Page 314 of His Virgin Romance Series
“Are you sure?” Tracy asked, as she sidled up to my side and stroked my arm.
“Positive,” I nodded curtly. “Thanks.”
I walked away before the other two could block me and I headed straight for the apartment. I knew Gabby was in because I could hear her music playing softly in the background. She usually recorded her music and then played it back on her computer to make adjustments the next time she was at her piano. I loved watching her work; it inspired me to want to work on my paintings.
“Zo?”
“Hey,” she called from her room.
A moment later, she stepped outside in sweats and a baggy t-shirt. She had obviously just had a bath because her hair was wet and yet she still managed to look amazing.
“Composing?”
“A little,” she replied. “Just trying to clean up a few of my melodies. How was your day?”
I paused. “Good.” I nodded.
“Really?” she asked, coming forward. “You look… tired.”
I wasn’t sure if tired was the word she wanted to go for or if she was just being polite. “I’m fine,” I said. “Just a little… preoccupied.”
“About what?” Gabby asked as she sat down on the couch, and I joined her a moment later.
“It’s weird,” I said. “Sometimes my father gets in my head and… I can’t seem to shake him off.”
Gabby raised her eyebrows. “You’ve never mentioned your father to me before. In fact… you never mention your family at all.”
“Really?”
“I don’t even know if you have brothers or sisters.”
“Only child,” I said.
“Wow.”
“Does that surprise you?”
“A little.” Gabby nodded. “For some reason, I thought you had siblings.”
“I wish I did, to be honest,” I said. “Maybe then I wouldn’t feel…”
“Feel what?” Gabby asked.
“Nothing,” I said quickly, feeling embarrassed.
“Come on,” Gabby said. “Talk to me. It won’t kill you.”
I realized that if there were anyone out there I could actually talk to, it would be Gabby. I turned to her and took a deep breath.
“My parents disowned me… so to speak.”
“Oh my God,” Gabby said, looking at me sympathetically. “Why?”
“Because I dared to dream my own dreams,” I said. “At least that is why I maintained they cut me off. Their reason is that I turned my back on my potential and opted to go to art school instead of becoming a doctor like my father.”
“Seriously?” Gabby said, looking shocked. “That’s the reason they cut you off?”
“Crazy, right?” I nodded. “This is the twenty-first century after all. And they’re still clinging to all these archaic belief systems. You would think that they could summon up a little understanding for their only child. But no… my parents are different. They’re rigid and cruel and hard-hearted.”
