Gabriel decided to go back to the living room, thinking Sydney had gone to his room just to find her asleep on the couch.
He ran a hand through his hair and yawned before switching off the television then bent to wake her up but stopped midway.
His hand that hung in the air moved to push a strand of hair off her face.
He stared at her dreamily and said affectionately, ” You deserve all the good things Sydney. Even if your husband couldn’t give them to you, I will. I promise.”
” I’ll try to be a better person. The past wouldn’t repeat itself, especially not with you.”
His eyes trailed down her closed eyes to her pinkish luscious lips. God knows how much he’d wanted to feel those lips on his.
You could, you don’t have to ask. You never have to ask for what you desire. A wicked voice in his head edged him.
His fist clenched. No, not with her. Never with her. He fought back.
He picked her up in his arms and took her to his room then placed her on the bed. She moved and turned, making the hem of her skirt rise to her thigh.
Gabriel pulled the hem down and covered her with a duvet. When he was done putting on the duvet, his phone rang.
He frowned as he answered the call.
” When would you give up Gabriel?”
” Get to the point, I don’t know what you are talking about,” Gabriel said to his father.
Alfred sighed. ” She’s in your home now, isn’t she? Sydney Reed, the woman that just divorced her husband and lost her mother.”
Alfred had people watching Gabriel’s every move in case he’d try to do anything stupid.
” Yes, father, she needed a place to stay.”
” And how am I sure you have nothing to do with what’s going on with her?” Alfred’s voice turned warningly. ” Gabriel, if you try anything stupid again I’m afraid I’ll have to send you to an asylum.”
Gabriel’s voice became desperate. ” I’m not mad, Father, and I had nothing to do with what happened to her. ”
” You are not mad but you’ll be if you don’t get your head treated. Stay away from Sydney Reed, Gabriel, she’d been through a lot. If she finds out who you are and what you’ve done-”
Gabriel cut him off, shaking with anxiety. ” I’ll tell her when I’m ready. I made some mistakes in the past, but Father, trust me, I’ll never hurt her. Please, I’ll control myself, I can’t lose her. ”
Alfred went quiet for a few seconds. ” I’m only saying this because I care about you. I know things have been hard for you ever since your mother died, but control Gabriel control.”
Gabriel looked at Sydney. What choice does he have?
” I will try. Meanwhile, how have you been? It’s been a while.”
Gabriel and Alfred talked for a while till Alfred hung up. Gabriel kissed Sydney on the cheek before exiting the room to nearly receive a heart attack when he saw Ethan.
Gabriel’s heart raced. He hoped Ethan didn’t hear his conversation with Alfred.
He cleared his throat and said, ” Why are you up by this time?”
Ethan stared at him unreadably. ” I couldn’t sleep, my Daddy’s not with me.”
Gabriel noticed what Ethan was trying to do. He played along, ” Do you want to go back to your Daddy?”
Ethan ignored his question and asked, ” Why did you kiss my mummy?”
Gabriel had a lot of answers to that question but he didn’t want to make Ethan see more red than he was already seeing.
” It’s just a kiss on the cheek.” Gabriel shrugged and sighed. ” I know you are afraid I’d harm your mommy but I promise, I will never.”
Ethan backed away defiantly. ” That’s what my Daddy said till her broke her heart to pieces.”
Gabriel’s eyes softened. ” I’m not like your Daddy.”
Ethan’s eyes were moist as he accused, ” But you are a male. All men are bad.”
” You are masculine too; it doesn’t make you bad, Ethan.”
” I’m a bad kid, people say I am. It’s because I’m a male, I wish I wasn’t male. They all are bad people and you are one of them.”
Gabriel watched Ethan as he went to the room and slammed the door shut.
What would have put such a perspective in his head? Gabriel could see Ethan wasn’t just a protective son but an emotionally wounded child. He didn’t want Ethan to turn into a wayward child because of his wounded heart.
Gabriel made it his priority to wipe off that mentality from Ethan’s head no matter how stubborn Ethan would be.
_________________
Gabriel had been of much help to Sydney so she decided to make him breakfast before he returned from dropping off her kids at school.
She smiled weakly imagining how excited Emily would be on Gabriel’s bike.
Sydney put the roasted beef sandwich in an aluminum paper and made some coffee. When she was done and Gabriel still hadn’t returned, she took a long bath.
When she returned to the kitchen, Gabriel was standing by the island looking at the food with glowing eyes.
She spoke making him turn, ” This is my way of saying thank you.”
His eyes scanned her wet hair and he almost found himself blushing.
” I think I should help you more often.” He said.
They sat by the small dining table and ate.
Sydney mumbled with food in her mouth, ” You must have had back pain after carrying me to my room last night.”
” I was wondering why my back ached, you weigh a lot.” Gabriel teased making her smile.
” You always know the right words to say.”
” Not exactly. I just know what people expect me to say, and I alter it. ”
Sydney shook her head and said, ” You must have studied psychology in college. You are better off a psychologist.”
Gabriel smirked, ” I’m better off as many things.”
Sydney couldn’t deny it but she wanted to pull his legs. ” Many things like what? Is it a Tennis player because I don’t know what you are talking about.”
” Then don’t ask me to play the violin or say you want to listen to my dulcet tones.”
Sydney blushed. ” Big deal, I know of many people who can play a violin and sing.”
” And can fly a plane, ride a bike, and make a broken woman smile?”
Sydney blushed harder. ” You are too boastful. ”
” I rarely show or tell anyone about my accomplishments except those that are dear to me. ” He said earnestly, his eyes digging into hers.
He got up and quickly changed the topic. ” I’ll wash up quickly and take you to the mall.”
Sydney stared at him and nodded absentmindedly then watched as he walked away.
Her throat felt hot, so she quickly drank a glass of water, trying to place what he’d said as something not out of a friendly manner.