Staying Under The Radar

37| Sorry

37| Sorry
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It's never too late to apologise, but please mean it when you do.
- sincerely, your deepest regret.
~kabbage, 2017
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Amber stepped through the hotel door, ignoring Gabriel who held the door open for her. She was in no mood to even acknowledge his presence especially after her luck today. Not only did she have to deal with Tyler showing up, but the feelings that surfaced with his presence. She'd be foolish to miss him. She hadn't even thought about him in that way since the break up. After seeing him in person, she couldn't help but miss the way he would scoop her off he feet when she'd open the door for him. It made her sick that she actually thought about their time together. She needed to remember that she didn't need him. She didn't need to cherish the little things they did, especially that ring.

No! She thought. I will not do this to myself.

Trying to push all her history with Tyler to the back of her mind, she really needed a shower after spending time with Alex. Too many times had he tried to be sly and touch her in places after he had woken up from his 'nap.' On top of that, she had to go back to a guy who didn't regard her enough as a partner to even answer her questions. Sure, Gabe was great. He hadn't done anything remotely absurd, but she was already pissed, she might as well find everything to be pissed at. Especially losing that Gotdamn ring!

Slamming the bathroom door shut, she turned on the shower head on, the steam slowly clouding the mirror; masking her naked form. She knew she shouldn't compare herself, but she wondered if that's how Tyler had seen her: not at all.

"I need you," Gabriel's voice broke through her pitiful mirage. "to hurry up, please."

Rolling her eyes, she stepped inside the shower, taking time to let the warm water saturate her body. She didn't know how much she could cry until the tears wouldn't stop flowing. She later blamed it on Mother Nature, with all the stress, she expected it to be delayed for another week or so. Great. She thought, Just f'cking great.

Amber stepped out the the bathroom, now dressed in a pair of jogging bottoms and loose T-shirt. She had been keeping her suitcase inside the bathroom after she kept forgetting to take her clothes with her.

Gabe watched her wearingly. She hadn't spoken to him since he had picked her up. The drive in the car, although only five minutes, felt longer and more bumpier than ever. She went over to the fridge, pulling out a water bottle. When she closed the door, she jumped seeing Gabe before her.

She didn't even utter a word, just walked around him. Or tried to.

"I'm sorry." Gabe apologised, grasping her hand between his. "I'm sorry I keep brushing you off."

Amber didn't even look up. All she really wanted to do was drink the cool water that was sweating in her hands. "Okay." She muttered, trying to walk away from him, but failing.

"I'm trying to apologise and you say 'okay.'"

"Look." She looked at him. "Do what ever you want. It shouldn't be hard since you're already doing that." She said dryly, watching his expression turn from apologetic to guilty.

They locked eyes. Amber used to be so captivated by the greens of in his eyes. Now they just looked like any ordinary pair of eyes humans have.

In an instant, Amber was over Gabe's shoulder. Her constant protest to put her down went unnoticed, as he held her legs securely, walking them away from the area.