I Definitely Don't

Chapter 13

Shayla

The morning light filtered in through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the bedroom. I stirred awake slowly, feeling the warmth of Gabriel beside me, his arms still wrapped protectively around me. His presence, even in his sleep, was strong and grounding, as if he were shielding me from the chaos we both knew lurked outside these walls.

I stretched quietly, careful not to wake him. The events of the past few days had left me emotionally drained, but I felt a strange sense of calm this morning. Being with Gabriel, in the quiet moments like this, made the madness seem far away, at least for a little while.

As I lay there, listening to the sound of his steady breathing, memories from our wedding flooded back. It had all happened so quickly, so unexpectedly. One moment, I was stepping into the role of a dutiful daughter, forced into an arrangement I didn't want, and the next, I was standing at the altar, feeling the weight of Gabriel's gaze on me. His eyes had been unreadable that day—intense, brooding, but with a flicker of something else. Something that had unsettled me and, in the same breath, made me feel strangely secure.

I knew that Gabriel wasn't the man I had originally thought he was. When Shiloh had run from the wedding, leaving me to pick up the pieces, I had assumed he would resent me, or at the very least, treat our union as a cold business transaction. But it hadn't been that simple. Gabriel had surprised me—his care, his protectiveness, even his moments of tenderness. Yet, there was always something just beneath the surface, something he wasn't telling me.

And then there was Jason. The thought of him made me tense, my body instinctively curling up in the blankets. Gabriel had told me enough for me to understand the danger, but I knew there was more he hadn't shared. Jason was a part of Gabriel's past, and now, he was trying to worm his way back into our lives, into my life.

I needed to know more. I couldn't just sit idly by while Gabriel fought this battle alone.

Carefully slipping out of bed, I padded across the room to the large windows that overlooked the Seattle skyline. The city below was already buzzing with life, but from up here, it felt distant, almost unreal. I leaned my forehead against the cool glass, my reflection staring back at me. Who was I becoming in all of this?

I wasn't just Gabriel's wife. I wasn't just my father's daughter or Shiloh's shadow. I was more than that. And yet, I had allowed myself to be swept into this whirlwind without fully understanding the consequences. I had spent so long trying to please everyone else, that I had almost forgotten what I wanted.

And what did I want?

The question echoed in my mind. For the longest time, I thought the answer was simple: peace. A life away from the chaos of my father's business, from the constant pressure to perform and be perfect. I wanted to create art, to be free, to live life on my terms. But now, standing here in Gabriel's world, I realized that peace might not come as easily as I had hoped.

Gabriel stirred behind me, and I turned to see him sitting up, running a hand through his tousled hair. He looked tired, as if sleep had done little to relieve the burden he was carrying.

"Good morning," he said, his voice still husky from sleep. His eyes found mine, and for a moment, I saw a softness there that caught me off guard.

"Morning," I replied, offering him a small smile. "Did you sleep well?"

He shrugged, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "Well enough."

I watched him for a moment, my heart tightening with the weight of everything unsaid between us. I needed to tell him what was on my mind, to voice the thoughts that had been swirling inside me since Jason's reappearance.