The Divorce

49

"Relax...it was just cold water."

I looked at Gabriel, of who I now had a clearer view, after mince man screamed so loudly that the flight attendant thought he was about to die. 

"Did you drop it on purpose?" I whispered, curious. Gabriel surely would have seen that my fingers weren't around the glass when he had let go. He normally had such great attention to detail. 

"Why would I do it on purpose?" He responded. 

"True, I was thirsty." 

"Are you? I'll ask for another glass," he looked up and down the aisle to spot another flight attendant.

But there was something bout that glint and no reaction after mince man screamed standing up from his chair screaming he was wet, that was in his eyes. 

The flight attendant rushed with heaps of napkins and offered for him to dry up in their staff kitchen, and somehow asked if Gabriel was okay, when he clearly wasn't the one wet.

"See how much more peaceful it is, without him here?"

I couldn't argue with that logic. He had been gone for ten minutes and I hoped he wasn't coming back. I'm sure the staff would be giving him some free food to make up for it and perhaps a new seat as this middle one did have a puddle of water that no one has come back to clean.

"I feel like you did it on purpose." I concluded. 

"You can believe what you do Miss. Rodriguez," Gabriel responded as he pressed the little button on the side of this arm, slightly tilting his chair back an inch. He placed his clasped hands on his lap and closed his eyes.

* * * 

"How was the flight?"

I hurled my bag into the back seat as the moment I had dreaded had finally arrived. 

Well, not just the moment but we had also arrived, greeted by the groom's brother. 

Gabriel and Mark did their introduction as I slipped into the back seat and buckled up. I'll get Gabriel take the front, so I was a little confused when he hopped into the back with me, leaving Mark looking at us through the rear view mirror as he asked pleasantries, to which Gabriel mostly responded. 

"What about you Roar-star?"

I surpassed the urge to roll my eyes, guess my sister told him my old nick name. 

"It was fine, I slept the entire time."

It was a lie, but how was Mark to know?

Gabriel although, gave me a side glance, but kept his mouth shut.  I could see Mark's eyes flicker towards me and Gabriel at separate times during the painfully quiet car ride. 

Mark asked Gabriel a few more questions and I could see there was a slight confusion in his eyes, possible as I told everyone I was bringing Kyle.

I was almost expecting Mark to ask, but he didn't. After thirty long minutes of silence and occasional pleasantries we pulled into the winery my sister had booked for the wedding. The car went around the fountain which acted like a roundabout, it jostled slightly over the small gravel into a car spot. 

The sun was bright as we hoped out, greeted by no one. Which was expected. 

"Everyone is at lunch," Mark said as he joined us at the boot, "We'll drop your bags off and then go join them."

Great, I couldn't wait. 

The car ride was as expected, occasionally Gabriel and Mark exchanged sentences, about the journey, the weather, but then it was just silence. 

Mark helped us carry the bags to the room, letting himself in, giving a poor tour before telling us to come join everyone.

Once the door finally shut I let out an strangled scream, that may have come out louder than I expected.

Gabriel turned to look at me.

I cleared my throat, "Sorry."

I grabbed my bag walking towards the bed, throwing it onto it and zipping it open.

"I hate family get togethers," I muttered as I searched through my clothes. I glanced a look at Gabriel who was still watching me, or maybe he was disgusted that I had placed the bag on the bed, but hey it was on the decorative blanket. No one used those anyways so it was still germ contained.

I wrapped my hands around the cool bottle and pulled it out.

I quickly unfastened the top and took one big gulp.

"Ugh, that feels good."

Gabriel was always silent, and he also moved very softly, so it might have slipped my mind that he was still watching me lose my mind.

"What? Do you want a sip?" I asked turning my body to face him.

"Of that?" He asked, his eyebrows raising.

I looked at the bottle, "It's not cheap gin, it's good quality."

"You're day drinking?"

"Trust me, you'll regret not taking a sip after you meet my family..."

"Um..."

I took one more swig, they were both in my opinion, small swigs, so it couldn't be more than two standard drinks and knowing my cheap sister she would probably have the worst wine downstairs, so it was better to get drunk off quality stuff.

Although, it would take a lot more than two swigs to get me drunk enough to tolerate my birth givers and my siblings.

I reached the bottle out, "Last offer," I commented.

"You want me to drink out of that?"

I looked at the bottle and at Gabriel, as he looked at the bottle, at my face, or maybe my mouth that was just around it.

Oh right..maybe he has a thing about germs.

"Don't worry about it," I screwed the cap back on throwing it into my suitcase, "Let's get this over and done with."

I fanned my face with my hand, trying to cool myself down, "Are you ready, do you need to freshen up?" I asked.

But of course Gabriel still looked just like he did this morning, not a single strand of hair out of place. I for one, was avoiding looking into the mirror. It doesn't matter how good I looked, I would still get comments so there was no point having a cold shower and washing my hair like I desperately needed. 

Gabriel nodded walking towards the door, opening it for me.

"Just a few days." I muttered as I walked out, grabbing the key card Mark left for us, why did he only give us one?

"I'll be fine."

"That was for me, not you," I mentioned as he grabbed the key card from my hand and placed it int his pocket. Well, I guess it is safer that he has it, not me. 

Gabriel and I walked somewhat slowly (because of my pace) towards the lunch venue. The closer we got, the more my heart rate picked up and my stomach churned. Not from the gin, just from the social anxiety I was starting to get. 

The voices got louder and the laughter got happier as we got closer, I wobbled slightly on the rough bricked layered ground, almost like cobblestone but a poorly done job. Through the large glass windows I could see a few faces turn and scream, waving to me.

I shivered, but this time because a somewhat cold and firm hand rested on my lower back, pushing me forward as screaming people came towards me.

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