Chapter 18

WHITLEY

Gabriel just said he loved me. I’ve known this man all my life, and I just realized my love for him has evolved over the years. It has gone from the love of a friend to the love of a protector after the attack, and now, we’ve found that we belong to each other.

He rolls off me and lies on his back. He takes me into his arms.

“Whit—”

I put my hand on his mouth before he can take back what he just said. I know he’s afraid of how I will react, but he shouldn’t be. I lean over and lightly kiss his lips.

“Don’t you ever try to apologize for telling me how you feel. Never keep your feelings away from me. Understand?”

He nods.

“I need words, Gabriel,” I say, climbing on top of him.

“Okay.”

“Good. Let’s go get washed up, and I sure do hope you have a good recovery time.”

“Why’s that?” he asks.

I take his lips and kiss him hard. I feel his hands on my hips squeezing. Pulling back, I stay a hair’s breadth from his lips.

“Because I love you too, Gabriel Underwood.”

He groans and immediately sits up, taking my face in his hands. He kisses me hard. Just his kiss alone makes me want him again.

“I have a very impressive recovery time,” he says.

“Let’s go.”

He picks me up and wraps my legs around his waist as we head to the shower. As we wait for the water to warm, we make out like teenagers. As he walks us into the shower, I feel his cock slide into my dripping wet heat.

~Oh yeah, shower sex here we go! Impressive recovery time indeed!~

***

Rolling over, I grab my phone. The damn thing has been going off ever since Gabriel and Kendrick left for practice. I look at the number and see it’s my mom.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Whitley Jane! I been trying to call you for over an hour!”

“I was asleep.”

“Asleep? You never sleep this late.”

“It was a late night. Is something wrong?”

“Oh no, darling. I was just so excited to see you and Gabriel on national TV!”

I sit straight up in the bed.

“What!?”

“You haven’t seen it?”

“Seen what, Mom?”

“It’s all over sports news.”

“Well, it was going to come out eventually.”

“True, but what I don’t understand is why neither you nor Kendrick told me he had a girlfriend!”

I chuckle.

“Her name is Aubrey. I met her when I went shopping, and we made fast friends. She’s amazing, Mom, and completely beautiful. He just wants to take it slow and not mess things up. Our Kendrick is finally growing up.”

I hear her take in a sharp breath. She’s trying not to cry.

“I just wish he would have told me.”

“Give him time. It’s still pretty new. When he does tell you about it, pretend this conversation never happened.”

She laughs.

“Okay, darling. So, I take it you’ve decided to stay?”

“Yeah. I was offered a job here in California.”

“That’s wonderful! Live your life as you want, Whit. Don’t let anyone tell you how to live it.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

As I get off the phone with my mother, I pull out my computer and get online. Sure enough, we’re trending. There is even a pic of us as we’re walking into the restaurant, and Gabriel is kissing the side of my head. I remember that moment. One of the reporters had just asked if I was pregnant. I sigh.

***

Three hours later, I’m sitting at my favorite place in the whole house, the blue and white stone island. I’ve canceled my apartment lease and set up to have my stuff shipped to California. I still need to fly to New York, pack up all of my stuff, and close my apartment up. What a headache.

Good thing I decided to do that campaign with Gabriel. I used some of that money to move, literally, across the country.

“Whit! We’re home!” Kendrick shouts.

“In here!”

“Since we’re on a break for the next week, I say pizza for dinner. What do you say?” Kendrick asks.

“Sounds good.”

Gabriel comes over and kisses me quickly before grabbing a water from the fridge.

“What are you doing in here?” he asks.

“Looking for a plane ticket.”

Both men snap their heads in my direction.

“What for, Whit?” Kendrick asks.

“I swear, both of you just got whiplash. I’m still staying, but I have to fly to New York and close my apartment. I just canceled my lease, and I have to be out within the next two weeks. I have to pack up all my stuff and have it all shipped here.”

“When do you want to go?” Kendrick asks, taking the laptop away from me and typing.

“As soon as possible. I already have the shippers on standby for the next few days.”

He picks up his phone and dials.

“Aubrey, baby, you free to take a trip?” he asks. “New York. We got to pack up Whitley’s apartment and make California her permanent home before she changes her mind.”

“There are four for tomorrow morning,” I say, peering over Kendrick’s shoulder.

“That sounds good. Just pack and come here tonight,” Kendrick says to Aubrey. “See you then.” He hangs up and types some more. “Done. Both of you go and pack for New York. We leave first thing in the morning. We’ll stay at your apartment while we pack up, then we’ll grab a hotel close to the airport.”

“Wait, what?” I ask.

“Like I told Aubrey, we’ve got to get you moved here permanently before you change your mind.”

I look over at Gabriel, and he’s grinning from ear to ear.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” he says. “Come on, I’ll help you pick out some sexy-ass underwear, or lack thereof.”

“Whoa! Too much! Way too much for my ears to know!” Kendrick shouts.

“Then go pack, Kendrick!” I shout.

Kendrick’s off the stool in no time and headed toward his room, practically running.