Saviour (Saviour #1)(67)

“What?” He asks, frowning and smiling at me. I just smile back and shake my head. As we walk towards the house, Gabe puts his arm around me and gives me a kiss, for reassurance I think.

“Please Dad, would you get a room. Lauren is going to have pash rash and it won't go unnoticed by Jackie.You know that”

“And what exactly would you know about pash rash young lady, how many boys that shave have you ever kissed?” Gabe asks, and I get the feeling, he's serious and definitely not joking. Ava turns around and looks at him, one hand on her hip. Steely blue eyes into steely blue eyes, shit, sparks are going to fly. He’s bristling, he stops in his tracks waiting for her answer and I can feel the tension in him

“Actually” she says and I hear and feel him draw in a breath and hold it as he waits for her to continue. I squeeze his hand.

“About the same amount as you have” she laughs and sticks her tongue out at him. He closes his eyes, letting out his breath, I loosen my grip on his hand, both our palms are sweaty. He looks down at me and we both shake our heads

“Oh she is so going to keep you on your toes Gabriel Wilde”

“Fuckin tell me about it, that's two of you I have running rings around me now”

That makes me catch my breath. It makes me feel... Special?

Ava and Sophie have gone, I can hear her calling

“Pops? The party can start now, I'm here, your favorite grandchild, Pops where are you?”

“You ready for this?” He rubs his thumb back and forth over my knuckles as he looks down at me.

“As I’ll ever be” I smile as I speak. We move towards the door, and then he stops and pulls me back.

“I’ve never done this either Lauren, I’ve taken women on dates to work functions that my family have met and obviously they met Nina, but never like this, I’ve never bought anyone to my Dads house to meet my family, I just want you to know that”

Shit, don’t let me cry, not now, I have mascara on, I will look a mess. I swallow and simply nod, too scared to attempt speech, in case the tears escape.

~

Charlie's house is set out similar to Gabe’s, with the living areas upstairs so as to be able to enjoy the views. He leads us up and into the huge open kitchen/family room. I try straight away to work out who is who before the introductions start. Gabe’s Dad is on us instantly. He gives Gabe a hug, and then turns straight to me.

“This is Lauren dad, my erm…” He looks at me and trails off, “Lauren, my Dad, Charlie Wilde” What’s that all about. What am I then, nothing? Thanks Gabe for the reassurance, just when I needed it most. Cheers. I plaster on my smiley face, after I shoot Gabe a look that lets him know I am well and truly pissed off with him.

Charlie moves straight in for a kiss on the cheek then a handshake.

“Lauren, good to meet you, glad you could make it. Which team do you go for?”

Knowing he was talking about AFL I deliberately say “West Ham, actually”

“Ha, yeah. Don't think they're playing in today's final”

“Well in that case, the Swans”

“No way. You've got to be loyal to your state, it’s gotta be the Hawks”

I know little about Aussie Rules, my Dad, Jay and the boys never followed it, the round ball game of football was more their thing and of course rugby, but the little knowledge I do have, I put to use.

“Well that's true but the Swans were originally South Melbourne Footie Club before they moved to Sydney in the 80’s to promote the game up there”

He looks from me to Gabe and smiles and nods, “ahhh a Pom who knows her Aussie rules, I like it”

Next we say hello to Zac and his wife Sam.

“So, The Angel Gabriel has finally had to do the chasing ehh, Lauren? Good on ya. It's been a pleasure to finally see him fall apart over a woman these past few weeks”

Sam shakes her head at him.

“Sorry Lauren, ignore him, he's just forgotten what that first flush of love is like, not got a romantic bone in his body. It's good to meet you; the pair of you will have to come over for dinner soon”

“Yeah” I say, “thanks, that sounds good” I watch as she touches Gabe on one cheek with her hand and kisses him gently on the other. “You look good Gabe, I'm so pleased to see you this happy” he smiles at her and gives her a hug. Strangely, I don't feel the least bit jealous, it’s more of a brother and sister display of affection between them and it makes me instantly warm to Sam.

Cooper and Jen are equally as nice but I sense Gabe’s nowhere near as close to this sister in law. I hear a commotion behind me and see a young woman coming down the stairs two at a time. She totally ignores Gabe and says, whilst trying to get her breath, “Lauren, oh my God, so good to meet you, I'm Stella” she hugs me before I can reply

“So glad you could make it, would you like a drink? Gabe hi, does Lauren have a drink?” I turn towards him; his eyebrows are raised as he looks at me.

“I'll get you a drink shall I baby?”

“Ohhh I’m your baby now am I? Glad we’re clear on that fact, yes that would be good please; I would love a drink… Baby”

“Lauren, I didn’t know what to say, how to introduce you, you’re more than a girlfriend, much more than that and I didn’t know what title to use to express the fact, I knew you would be pissed at me, sorry”