Unexpected

Chapter 8

GABRIEL

"Oh!" I gasp, my eyes widening as I struggle to swallow. I'm sure I didn't hear her right.

"I mean." She shrugs, focusing on the sea as she takes a long sip of her wine. "That's clearly what you've been doing your whole life, so I guess it's obviously working."

My eyes are having a really hard time leaving her face. "I'm not-"

"It just crossed my mind as we were leaving Ed's place, you know." She cuts me off, taking another sip of her wine. "It's clear men nowadays are just looking for a good time. So, maybe that's the route I should take too, you know?"

Taking a deep breath, I wonder how the fuck I'm going to navigate this conversation. Imagining Jo with another guy has never been a pleasant thought. "I'm sure there are some men out there who are looking for a serious relationship," I say, even though the words taste bitter in my mouth.

"Do you know someone you can introduce me to?" she says, and the little smirk on her lips makes me scoff.

"I'm just saying it's okay to wait for the right guy..." I gulp my wine before refilling our glasses.

She rolls her eyes. "I'm not a virgin, Gabe."

Jesus Christ!

"But you do value your body enough not to be sleeping around, remember?" I give her a pointed look, reminding her of the conversation we had yesterday.

"Maybe it's a social thing, you know?" She looks back at the sea. "Boys are raised to conquer the world and have as many girls as possible. While girls are raised to wait for a prince charming."

"Maybe. But..."

"But?"

"You deserve someone who respects you enough to treat you like a queen," I say, my heart suddenly pounding in my chest at the thought of her finding someone. What in the world is wrong with me?

"I think I should join a dating app."

"And I think you're not listening to me." I let out a long breath, trying to keep my frustration in check. I'm not the guy to give her the world. But I am the asshole who thinks no one deserves her either.

"Come on, Gabe." She gets her phone from a pocket in her dress, and I realize her words are a bit slurred. "Don't be a party pooper."

"How about we call it a night and think about it tomorrow, huh?" I ask. We both had a little too much wine at Ed's, so I'm sure she'll feel different about joining a dating app in the morning.

"Those app algorithms are racist as fuck, so you're probably right..." She sighs, her eyes sad as she takes another sip of her wine.

Damn it, if it doesn't break my heart to see how hopeless she feels. I want to say something. Lift her mood. Coming from mixed raced parents, she's dealt with her fair share of bullshit over the years. Now, learning that this shit is also one of them makes me want to punch something.

I've known this woman my whole life, but since she crashed here yesterday, something weird is happening to me. I've always found her attractive, but being around her alone is bringing me new layers of feelings.

"I should go to bed." She makes a move to stand up, but I hold her hand to stop her.

"Wait." I blurt and she looks at me curiously. "My turn to ask you a question."

"All right..." she says, her head tilting to the side as she sits back.

"So, there's a saying in music that all great love songs come from a person with a broken heart," I say, smiling at how cute her confused expression is. "How about you use all that energy to help me write a couple of songs?"