Her words ring in my ears and I find myself getting dizzy at the idea that James and I wouldn’t be the same after this. “It’s not.” His voice cuts through my thoughts and my eyes shoot to his. “It’s not going to end. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t think Gabrielle was my endgame. My soulmate. She’s everything to me.”
I slide my hand into his and lace our fingers, a movement that drags Monica’s eyes to where our hands are joined. “Guys—”
“Monica, I know this is a lot to take in, but…it’s just the way it is. You can kick and scream and warn us about all the issues that will arise from this but I’m not giving him up. I’ll take whatever problems come up in stride. James is…” I bite my bottom lip. “I’m in love with him and I know people will think it’s sick and wrong and dirty, but I don’t care. Because they don’t feel what I feel. They don’t know how physically painful it’s been being in love with someone I thought I could never have. I can’t spend my life living for other people. I want to live for me.”
“Maybe you don’t care what other people think but what about our people? What about Mom and Dad and your friends and people that only know you two as siblings? How is that going to work when you want to get married or have a baby?”
“I don’t know, Monica. You’re asking us a list of questions we haven’t thought about. We’re taking it day by day. We weren’t anticipating having to explain this to anyone a week into our relationship.”
“Relationship?” Monica repeats.
“Yes, Monica. A relationship. Or are you still not getting what I’m saying? Gabrielle. Is. Mine.” A smile pulls at my lips hearing his absolute possession of me. “Every part of her belongs to me and I am not giving her up for anyone. Not you, not our parents, not anyone. If anyone has a problem with it, and I’m sure there will be, I’ll fucking deal with it as it comes. But I’m not giving away my chance to be happy because people may find fault with it. We can just move and you’ll never see us again. I’m sure that will go over really well with our mother that is so desperate for grandchildren she can’t see straight.”
“I don’t think she’s desperate for her son and daughter to have her grandchildren together.”
James lets out an exasperated breath. “Mon, I’m not going back and forth with you about this. It is what it is. Deal with it or don’t, but the Q and A is over.” He pulls my hand to his lips. “I know how this looks and I know it’s a lot to take in, but how do you think we’re feeling?” Tears prickle in my eyes and goosebumps rise all over my skin. “I’ll take care of Gabrielle, Monica. You know that.”
“Of course, I do,” Monica whispers as tears form in her eyes. “And if you two were any other people in my life, I’d believe that this is real. I’d be your biggest cheerleaders. I’ve seen how you two look at each other when you don’t think anyone’s looking. I’ve seen the lingering hugs and the times Gabrielle would feel so comfortable sitting in your lap over this past year. I’ve heard you tell her you love her when you get off the phone when that’s never been something you and I did. I always knew your bond with her was different, but I guess even if you guys did have feelings for each other, I never expected you’d cross that line…to this magnitude.” She lets out a breath. “Look, it’s your life and I can’t control it any more than I can control the weather but I’m hoping that if you go down this road…you’re prepared for all the bumps that’ll come along the way. If you’re going to do this, you both need to be all in.”
Epilogue
James
* * *
One Year Later
* * *
My God, where does the time go? I wonder as I’m staring across the table at my gorgeous girlfriend.
Girlfriend.
It sends a surge to my dick just as it always does when I think of her. Gabrielle and I have been together for a little over a year now, and quite frankly it’s been the best year of my life. After her freshman year, she pressed Mom and Dad about having her own room despite how much she loved Harper. She sold them on her being a partier and it disrupting her flow of studying and my parents ate it up, commending Gabrielle for not getting distracted with the college party life. Her own room meant no one was wondering where she was when she stayed at my apartment or who the mysterious man was creeping into her dorm at midnight to fuck her senseless.
I’m not entirely sure how we are going to spin the need for her to have her own apartment next year when she moves off campus. She stayed with me for the summer under the ruse of a summer internship because of course she should stay with me instead of wasting twenty thousand dollars on room and board for three months.
It took a while, but ironically, Monica has become our biggest advocate. After both of us had very long conversations with her, she started to see that this is real.
“You’re staring,” she tells me as she takes a sip of her champagne.
“You’re stunning.” I nod at her, taking her in. She’s wearing an off the shoulder black dress that accentuates her narrow waist and full hips. Her dark hair is curled and pulled over one shoulder, exposing her neck that I just want to sink my teeth into like I always do when her neck is on display. I let out a deep breath about what I want to talk to her about.
She sets down her fork and leans forward. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind.”
“Besides fucking you until neither of us can walk?” He shrugs. “Yes, I do.”
She giggles and leans forward as well, sinking her teeth into her full lips that are painted red. “That’s the exact same thing I’ve got on my mind as well, but tell me the other thing.”
I lean on my elbows and rub my hand over my jaw, scratching the stubble. “Baby, I think it’s time to tell Mom and Dad.” Her eyes widen and she darts her eyes around the room like she’s expecting them to appear.
“Wh-what?”
Keep her calm. “Gab, relax. We knew we were going to have to do this at some point.”
“But like…tomorrow?” she whisper-yells. Just like last year, we are driving home the next day for Christmas where we plan to stay for the week.
“It’s making me crazy that I haven’t properly and publicly claimed you and I’m becoming more obsessive about it by the day.”
“But baby…” she starts. She looks up at me through her thick lashes like she does when she wants me to do what she wants. “I’m not ready.”
My cock jerks in my pants and I reach down as discreetly as possible to adjust myself in an attempt to relieve some tension. “We’re never going to be fully ready to tell them this.”
“What if they disown us?”
“They won’t.” I shake my head at her. “They love us.”
“They won’t love this.” She tucks a long dark brown strand behind her ear.
“Doesn’t mean they’ll stop loving us.”
She furrows her brows and scrunches her nose. Fuck, she’s cute. “I’m not prepared to lose our family.”