watching me like a hawk.
His jaw tightens and his eyes narrow. “What are those, Antonia? You should have told us if you’re ill.”
“Shut up, Finlay,” Gaby yells.
“I’m taking off if everything is okay here,” Mike mumbles.
“Fuck you, Mike. This isn’t over,” Finlay warns him, the tension building.
“Fin, back off right now you can’t control who I date!” Gaby spits,
“I wouldn’t call what I walked in on dating Gaby.” He spits back and she makes a weird noise in her throat akin to a growl before walking Mike out.
Finlay is still glaring at me. He snatches the pill bottle from my hand and reads the label. “You scared the hell out of me, Antonia! What was that? Why do you take these?”
“That’s my business.” I grab the bottle from him and shove it back into my bag.
“Not when you’re staying here and passing out on my floor.”
I glare at him, anger flaring up inside me and whipping out with the lash of my tongue.
“Well, I’m sorry to be an inconvenience to you and your floor. I’ll try and keep my attacks in check until I move out, which will be soon, very soon. Until then, you can go to hell.”
I drag myself to my feet and march into Gaby’s room with more gusto then I feel, my body working on livid energy. I want to throw all my clothes into a bag and hit the nearest hotel but as I slam Gaby’s door closed I find her sitting on her bed, sobbing. My legs carry me over to her and I collapse next to her, pulling her into my side and letting her cry.
“Mike said it’s over. He won’t fall out with Fin over me. That’s what he actually said, the jackass. So much for falling for me, huh?”
“I’m sorry, Gabs.” I tug her tighter into me and stroke down her arm. She looks up at me like a lost puppy, tugging at my heartstrings. Tears streak her face .
“How are you? What happened out there?” she asks between sniffles. I let my tears fall.
Move and I’ll fucking kill you!
“It was the words. The words were exactly the same words he used when . . .” I paused. “I just froze. I can’t control the triggers. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you say that. You don’t ever have to be sorry.”
Taking my hand in hers she shifts the focus back to her and I’m grateful.
“Fin walked in on me and Mike making out. They argued a little then he pushed Mike hard against the wall. I thought he was going to hit him when Mike tried to get clear and that’s when you came out.” More tears drip down her cheeks. My tears mirror hers and we both cry, cuddled together on her bed for what feels like hours.
Once our tears subside we decide to get out the house to put some space between Finlay and Gaby . . . and me
We decide on going to catch a movie but we both end up staring at the screen but not watching anything that’s happening.
We fail at conversation on the way home, us both still lost in thought. When we enter the apartment Finlay’s in the kitchen, cooking.
Steam pours from a pot on the stove and he’s stirring whatever’s inside.
“I made tacos.”
Looking at us, his expression is unreadable but the amount of food he’s made tells me he expects us both to stay around. He pours the contents from the pan into a serving dish and brings it over to the table, then sits down and says, “Sit.”
I want to punch him in the nose but my stomach growls so I slowly lower myself into a chair and let Gaby go at him while I eagerly await the taco feast .
“I’m sick of this, Finlay!” Gaby shouts. “You’re not my dad! Stop being an over protective ass! I like Mike and he likes me, so get over it.”
Finlay’s jaw tightens and the dark green in his eyes darkens when he’s riled up. He stands, resting both hands on the table and leaning slightly forward in her direction.
“No, I’m not Dad, but we’re all we’ve got now, Gaby. I’ll always look out for you, so quit fucking my friends like some cheap whore.”
A gasp escapes my lips.
“Fuck you!” Gaby