Secrets and Lies (a Les Twins fanfic)

Chapter 20: Rumors

Rush hour traffic in Atlanta was heavy and bumper-to-bumper as usual. Gabby was glad she didn’t live far from the airport.

She leaned back and took in the familiar sight of the 285 freeway from the passenger side of Patrick’s silver Range Rover.

A text from Laurent popped up on her phone. It was almost midnight in Paris.

Laurent: u make it safe?

Gabby: yeh. what u doin?

Laurent: thinking about u

Gabby: liar. ur at the club

Laurent: lol

Patrick wheeled the SUV into the driveway of her townhouse and got out to help with her bags.

“Let’s go out tonight.”

“I can’t. Keith’s in town too and he’s coming over.”

“Well, if you were gonna dump me for him then his ass could’ve picked you up.”

He dropped the bags in the foyer with a loud thud.

It was a known fact that Patrick hated Keith. This was not surprising since Patrick had hated every single guy Gabby ever dated.

She ignored his little temper tantrum. “I’m here all week. We’ll go out another night.”

She stretched and looked around. It felt good to be home. Patrick followed her into the kitchen. She took two bottled waters from the fridge. When she turned back around he was all serious.

“Sweety, I need to talk to you about something but you have to promise not to take it the wrong way.”

“Alright,” she held up her right hand up. “I swear I won’t take it the wrong way.”

“I mean it.”

“I mean it, too.”

“You know I love you, right?”

“Patrick, stop with the drama. What is it?”

He stalled fiddling with the top of the water bottle. “There’s some rumors going around.”

“Rumors about what?”

The sound of keys in the door cut in on their conversation. A few seconds later Keith appeared in the doorway of the kitchen.

His shirt and jeans clung impeccably to every inch of his muscular body. Gabby felt a surge of excitement followed by a twinge of guilt.

“Baby girl! You have no idea how glad I am to see you.”

His booming voice filled the room. He scooped Gabby up in a bear hug, ran his hands down her hips and kissed her while eyeballing Patrick over her shoulder the whole time. He knew the man couldn’t stand him.

“What’s up, Pat?”

“Keith.” Patrick replied flatly then made a break for the door. “I guess I’ll see you two love birds later.”

Gabby walked him out. “Wait. What did you want to tell me?”

“Another time.” He kissed her on the cheek and left.

*   *   *   *

“Tonight, babe? I’m still jetlagged from the flight. AND I’d have to find a dress.”

Gabby was in the bathroom changing out of the clothes she’d flown home in. She could see Keith’s reflection in the mirror as he moved around in the bedroom behind her.

He’d just dropped two bombs on her. One: that morning he found out his radio show might get turned into a TV talk show. Two: he got invited to a party at Tyler Perry’s house and he had to go.

“I know it’s last minute, but this is important. All the network execs will be there. If I make a good impression, I’m in.” He picked up his keys.

“Where are you going?”

“I have to get my tux from the cleaners and scoop up Duane. He’s flying in from L.A. He should be here in a few hours.”

“Oh so you can pick your agent up from the airport, but not me?” Gabby teased, stripping down to her bra and panties.

Keith came into the bathroom, pulled her close with one arm, and smacked her butt playfully.

He kissed down her neck and lifted her onto the sink, his chocolate skin melding with hers in the mirror.

“You know I was on the air all afternoon. Otherwise, I would’ve been there.”

“Mmmhmm.” Gabby melted against his broad chest and locked her hands around the small of his back. He felt so familiar.

She could almost forget how sometimes it felt like they were living two separate lives.

In that moment everything that happened in Paris seemed like a distant fantasy. Keith was “that guy”. He was predictable and safe.

And Laurent was everything else.