Summer Lovin'

Chapter Eighteen

(May 17th, 2009)

I stood behind the bar, giving it a wipe and glancing towards the door. Addy popped in behind, grabbing a couple of waters and smiling at me. "You keep glancing at the door, Love, expecting someone?"

I raised my nose at her, knowing what she was implying and also recognizing that she was right.

But, rather than sharing my feelings, I growled out, "NoPe, just doing my job! Why don't you go do yours?" Giving a wink at the end so she would know I was joking.

She giggled and seemed to recognize my avoidance. I gave her a little smile, thankful that she didn't push it further, breathing a sigh of relief as she walked the water glasses over to her table.

It wasn't that I didn't trust Addy, I knew she would be in my corner. I was just overly aware of the fact that I was in over my head and felt that talking about it would just make it worse.

I had scheduled us together twice this week. It made the amount that I was working more pleasant because the nights that we got to work together were my absolute favourite.

Plus, operation "apprehend a thief" was well on its way. I had made sure to schedule Candy with a different person each night.

Either myself or Jon was going to do a count secretly before she started. The night she closed a few nights ago, had spiralled the idea. There had been three missing bottles that differed from my account to hers.

I was aware that three wasn't enough for me to accuse her of stealing. Or for us to know if that's what was happening. But, I also knew on a night that dead, even three, was goddamned suspicious.

However, I needed to have more evidence and so was working on it.

Ever since that night when Gabriel had brought my first coffee, we'd fallen into a groove of sorts. He would finish work for the day and come in for a beer and some dinner. He never failed to bring me a coffee. Sometimes he'd bring some kind of treat to go with it and no matter what he made my night better. 

If Addy was working then Liam joined too and although it had only been a couple of nights I was already used to seeing Gabriel's face daily.

Over the course of the last few days, I had pivoted my worries about falling deeper for him to an acceptance of the fact that I will always love him. However, he doesn't feel the same way and I need to put on my big girl pants and get over it.

It hadn't taken long for me to convince myself that obviously time and distance had not worked on the torture that was my unrequited love, but maybe remembering and renewing our friendship would.

It helped that I was still receiving at least one verbally abusive voicemail from Gavin daily telling me what an asshole I was in and how no one would ever love me. He would shit all over me until my voicemail timed out. Today, I had decided it was time to delete them without listening cause what was the point.

In short, it seemed like a good time to reestablish my friendship with my breathtaking best friend, because Gavin had reminded me that I had shit taste in men and should stay far away from the peni. I was taking a break from the male species for the foreseeable future.

The chime of the door broke me out of my jumbled thoughts. My breath caught as I watched Gabriel and Liam stroll towards me.

They had both filled out oh so nicely into manhood, it was hard not to stare at the muscles rippling underneath their t-shirts.

I felt Addy next to me as she gave me a nudge and pointed at the two coffees that Gabriel carried, "hey Gabe, I hope you're giving Liam pointers!"

Gabriel gave her one of those beautiful smiles, blushing at her words but he gave Liam a smirk and shook his head, "you're on your own with this one."

Liam laughed and chirped out, "you guys are dicks! Then looking at Addy, he asked, "need a little more romance in your life there babe?"

I couldn't help the straight shot to my heart at the implication that Gabriel was trying to romance me but then sternly checked myself. Commanding my heart to stop being so god damned ridonculous, I forced myself to just enjoy the moment with my friends and not overthink it all quite so much.

I watched as Addy walked around the bar to give Liam a kiss and shifted my attention to Gabe to give them a moment of privacy.

As I put Gabriel's beer in front of him, he touched my hand and whispered, "I hear you've got the day off tomorrow?"

I smiled and nodded, Jon didn't stay open for the Monday of the May long weekend. It gave him a chance to enjoy the day, to not have to worry about anything and did the same thing for his staff.

Having worked for him now and knowing how amazing he was, it pissed me off more than ever that anyone would take advantage and steal from him because he treated his staff like family.

Gabriel's cheeks pinkened as he asked, "would you spend the day with me?"

It was odd because not even a week ago, hell a few days ago, I would've adamantly refused. But, I was slowly realizing that as painful as it sometimes was, I missed my friendship with Gabriel.

He took my silence in and immediately started rambling, "I know you've been saying that you haven't had a chance to get out on the water yet I thought maybe we could do that?"

I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile and said, "I'd love to!"

A/N- Gabriel had some requests to step it up on a notch... I believe the next chapter should meet your standards in the art of "woo"!
💕

Thoughts? Are we still okay that Hailey is so unaware of how he feels or are we like wake up woman??? 🤷‍♀️