Her mouth tightened. “You still could have told me what you were planning.”
“I could have. But I also had this feeling, like if I said it out loud to anyone, it would fall apart. Or my parents would find out and somehow put a stop to it.”
“You were already eighteen.”
“You know that didn’t matter in my house. My father was in total control, and if he knew... You remember how he was.”
She squeezed his hand. “I guess he was pretty hard on you.”
I’m eighteen now.
What, you think that’s some magic number?
You can’t control me anymore!
Gabe shut his eyes against the memories. “He’d have worn me down, day after day, with lectures about family and responsibility, about being realistic and not making stupid choices.”
“ButIwouldn’t have done that. And I wouldn’t have told your parents.”
He opened his eyes again. “What if you’d tried to stop me?”
“I didn’t, though. When you finally told me—or, rather, when I found out—I didn’t tell you to stay.”
“Because you were angry. If I’d told you earlier, you might have persuaded me not to leave.” He’d hated the thought of leaving her, but he’d also been terrified that he would throw away all his carefully laid plans if she asked.
Michelle arched a brow. “Well, I guess we’ll never know, will we? You didn’t tell me until the last fucking minute, and then you cut me out of your life.”
Gabe’s throat tightened as he remembered the way they’d argued that last time, remembered how much it had hurt. “Because I would’ve come back for you.”
She shook her head slowly. “I don’t know if I believe you.”
He gave a little shrug. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Only because you need me to work on your gym launch.”
He sighed. “I wish that were the only reason. It would make all of this easier if it were.”
“You said downstairs you never made a move because we were friends.”
“That’s right.”
“You mean because you didn’t want to ruin the friendship?”
“That, and I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. And what if you...” He trailed off, unable to voice his old fears, even now.
What if she didn’t love him back?
“What if I wasn’t attracted to you?” she asked.
Sure, that was good enough. “Yeah.”
“Don’t be silly, Gabe. You were, and are,veryattractive.”
“Then why didn’tyoumake a move?”
“I was about as obvious as someone could be. How many times did I sit on your lap or ask for a back massage?”
“I thought you acted that way because we were best friends.”
