It became her new routine. Breakfast in the morning, Gabriel lurked around the area, pretending he was supervising his staff or having a breakfast meeting at the restaurant, sometimes he just pretended to have breakfast at the same time she was there. She would raise her cup of coffee from afar and not ask him to join her, she didn’t like the way he was spying on her. He would leave the room to work, and Melvin would come in. Melvin was a gem, she actually loved having him around. He dressed in a beach shirt and short pants now that he got permission from Gabriel. She made flower crowns from him, and flower necklaces. Even with a killer expression, she thought he looked like a big teddy bear. He always laughed at her jokes, was very helpful with heavy lifting, and she knew more about Melvin in one week than she ever did with Gabriel in two months. They would have lunch together at the local food stands, completely against Gabriel’s instructions. He wanted her to eat at The Peninsul

Gabriel was nowhere in sight, like so many times before, he just disappeared. No one knew where he went. When he says, “I’ll take care of it,” he usually does, maybe that’s where he was off to. She knew better not to look for him and focus her energy on her project instead. There were no notes in her meals, she kind of missed them. No one lurked around the restaurant to spy on her. No one dismissed Melvin every sunset. He didn’t even text her or annoy her with his nosy questions about whether she was taking care of herself or not. Most of all, she missed the bottled-up intensity between them, not knowing if he was going to be super sweet or super irritating, or both. He was gone for two weeks, and still, no one heard anything from him. She was starting to worry. She wanted to call him but she didn’t know where his mind was since he saw that video of her and Eddie. She didn’t know how long he watched it, which part of it and she can only imagine how he must’ve felt about her after th

She went to the appointment with Perry anyway. Gabriel was big enough to let go of the misunderstanding without putting Perry on the spot. She held Perry’s hand in the waiting room, she had made the right decision. She wouldn’t have felt the comfort she needed if she had gone with Gabriel that day. Perry couldn’t stop his feet from shaking, it shook the bench they were sitting on. He jolted up when the nurse called out Jamie’s name. They went into the doctor’s examination room like little children who were about to get vaccine shots. It got even more awkward when they had to explain the nature of their relationship. “Oh … he’s not the father, I mean, he is … we’ll be raising the baby together but he’s not the … biological father … we’re friends … best friends.” The doctor had a meaningful smile when she looked at Perry, she was touched by their friendship. “I’m gay,” Perry blurted out as if to clarify they were platonic. The doctor raised her eyebrows, Perry didn’t have to explai

When she opened the door, they held their breaths. They relish how stunning they both looked.Gabriel stepped inside, “You look radiant.” There was a twinkle in his eyes, they saw only her.She smiled shyly, “Thank you … so do you … happy birthday by the way.”She kissed him on the cheek but he turned and captured her lips. She shied away from his gaze. He smelled like something from a designer’s perfume refinery, his beard was trimmed, his hair slicked back, and his suits … he couldn’t look more handsome in another suit.“Have the guests arrived? Shall we go downstairs?” she asked. She was nervous being alone in that room with him. She was feeling things she wasn’t supposed to.He took a box from his pocket, “Yes … just one more thing.” He opened the box and there was a diamond necklace and bracelet inside. He put it on her as she studied the glittery stones. “I thought this would go with your outfit.”“Thank you … I love the dress, it fits perfectly … Are these diamonds?” she touc

She woke up in his bed, stark naked and pregnant. She pulled up the blanket. He was awoken by the movement. He helped her pull up the blanket, and wrapped his arm around her from the back. “Can we stay in today?” he asked, his eyes still closed. “I want to stay in and be with you today.” She smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. “Okay.” They fell back asleep. The next thing she knew, the sunlight had lit up the whole room. His scruffy beard grazed upon her arm, and his warm lips touched her skin. “Good morning,” she said. He bit his lower lip with a smile. “You’re smiling,” she touched his face. He rarely smiled, but he was smiling at her and his eyes were bright against the sunlight. “I’m happy,” he said. It swelled her heart. “I think it’s time we start doing this, don’t you think?” “Do what?” she asked. “Be together … we’re going to have a child soon.” She smiled, “Maybe we can try.” Their eyes locked. “I’ll make you fall in love with me,” he said. “What makes yo