Thank God for Kelsey; Brian had been right. Ian played that angle now. “I would take her to the altar tomorrow, if she would have me. And you’d better believe I would be there to meet her. She wouldn’t be able to keep me away.”
Both of her parents smiled at that. Evan took his son from his wife’s arms, not looking entirely convinced but not seeming as hostile as a moment ago.
“Come on, guys,” Brian said, unable to hold his tongue any longer, apparently. “I got Candace pregnant, and not one of you really gave a crap. You’re all freaking out and trying to run Gabby’s life because she’s a girl, the freaking princess. Get over it. It really should be up to her, not you.”
Ian wanted to cringe at his input, correct though it might be, but he was afraid to move or breathe or do much of anything else.
“Well,” Mr. Ross began, looking down at his wife, “I suppose it comes down to that, doesn’t it?” She sighed and nodded, and his gaze flickered up to Ian’s, narrowing slightly. “It’s up to Gabby, then. Whatever she decides is what we’ll support.”
“Oh, man.” Brian laughed. “Now you really have your work cut out for you, dude.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Now you really have your work cut out for you.”
Wasn’t it the damn truth.
He’d tried to call her. No luck. She was out with her doctor. Ian could imagine her looking at her phone, thinking, Fuck him, and silencing it. Or maybe she was too occupied to check it in the first place.
It was thoughts like that one that had him on the road to Dallas as the sun fell below the horizon. He didn’t know what he was going to find when he got there, but whatever it was, it would be his fault.
For that reason, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry at her. The idea scarcely registered. She was there and she was lonely. Even if the only thing the doctor represented was a night away from her apartment, he couldn’t blame her for taking it. Hell, even if she had fallen into his arms at first sight, could he really blame her then either? Evan had been right.
Despite all these frenzied thoughts, somehow Ian knew she wouldn’t do anything rash. This Mark guy had most likely come to his senses in her absence, and he’d be a damn fool not to desperately try to get a woman like her back, but Ian could imagine her playing it cool and thinking long and hard about any major decisions. He also couldn’t imagine her not talking to him about it, whichever way it went. Giving him a chance to make things right before she made a choice.
But again, he didn’t know. Uncertainty stretched before him as long and dark as the interstate beneath the wheels of his Harley.
“No dessert?” Mark asked as the waiter came around again.
“No, thanks.” Gabby laid her napkin on the table top, well and truly stuffed for probably the first time since moving back. She was terrible about not eating when she was stressed—and while nothing had really changed about the latter, her appetite had roared to life the moment they strolled into her favorite restaurant.
Almost as if nothing had changed. Mark had seen one of his colleagues upon entering, who’d remarked how wonderful it was to see the two of them back together. She’d held her tongue, and Mark certainly hadn’t raced to correct the man. Gabby had spent the next few minutes wondering if it was true.
Was it wonderful to be back here with him? It felt normal, but that made sense. Only a few months ago, it had been her reality. She’d caught sight of their reflection in the huge wall of windows adjacent to the table as they’d stood speaking to the man and his wife, and they’d fit. She nestled perfectly next to his tall build; she contrasted nicely with his blond good looks.
He obviously loved her, if he was truly willing to take her back now. Not many men would make an offer like that, she suspected. Maybe she really belonged here.
They’d made idle chat during dinner, avoiding anything too deep, and for that she was glad. But his gaze had remained steady and speculative on her for most of the night, and she feared some uncomfortable topics might be broached before the date was over.
“I don’t want to take you home yet,” he said as the waiter dropped off the check.
She’d been afraid of that. “Where do you want to go?”
“Home.”
He hadn’t said my place. But home, as if it were still hers too.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mark.”
He smiled. “You didn’t think tonight was a good idea, but you’ve had fun, haven’t you?”
She had. Of course, Ian had intruded on her thoughts and she’d felt near tears a couple of times, but other than that, sure, she’d had fun. Better than moping at home at least. “Sure.”
“I only want to talk, Gabby.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready to talk yet. You saw me earlier today. I’m…not in a good place right now.”
“Well, you know I want to fix that.”
She repressed a scoff. “You can’t fix it.”
“Can’t I?”
“No. This is something I have to deal with and figure out on my own.”
“Sweetheart.” Her hand rested on the table; he placed his bigger one on top and gave it a squeeze. “Tell me what you’re thinking. What’s the problem you have to figure out?”
She looked at him incredulously. “How I’m going to make it through school and take care of a baby on my own.”
“I just gave you a solution for that. Come back to me. I’ll be there for you. You don’t have to go through this alone.”
“Mark, you make it sound so easy.”
“It’s not?”
“No. Jesus, you…” Biting down on her frustration, Gabby took a long exhale through her nose to keep from raising her voice. “You humiliated me. It’s kind of a big deal to leave me like you did, you know? You broke my trust. It’s not something I’m going to get over because you ask me to. I’m not… I’m not desperate.”
She forced the word out. Not two hours ago, she’d been feeling very desperate. Not for Mark. For Ian. Who wouldn’t even answer her calls.
Could Mark not understand? Maybe he was as cold and unfeeling as she’d convinced herself he was, because he didn’t seem to get it. Oh, I’ll swoop in and rescue her like a knight on a steed, and she’ll be okay even though I ripped her life apart six months ago. Piece of cake.
“If you want to rebuild this thing,” she said, forcing her voice to remain even, “then we have to start small. Dinner was good. Let’s leave it at that for now. Please. There’s much more to work out than we can fix in a single night.”
“Is there a chance?” he asked softly.
She gazed at his handsome face, almost wishing that they were in some alternate universe where the wedding had happened, six months had passed, and they were excitedly expecting their first child. She hadn’t gone home for the summer; she’d never laid eyes on Ian Rhodes.
Kind of like the fantasy she and Ian had shared the night they went to the lake. She’d been happy with that one.
But that wasn’t their world, was it? And, despite everything, she wouldn’t change the way things had happened. She wouldn’t. Because she would have missed out on some beautiful moments.
“Maybe,” she told him. “That’s all I can give you right now. I don’t want to get your hopes up, honestly, but I’m not closing the door on the idea either. Okay?”