Until she yells, “If you don’t open the door right now, I’m going to call your mother.”
Okay, now that is something I can’t ignore. The girl is crazy enough to do just that and while my mother is the sweetest, most genteel southern lady you can imagine, it’s a known fact that southern women can be quite scary when provoked. Seeing as how I haven’t seen my parents yet since I’ve been back, a call from Gabby that she was worried about me would set into motion a cataclysmic mothering event that I would like to avoid.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my mother to the ends of the earth. We’re tight, as I am with my father, my three sisters, and the passel of nieces and nephews they all have birthed. But I don’t have it in me to be “mothered” right now, particularly when I want to do nothing but hide away from everyone so I can enjoy every minute of my free time with Andrea.
I set my coffee cup down on the counter and stomp toward the door. Flinging it open, I glare down at Gabby as her fist is raised up to strike again.
“I can’t believe you’d threaten me with calling my mother,” I snarl at her. “That’s low, Gabs… way low.”
She gives me a grin and pushes her way past me, actually lowering her shoulder and ramming it into my ribs so I move out of her way. “Can it, Wyatt. It’s time for you to stop hiding.”
I shut the door and turn toward her. She walks right into my kitchen, pulls a cup out of the cabinet, and then pours coffee into it. Never glancing back at me, she says, “I have no clue what’s up your butt or why you’re ignoring your friends, but Hunter’s worried, which makes me worried, so I’m here to get your head out of your ass.”
Strolling casually back into the kitchen, I grab my cup and resume my leaning position against the counter. Taking a sip, I eyeball Gabby over the rim of the mug and have to admit to myself… she’s cute when she’s all worked up. Hunter landed himself a winner with her and while I’ve known her all my life seeing as how Hunter was my best friend, and Gabby was Hunter’s sister, Casey’s best friend, I’ve come to know her pretty damn well. Her being here… in my home and reading me the riot act, is not surprising.
It is however, annoying, particularly when I have breakfast plans with Andrea, so I figure the best way to pacify her and get her out of the door is to play her game.
“Listen… I just needed a little time to myself,” I assure her quietly, and maybe a little dramatically. “Just taking a much-needed break after that undercover operation… trying to get back in the swing of things. It was really draining, Gabs. But I swear there is absolutely nothing for you to be worried about. I just need some solitude for a few days.”
Gabby tilts her head to the side and her eyes swim in sympathy. I can tell she buys my story… that I need some “alone time” because this undercover operation has me beaten down a bit. She opens her mouth… I’m betting to give me some commiseration and then hopefully, to tell me goodbye with an apology for barging in, but before she can say a word, I hear coming down the hallway from my bedroom, “I changed my mind, Wyatt… I decided we should stay in for breakfast and if you’re a good boy, I’ll let you have me for starters.”
Wincing, I lower my head and rub the bridge of my nose. I didn’t miss the high arch of one of Gabby’s eyebrows and her lips pursing in surprise.
Andrea walks around the corner and into the kitchen. I swivel my head and take in her appearance… fucking gorgeous in nothing but one of my white, button-down shirts, which she is currently holding closed with her hands and not the buttons. She has a sensuous look on her face as she comes into the kitchen.
Her eyes pin to me for just a moment… full of wanton promise… but just as quickly, she registers that Gabby is here. Her gaze goes quickly to Gabby, who only arches an eyebrow higher, and then looks back to me.
Face flushing red, Andrea immediately starts stammering, “Oh, my God. I am so sorry. I didn’t realize you have company. This is so embarrassing.”
She says all of this while clutching my shirt around her tighter and backing away from Gabby and me.
“So, you need some solitude, huh, Wyatt?” Gabby says with a light sneer. “This operation really wore you out, didn’t it?”
“It’s not what it looks like,” I say as I scrub my hand through my hair in frustration.
“Really?” Gabby says sarcastically as she sets her coffee down and crosses her arms over her chest. “Because it looks to me like you’re blowing off your friends… in particular, your best friend… under the guise of needing alone time, and yet… you don’t look to be alone, do you? Looks like you are very occupied.”