Gifted with Greed (#2 Deadly Sins)

Chapter 9

9- Ocean spray

"Hello? Sinda?" I realised that I had been staring behind Gabe for a while now. What if the angel told Gabe I was a Vice?! Would he care? Of course he would.

I looked at Gabe, "What? Sorry, did you say something?" I said as I studied his face for any sign that he knew what I was.

"I said hello. Are you okay?" I decided he didn't know.
"Yeah, sorry, just a bit distracted. It's good to see you." I plastered on a smile that became real when I realised that what I said was true.
"Should we get going?"
"Umm. I can't. I really wish I could, but my mum's been really sick lately and I don't want to leave her on her own..."

Gabe's face fell, he probably thought that I didn't want to see him. "Do you want me to go?"
"No! I mean, not if you don't want to. Do you want to come in, we could watch a movie or something? We just got a couple new movies that I haven't seen yet and I've been meaning to watch them."
"Sure."

Gabe followed me inside. When we got to the living room he just stood there, looking around the house so I told him to sit down.

We picked out a movie then put it on before I settled down on the couch next to Gabe. There was a tension between us and I was willing to bet it had something to do what that angel had said to Gabe. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Who was that guy you were talking to outside?"

Gabe's response was guarded and it was obvious he was holding something back.

"Just a friend. More like a brother really."
"What did this friend say?"
"Nothing important. Why?"
"Just curious." Gabe looked me straight in the eye.
"Did you know that when you lie you always fidget with your hands." I looked down at my hands and sure enough they were playing with the hem of my shirt. I stopped and looked back up at Gabe.

"You're not such a good liar yourself. Too much eye contact. So are you going to tell me the truth?"
"He didn't think it was a good idea for me to come here today. Now why did you want to know? For real."
"Because he told me the same thing." It was the truth, not the whole truth, but close enough.

"What? Sorry about that. He can be a bit... Over protective."
I turned my attention back to the movie and both of us fell into silence.

"I just realised I don't know much about you." I looked at Gabe and found him staring at me. How long had he been doing that?
"Well, what do you want to know?"

*****

The movie had been forgotten as Gabe and I exchanged questions rehanging from favourite colour (Gabe's was sunset orange and mine was a bluey aqua) to more sticky questions like previous girlfriends/boyfriends.

Somewhere through all the questions we'd moved so my back was on Gabe's chest with his chin on my head and his arms wrapped around me. It felt nice.

My stomach rumbled and I sat up, pulling away from Gabe. When I reached the kitchen I looked back over my shoulder at Gabe.

"Do you want anything to eat?"
"Not really." Gabe got up and followed me to the kitchen. "Do you want me to help with anything?"

I found some popcorn in the cupboard and threw it in the microwave. "I'm gonna go see if my mum wants anything. Can you make sure the popcorn doesn't burn?"

I walked down to mum's room. Before I could even knock on the door, I heard mum calling out to me. "I'm awake. You can come in." I pocked my head through the door.

"Hey, do you want anything to eat?"
"No thank you dear. Who else is out there?"
"Just Gabe. I didn't want to leave you alone, so I invited him in to watch a movie."
"Would it be totally embarrassing if I went out to see him? I need to know what my daughter's getting herself into."
"Um. Sure. Do you want help?"
"No-no, don't you worry about me." I stood back and watched as she stumbled to her feet.

"You look better." And it was true, she didn't looked quite as tired and her skin had gained a little colour.

I reached out and took her arm, despite her protests and led her down the hall. Gabe looked up when we came in. He'd been leaning against the counter, chucking popcorn into the air and trying to catch it in his mouth.

"Gabe, this is my mum, Sarah. Mum, this is Gabe, my... Boyfriend." I looked at Gabe questionably. He smiled at me. Boyfriend. It sounded nice.

Mum stood up straighter, with her hands on her hips. It was amazing that even in her current state she could look so strong. I watched as she gave Gabe the elevator eyes. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Gabe held out his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs Stanford." Mum's face lit up and I let out a sigh of relief. She approved.

"Please, call me Sarah." Mum said, shaking Gabe's hand. Her other hand came to rest on her belly, which was now, quite large.

Gabe's eyes caught the movement.

"Girl or boy?" Mum let out a weak laugh.
"Haven't given it much thought to be honest. I'm hoping for a boy, my little Jack." Something inside of me twisted at her words. Her little Jack. It would be a miracle if the child lives, the only real thing she has left of her husband.

I was knocked out of my thoughts when my senses picked up something. It was like the ocean. Like an ocean spray. It was beautiful. It was Gabe.

I looked up at him. But I couldn't figure out why my senses were suddenly pick him up. They usual fade over time.

What was he doing?