Gabriel's Inferno (Gabriel's Inferno #1)(173)

“I spent a few days in Selinsgrove trying to calm down, and Dad brought me back to school. He moved me out of the dorm and into a small studio apartment. You would have laughed at it, Gabriel. It was even smaller than the one I’m in now.”

“I wouldn’t laugh.” He sounded hurt.

“It’s just that you’re so particular. You would have hated it even more than you hate my current apartment.”

“Julianne, I don’t hate your apartment. As I said before, I hate the fact that you have to live there. What happened next, after you went back to school?”

“I hid. They sort of became a couple after that, and I was afraid of running into them, so I avoided all of the places where I might be seen. I went to class, I worked on my Italian and my applications for grad school, and I stayed home. I kind of…retreated.”

“Rachel mentioned something like that.”

“I wasn’t a good friend to Rachel. After that night, I stopped taking her calls. I wouldn’t even speak to Grace, even though she wrote me the most beautiful letter. I sent your family a card at Christmas, but I was too humiliated to explain what happened. Rachel knows I caught them  together because Natalie finally told her. But she doesn’t know how bad it was. And I don’t want her to know.”

“Anything you tell me is strictly between us.”

“I didn’t want to admit that I had been so stupid as to get myself into that situation. That I gave in to him for so long. That I was blind to the fact that they were together. I wanted to pretend that it happened to someone else.” She looked up into Gabriel’s face, which was remarkably sympathetic.

“Please don’t say that you are stupid ever again. Shame on them both for how they treated you. They’re the villains in this story, not you.” He kissed her forehead twice and buried his face in her long hair. “I think you need to get some sleep, sweetheart. It’s been a long day, and we want you to heal.”

“Won’t it upset your family when they realize we’re in here together?”

“They figured out we’re a couple. And for the most part, I think they approve.”

“For the most part?”

Gabriel sighed. “Richard doesn’t object to us as a couple; he has con-servative views on sex. So although I promised that we wouldn’t be doing that under his roof, he would prefer we slept in separate rooms. Although I’m sure he’d turn a blind eye tonight and tomorrow night because of what happened to you.”

“What about Rachel and Aaron? They share a room.”

“Richard doesn’t approve of that, but in his mind at least they’re getting married. Rachel has always been supportive of me, and I think she’s supportive of us.”

“What about Scott?”

“Scott is very protective of you, and he knows that I’ve been a libertine, so…”

“You weren’t a libertine. You were just lonely.”

He kissed her softly. “That’s very generous of you, but we both know it isn’t true.”

They both reclined, and Julia rested her head on his chest, running her fingers across his upper body. She hummed to herself as she mulled over his words, how he’d cared for her and wanted to worship her. They were, perhaps, the most important words she had ever heard. She traced a hesitant finger over his chest, outlining his tattoo.

Gabriel’s hand quickly covered hers. “Don’t,” he breathed, pulling her hand away.

“I’m sorry. What’s m-a-i-a?”

Julia heard him catch his breath. “I didn’t mean to bring it up. But we were telling secrets. I thought…”

Gabriel began to rub his eyes with his free hand, but he didn’t release her. “Maia is a name.” His voice grew rough.

“Did you — love her?”

“Of course I loved her.”

“Were you together long?”

He coughed. “It wasn’t like that.”

Julia squeezed him tightly and closed her eyes.

But Gabriel lay awake, staring at the ceiling for a very long time.

Chapter 29

Julia awoke the next day to find Gabriel sitting on the edge of the bed, fully dressed and watching her. She yawned slightly and stretched in the rays of sunlight that streamed in from between the blinds.

“Good morning.” She smiled.

He leaned over and pulled her into a warm embrace.

“I’ve been up and about, but I returned a little while ago to check on you. You’re very peaceful when you sleep.” He kissed her sweetly, then walked to the closet to retrieve a sweater.

Julia rolled onto her stomach and shamelessly ogled him, admiring the way his dress shirt skimmed across his shoulders. From her current vantage point, she could also admire his backside, hugged as it was by his black jeans.

Now that’s a damn fine derrière, she thought.

Gabriel peered at her over his shoulder. “What was that?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

His lips pulled inward, as if he were restraining a grin. “Oh, really?”

He walked over and leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I didn’t know that you were an ass girl.”

“Gabriel!” Somewhat embarrassed at having been caught, she smacked his arm lightly, and they both began to laugh.