She would look so fucking perfect.
“Gabriella,” I whisper slowly, prolonging each letter as we come up for air.
Our noses rest against each other. We both are heaving for breath, and it’s echoing in the space between us.
She presses her hand on my chest, allowing it to rest against my beating heart.
“Oliver,” she whispers out of breath. “I just need—”
“Time.” I speak for her, irritated that we are once again having this conversation. “You can ask for all the time in the world, Gabriella, but one day you’ll realize that time has run out.”
I stand, creating a distance between us, knowing the hardest thing to do is to walk away from her.
But I have no choice.
I’m not born to come in second best.
In the confinement of my room, I leave all my clothes on and fall onto my bed. Staring up at the dark ceiling, my careless mind wanders back to our kiss. She wanted it just as much as I did, yet something she refuses to acknowledge holds her back from being with me.
And tonight, the true test begins—outside my room, lays a woman I so desperately want.
A woman who consumes me at a time in my life when I have been falling apart.
A woman, who I hate to admit, I may even be falling in love with.
Gabriella
I was coming undone.
Oliver slammed his lips onto mine—a bold move nearly knocking all the wind from my heaving lungs. There’s no moment to react or even decipher what the hell this all means before he presses his tongue to the seam of my lips, delving inside my mouth in a mad rush.
The strong scent of beer is exchanged in the intermingling of our billowing breaths warns me this is done out of a drunken stupor and without a single thought.
But I am not drunk.
No, but I am also not completely and utterly thinking one hundred percent straight, either.
My arms reach up and tangle around his strong neck until a cold splash of water laced with guilt consumes my conscience. I place my hand against his chest, the pounding of his heart beating like a drum against my palm.
Staring into his wild eyes, I beg for more time. It’s the only thing I can ask before we both do something we might regret. Everything is moving too quickly. I’d only just met Oliver, and my feelings for him terrify me.
Is it possible to fall for someone this quickly?
The mixed pain and hurt reflected in his expression before he retreated to his room, alone. He was angry. The man hated the word ‘no’ or any hindrance for that matter. It’s one of his many traits I have learned about him over the past two weeks. When he wants something, he goes for it all guns blazing.
Alone, while lying on the couch, I stare at the ceiling wishing things were different. If only I lived here and didn’t have a time-bomb ready to go off and demand my presence back in a life that isn’t meant for me.
The tiny voice, my conscience as such, sits on my shoulder, a not-so-gentle reminder that I have Sebastian to think about. I owe him my fidelity. This break was never about finding someone else to be with. It was always about finding myself. Yet, this journey wouldn’t have been possible without Oliver in my life. He pushes me outside my comfort zone, makes me see another path worthy of taking.
I would be naïve to think my family, especially my father, will accept my decision not to marry Sebastian. I have to find a way, an excuse that will satisfy my father enough that he will keep me in the family yet marry Oliver.
Marry Oliver? Can you seriously hear yourself?
Marriage, love, and Oliver in the same sentence is so far-fetched. I may have been feeling this way, but Oliver has other plans. I’d be a fool to think for one second, I belong in them.
What if they did involve me?
What if he felt the same way I do?
My head spins in circles, back and forth, contemplating whether I go to his room and continue whatever it was we started. I even sit up and face the hallway leading to his room. Yet, something inside me warns me to stay right here.
This is complicated, more complicated than I ever imagined my life would be out here.
And time, as much as he hates that word, is exactly what we both need to process.
My eyes begin to feel like lead weights, sleep is imminent as the night fades away, and my dreams all involve one man—the arrogant Aussie.
The sounds of footsteps wake me as the sunlight shines directly onto my face through the large glass windows. Aubrey and Chance arrive back early, and with Aubrey checking on CJ, I decide to use the bathroom to freshen up before Oliver steps out.
An hour later, Chance has cooked us what he calls an Aussie breakfast—eggs, bacon, beans, and toast with a thin layer of vegemite.
“The trick is to lather up on the butter and spread a thin layer of vegemite on top,” Chance suggests, sliding the jar over.
The color of the Vegemite looks rather questionable, yet I give it a go not to offend Chance. Serving a small piece and spreading it on the toast, Oliver walks in, head down, grabs a bottle of water from the fridge then silently walks back to his room.
“How did it all go?” Aubrey whispers as Oliver leaves the room. “Do I need to steam clean the couch?”
“No, don’t be silly. It’s not like that between us.”
“Really?” Aubrey seems surprised. “Because ever since Olly started spending time with you, he’s been different. Not the mopey, morbid Aussie who crashed in our spare room two weeks ago.”
“Woman has a point,” Chance mumbles with a mouthful of toast. “Different boy, that one.”
“We kissed,” I blurt out, desperate to talk about what is eating me up inside. “But why do I feel so guilty? Like I’m cheating on Prince Charming even though we’re ‘technically’ on a break.”
“Because you’re torn in an epic love triangle.” Aubrey claps her hands, followed with a squeal. “How exciting!”
“Um… exciting?” I stare at her, confused by the joyous outburst. “A love triangle is hardly exciting, more like stressful and exhausting. Besides, you have to be in love to be in a love triangle.”
I know Aubrey can read straight through me as I bow my head, avoiding her and Chance’s sideways glance. Trying to ignore the pressing conversation of love, I grab the empty plates and take them to the sink to wash up. The dishwasher could be loaded, but I find washing dishes therapeutic, something I haven’t done before my trip here.
“Would you leave that, please. You’ve done more than enough,” Aubrey scolds, taking the dishrag from me.
I hate the tension between Oliver and me.
I miss him.
I miss his annoying ways. The way he throws in his sexual innuendo at random times. I know my asking for time has upset him, and I want to make it up to him. Show him I need him in my life, but the complication which follows me won’t be so easy to shake off. I have to make him understand that.
I just don’t know how, that is until my eyes dart to the hallway and sitting on top is Chance’s motorcycle helmet.