Steering her thoughts away from such ridiculousness, Savannah asked, “How long have you been living here with Jay? And why? What happened with Marissa?”
Savannah was happy Marissa was no longer in the picture, and that had nothing to do with her schoolgirl crush on Gabriel. Marissa had been an evil woman, and Savannah had never understood what Gabriel saw in her, to begin with. Unless it was Marissa’s huge breasts, big bottom, and tiny waist, that was. But half the guys in town had been given the opportunity to appreciate those assets.
Gabriel’s handsome face grimaced. “Well, after I knocked her up almost three years ago, Marissa decided she didn’t want to be a mom… and she said, in her own words, I’d become boring in bed.” He sighed.
Savannah’s face grew warm thinking about Gabriel in bed. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “And are you boring in bed?”
Gabriel turned towards her with a wicked grin. He laughed softly, and said, “Decidedly not.” He punctuated his statement with a wink and Savannah wanted to crawl away somewhere.
What was wrong with her? It wasn’t like she was an eighteen-year-old virgin leaving home for the first time again. Savannah had done a good amount of experimenting in college like every small town person tries to do. Here with Gabriel, however, she suddenly felt inexperienced, shy… too young.
Gabriel was staring now with an eyebrow raised. “Are you okay, Savannah? You’re acting kind of strange.” He shrugged. “Well, maybe that’s how you act, now.” Gabriel smiled sadly. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? I remember when you left for college. You were a gangly thing, frightened about going off into the world on your lonesome.” He looked over and a strange look passed across his face. “Now, here you are, grown, educated, and I’m sure, experienced.”
“Experienced?” Savannah voiced the one-word question.
“Well, aren’t you?” Gabriel asked, eyebrow rising on his forehead again. He shifted so he could look at Savannah better, causing some of his long hair to fall over his shoulder. “Or did you forget I was there when you were crying to Jay about how you were still a virgin at eighteen?”
Savannah grimaced. She’d almost forgotten that night. She’d been sitting here, on this very couch, and Savannah had been so afraid of leaving. Not only was she leaving home, but Savannah felt like a failure being a virgin as a legal adult when everyone else at school had already had sex. It seemed such a silly thing to be upset over now, but Savannah remembered how big and serious it seemed then.
“Ha, yeah, I actually had forgotten you were there.” Savannah sighed. “Well, that’s not a problem anymore. No worries.”
“No?” Gabriel gave a half-hearted laugh. “No offense, but I could never picture someone having sex with you. It’s so weird.”
Savannah stared at Gabriel with indignation. “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other people willing to have sex with me, thank you very much.”
“Whoa, nobody is having sex with my sister on my damn couch. What the hell, Gabe?” Savannah turned towards the doorway. Her embarrassment at Jay walking in at exactly the wrong moment was overpowered with joy at seeing her brother again after four long years.
Jay’s face was confused but his eyes were twinkling and Savannah knew he wasn’t mad. Savannah jumped up, ran to her brother, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Jay! Ugh, I’m so glad to see you!” Savannah exclaimed.
Jay pulled back from his sister’s tight embrace so he could look her in the face. “I’m glad to see you, too, Sav, but… uh… what the hell did I walk in on?” He glanced at Gabriel, still sitting on the couch. “You trying to take advantage of my little sister’s crush on you?” Jay’s words were only teasing. Savannah’s brother was never serious. She was pretty sure he didn’t know how to be.
Gabriel responded before Savannah had a chance. “Oh, yeah, you know me, man. Love taking advantage of young, innocent girls.” When he was with Jay, Gabriel was never serious either.
Savannah rolled her eyes. “I’m not that young, and I’m not that innocent either. Ugh, you two are so annoying.”
Jay laughed and pulled Savannah in for another hug. “Oh, c’mon, Sis, we’re teasing. Besides, I don’t want to hear a single word about how not innocent you are. I’m going to pretend you’re a virgin until the day I die.”
“Well…” Savannah started, teasing Jay.
“No, no, no.” Jay let go and covered his ears, shaking his head. Savannah only laughed.
* * * * *
Gabriel watched Savannah and Jay teasing each other like they were still kids. Unfortunately, he’d noticed his little kitten wasn’t a little girl anymore. There were no doubts she was a woman now, and he couldn't shake the surrealism that came with the realization. It made him uncomfortable.
Gabriel had felt bad when he first noticed, but there was no harm in seeing what was right in front of his eyes, right? If only she’d been a little closer to their age, maybe he could've taken advantage of Savannah’s crush on him when they were kids. Then, Gabriel could have avoided the entire Marissa situation altogether. Taken harmless advantage, mind you.
No, he shouldn’t think like that. Even if she’d been less than five years younger, Jay would’ve never been cool with Gabriel dating his little sister. He was ridiculously protective of her, but then again, Gabriel had always been just as protective. He didn’t have younger sisters of his own, and Savannah had always been around. She’d tagged after the two of them from the time she could walk.
The fact Gabriel could remember when Savannah started walking told him he shouldn’t have noticed her small, round curves... or the way her bottom filled out those jeans. Gabriel knew he shouldn’t have noticed how great it felt to hold her body against his earlier when they hugged. But, then, how could he have not noticed the way her breasts pressed against his chest and the way… no, he needed to stop. Now. Thoughts like that could ruin 20-something years of friendship real fast.
“Gabriel?” Jay called his name. Had he been trying to get his attention? “You okay, man? You look out of it.” He laughed and said, “You were like, staring… you decide you’ve got a thing for little Miss Sav here?” Jay pulled his sister in sideways and cocked an eyebrow at Gabriel. “I know she’s grown, but it would be too weird, man. Just too weird.” Jay shook his head.
Gabriel laughed as he stole a glance at Savannah. Her green eyes sparkled and her strawberry blonde curls were a mess. “No way, man. She’s like a little sister to me.” He shook his head. “I’m tired, that’s all. Long day at work and Rio didn’t want to go to sleep last night.”
“That reminds me,” Savannah elbowed Jay in the side. “Why didn’t you tell me Gabriel was a dad?”
Jay winced, rubbing his side. Then he shrugged. “I don’t know. Didn’t I tell you?”
Savannah shook her head emphatically. “Definitely not.”
“My bad.” Jay shrugged, looking unapologetic. Savannah snorted and rolled her eyes. Gabriel felt like it was old times again. After everything he’d been through with Marissa, this was what he needed.