Best Friends? Or More? [EDITING]

Chapter 17

•and when your heart knows, it knows. There's no explaining it, you just have to trust it•

After about 20 minutes, Gabriel drove inside a really cute neighbourhood. The kids were playing around, their laughter ringing in the soft autumn air, mothers were taking a walk with their friends along with their babies and making small talks, the trees flew past us, making the sun rays peek through the little openings and I smiled at how right this felt.

"Julie would be really happy to see you and that you brought a friend." Nathan said, making me bring my attention to them.

"Who's Julie? If you don't mind me asking." I asked; a little shy.

"She's the love of my life." Nathan described with a smile.

"Aww that's so cute." I cooed. True love was rare these days and seeing someone as old as Nathan describing his wife like that was really adorable and sweet.

"Wait till grandma hears it." Gabriel scoffed. Wait what?

"Julie's not your wife?" I asked, confused.

"What? No. She's my pet retriever." Nathan explained and my smile fell.

"Oh." So who was his wife?

Gabriel snickered from behind the wheel as he looked at me from the rearview mirror which earned him a slap on the back of his head, courtesy of moi.

Both the boys laughed and something about it was just so contagious. I found myself smiling. It was somewhat enthralling to see Gabriel laugh because he hardly did. He must be really comfortable with his family to laugh like that.

"You should have seen your face." Nathan cackled and I pouted. "Don't worry. I love my wife more than my pet retriever. Her name's Hannah."

I grinned. "Much better."

"I have a feeling this visit is going to be fun." Nathan chuckled and Gabriel shook his head.

"No doubt about that." He said and pulled infront of a really cute looking, two-storeyed house. What I loved about it was the well-maintained garden at the side of the house. It was really beatiful.

"Dada's here!" A cute voice shouted and a boy, no more than 6, came running out of the front door. He looked like mini Gabriel to be honest.

"Joan! What did I tell you about running? You'll fall!" Another voice shouted and this time a very pretty lady came running outside. Her blonde tresses was tied in a bun with bangs falling here and there clearly showing she had a tired day already.

"Joan, my boy!" Nathan laughed and embraced the little boy while Joan laughed happily.

"Gabe!" The lady exclaimed in happiness and hugged the life out of Gabriel. Okay now I'm starting to see what Nathan meant by the Cisnero family hugging the life out of each other.

"Hey Aunt Gina." Gabriel greeted with a happy smile. It was really beautiful how he did not even hesitate to smile infront of his family.

"And you are?" The familiar voice of Joan asked me and I looked down at the kid looking up at me curiously.

I blinked and then suddenly nervousness kicked in. I was infront of Gabriel's family. A complete stranger amongst them. Shit.