The next few weeks passed in a blur of work, new orders for her candles, and occasional dinners with Zay. Gabriella felt herself slowly letting down her guard, each day a small step toward trusting him more. But every now and then, something in his demeanor—an offhand comment or a sudden shift in mood—reminded her that there was more to his story than he'd let on.
Her apartment was coming together, with new furniture arriving bit by bit. The candles she made were selling steadily, and she even started gaining a small following on social media, something she hadn't expected but was grateful for.
One afternoon, after a long shift at the hotel, Gabriella stopped by a local coffee shop to grab a quick pick-me-up. As she was waiting for her coffee, her phone buzzed.
Zay: Meet me tonight at the spot. Got somethin' important to tell you.
She frowned at the message. He didn't say anything about what it was, but the tone made her stomach drop.
That evening, Gabriella arrived at the familiar spot—the rooftop of an old building Zay often took her to when they needed to talk. The city's skyline was spread out before them, the lights twinkling in the distance.
Zay was already there, leaning against the railing, his eyes distant. He turned when he heard her footsteps.
"Hey," he said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Hey," Gabriella replied, her heart racing a little faster than she liked.
She could sense that something was different tonight, that whatever Zay was about to say would change everything between them.
Zay took a deep breath before speaking. "I told you I was tryin' to leave my past behind, right?"
Gabriella nodded. "Yeah."
"Well, the thing is," Zay began, his voice tinged with hesitation, "there's some people from my past that ain't so easy to walk away from. They don't like when people leave the life, especially when you've been in it as long as I was."
Gabriella's stomach tightened. "What do you mean? Is someone after you?"
Zay's jaw clenched. "Not exactly. But they're watchin'. And I don't want you to get caught up in it. I never wanted that for you."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Zay, what are you involved in? You said you were done with it."
"I am done with it," he said quickly. "But my past? It don't let go that easy."
Gabriella's mind raced. She had trusted him. Had allowed herself to believe that the life he'd promised was possible. But now, as he stood in front of her, she realized just how much he was still carrying—and how little she truly knew about him.
"Zay, I can't..." she trailed off, her words getting caught in her throat. "I can't keep doing this. I can't keep pretending everything is fine when it feels like you're keeping me in the dark."
He stepped closer, his hands held up as if to reassure her. "I'm not tryin' to hide from you, Gabby. I just wanted to protect you. You deserve better than all this mess I got behind me."
"I don't want your protection if it means I'm always gonna be second to your past," she said, her voice trembling.
Zay was silent for a moment, his eyes dark with guilt. "I never meant to make you feel second, Gabby. You're all I think about. But I ain't perfect. And I need you to trust that I'm doin' everything I can to keep you out of it."
Gabriella stepped back, shaking her head. "I don't know if I can anymore."
The silence between them felt heavier than ever, and for a moment, Gabriella thought she might turn around and walk away. But instead, she stood still, letting the wind blow through her hair as the city lights flickered around them.
Zay's voice broke the stillness. "I get it. I messed up. I just... I don't want to lose you."
"I need space, Zay," Gabriella whispered, her chest aching with every word. "I need to figure this out on my own."
For a moment, Zay didn't respond. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I understand."
The ride back to her apartment was quiet. Gabriella stared out the window, her mind spinning. She didn't know what to believe anymore, and the uncertainty gnawed at her.
When Zay pulled up in front of her building, he turned to her. "I'll be around when you're ready to talk. Just... don't shut me out for good, okay?"
Gabriella gave him a small, tight smile. "I won't. But I need time."
Zay gave her a long look before nodding and driving off.
That night, as Gabriella lay in bed, she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. She had made it this far on her own, but the pull of Zay's world was strong. She couldn't deny the way he made her feel, the way he cared for her—but could she trust him when it felt like his past might come crashing into her future?
She didn't have the answers, but for the first time, Gabriella knew one thing for sure: she had to protect herself.
To Be Continued...
