Home is Where the Heart is(13)

“Well, at least you can laugh about it now. Once upon a time, he hurt you so badly you couldn't even stand to look at a picture of him, let alone see him grace your television screen. But let’s not forget—he’s still an ass, and he definitely does not deserve you. You deserve someone who’s going to treat you like a princess, or at the very least some gorgeous man with incredible abs who’s good in bed. You know, my offer still stands for whenever you want to start looking for someone new to hook up with. We can go out whenever you’d like and make you forget all about Jordan. Let him see you’ve moved on. Then again, maybe he’s exactly what you need to make you see how much better off you are without him.”

Cassie was stunned. “Are you crazy? I thought you just said I could do better than Jordan. Now you’re telling me I should hook up with him? What have you done to my best friend?”

Cassie curled one leg up underneath herself, while she flexed the other out for a stretch.

“I’m still the same Gabby you know and love, and yes, I still think you need new meat in your life to get over Jordan, but maybe one night with Jordan would make you realize how over him you really are. Crazy as it seems, it’s a possibility I think you should consider. You never know—it just may work. If he’s willing to stop by your house, then he just may be crazy enough about you for it to actually work.”

“Yeah, well, nothing needs to be considered, because it’s never going to happen. I’m not looking to hook up with Jordan, or any other guy for that matter, but when I am, I’ll definitely come looking for you.”

Gabby grinned, her fingernails making a clinking sound as she tapped them against her wine glass. “That’s all I ask,” she replied and took a sip of wine.

Cassie placed one hand on her folded leg while leaning back against the front of the sofa. “So enough about me and my complicated relationship with Jordan…tell me about you and Nicholas.”

Gabby shrugged her shoulders, not giving anything away. Her face showed little emotion and remained coy—much to Cassie's disappointment. She was looking for something…anything to find out about Nick and Gabby, and if there was something between them. “What’s to tell?”

“I don’t know. What happened after I left last night?” Cassie asked, determined to get to the bottom of whatever was going on.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Gabby said, remaining tight-lipped. Cassie knew she wouldn’t be able to stay silent forever though; Gabby could never keep a secret for longer than a couple of days.

“Oh, c’mon. Gabriella Torres! Yes, I went there—I used your full name. You know you can tell me anything. I’m your best friend. We have been since we were five years old, and you know you’re going to tell me eventually anyway. You can't keep things from me, just as I can't hide secrets from you. It's how you discovered I was pregnant in the first place, remember?"

“That is true. Technically, I think I knew before you did, but that's just me. I notice everything. There isn't anything I don't notice before you, but how do you know I have something to tell?"

“It’s simple—you always do. Besides, is it so wrong of me to want to know what’s going on between my two best friends? I’m just giving you the chance to tell me now before I find out later. We do live in Yellow Valley after all. Your business isn’t your business for very long.”

“Well, that’s true,” Gabby said with a laugh. “Okay, let’s just say Nick showed me how he really feels about me.”

“Oh, my God! I knew it! I knew he liked you,” Cassie squealed in excitement.

“Wow! You’re shockingly enthusiastic about this. How did you know he liked me? I didn’t even see it coming.”

Cassie shrugged one shoulder, lowering her tone of voice slightly as she said, “Well, of course you wouldn’t see it coming. You’re completely oblivious when it comes to men and relationships because you’re inexperienced in that department, but I don’t know...I guess it was just little things I picked up on.”

“Such as?” Gabby was now interested to know how Cassie figured out Nick had feelings for her before she had.

“It looked to me like his face would droop and frown whenever you would tell us about the new person you were casually seeing, and he’s always got that goofy yet oh-so-adorable grin on his face whenever you’re around. Plus, haven’t you wondered why we haven’t seen him in a relationship for a while?”

Gabby shook her head. “No, not really, I just assumed the townsfolk of Yellow Valley were wary of Nick’s womanizing ways. He is the male version of me, after all.”