignoring me for two weeks. That’s what’s up.