Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter Twenty-Three - I Constantly Thank God For Esteban

Reagan's POV

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Thank you all SO much for 4,000 reads! It means a lot, and I really hope you're enjoying it!

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Van had just finished explaining to me how I had asked where Gabe was immediately after I'd awoken. I was embarrassed at first, but not completely surprised. That's honestly not the first time I longed to see Gabriel. Almost everyday I'd think about him; him and his beautiful, blue eyes. There was just something about those eyes that just left me wanting more... Like, there was a story behind them that he was just waiting to tell someone. Maybe he just never found someone he could trust, or maybe I'm crazy. Either way, his eyes memorized me.

"I honestly don't remember that," I said, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. Van slid closer to me on the leather couch, putting his arm around my shoulders. "It's alright," he smiled down at me, "As long as you love me, and me only."

I paused, my mouth went dry as I tried to speak, but the words refused to fall off my tongue fluently, "Yes, I only love you." I lied. Okay, it wasn't a complete lie, but I wasn't ready to settle down with him just yet. There was still Gabe that kept inching his way into the picture every time I tried to focus my attraction solely onto Van. It was now clear that I wasn't in love with Van.

"Good," he grinned largely, placing a soft kiss atop my messy bedhead. I had a habit of falling asleep on the plane, and I just knew my hair was messy because of the nap I had taken. "Let's go home."

Home consisted of Van, myself, and his best friend, Luke. Van refused to let me rent my own, empty apartment, so I was basically forced to live with them. His exact words were, "Why bother living somewhere else when there's an extra room at my place?" Who knew that 'extra room' meant his?

I did. Everyone knew.

Although saving those few hundred dollars every month did help with the student fees, I just wasn't ready to make such a commitment with a guy I didn't even see a future with. Well, not until I can fully let go of Gabe, that is. And let me tell you, that will be anything but a walk in the park.

As he slid the key into the doorknob, I waited for the door to open and a smiling Luke to be waiting for us on the other side. Instead, the apartment was dark... Empty. Luke was no where to be seen. As the lights flickered on, Van placed our stuff in the middle of the living room. He went over to the phone to check if their were any messages as I slumped down onto the cool, leather couch.

"You can turn on the TV, if you want," Van insisted, nodding towards the remote on the coffee table. The table was in arms reach, so I went for it. Besides, I hadn't watched anything in what felt like forever. I was too busy spending time with family and receiving visitors left and right.

I turned on the television, only to have the channel on ESPN.

"Apparently, the Colorado Avalanche's captain, Gabriel Landeskog had finally returned to Denver after spending his summer in Sweden," one reported stated, the microphone held lazily at his chest, "He's also been given two days to rest up before joining the team at Training Camp on Wednesday,"

"Back to you, Chris."

My heart lept after hearing this. It was that time of the year again. Hockey season. The one time of the year I get to spend in the same city as Gabe himself. I couldn't contain my excitement. I'm actually returning to work next week, only to have more friendly encounters with Mr. Landeskog. And Matt, of course. My best friend... Matt Duchene, and his soon-to-be wife, Katy.

Life really was good.

My thoughts were interrupted abruptly by my phone vibrating in my back pocket. I flinched, then slipped it out my pocket and checked out the caller ID. Matt.