Chapter 7

Nothing has changed

Gabi flops onto the couch with a sigh, wearing the biggest smile I've ever seen. "Those were, without a doubt, the best pancakes you've ever made." Her smile is even brighter than when I surprised her yesterday.

Seeing her smile has always been my favorite sight in the world, and that hasn't changed. I've witnessed so many versions of her. Laughing, crying, bawling in my arms with blood trickling down her. Every time she smiles, my heart blips a little at seeing her happiness. But then again, it might just be her that has this effect on me. Even a half-second glance from her can make my heart flip over in my chest.

"You've said that every single time I made pancakes," I chuckle, joining her on the couch.

She looks up at me with the prettiest smile I've ever seen. "Because they're always the best."

My cheeks heat up, loving that she likes something I made for her. "You know…" I glance over at her, struck by her beauty. Her dark, straight hair spills over her shoulders, her face free of makeup, and those intoxicating blue eyes stare up at me. I swallow, clear my throat, and blink, trying to get back on track. "I actually haven't made them in a while," I admit.

"What?" she asks, her eyes widening, making the blue stand out even more. "Chris, that's a criminal offense. Why not?"

My head tips back, a laugh bubbling out of me. I love how dramatic she is. I don't think I've ever met anyone like Gabi, and I don't think I ever will.

"Because I only like making them for you," I tell her, flashing a smile.

I love doing anything for her. The only reason I ever got into baking was to satisfy her munchies when we'd get high. She used to devour anything she found in the house. One day, I made her some crappy boxed brownies, and she ate them like they were gold. I remember how my stomach flipped every time she let out a little moan or told me how good they were. Making her happy became my favorite thing, so I learned how to make decent, homemade ones, and it kind of stuck.

Anything I ever did was for her.

Gabi pushes at my shoulder. "Chris, you big softie."

I fake wince, laughing at how she's so right. She can't even fathom the lengths I'd go for her.

I blow out a breath as Gabi lays her chest on me, her touch overwhelming me to the point where I can't even breathe properly. "I'm so stuffed," I say, adjusting my position so she can lay her head on my chest. "There's no way I can sleep now."

"Really?" Gabi mumbles against my chest. "I feel like I could pass out."

I chuckle, gently moving her chocolate brown hair out of the way so I can see her beautiful face. "I know you could." She always had a talent for falling asleep within minutes. "Do you want to go to bed?" I ask, trailing the tips of my fingers across the skin of her back. Memories of us from five, six, seven years ago come flooding back to me. Her head on my chest, my hands rubbing up and down her back until she fell asleep in my arms.

It's been so long that I was scared things would be different between us. But they're not. She's still my best friend, we're still comfortable with each other, and I'm still in love with her.

Nothing has changed.

I feel her head move against me as she shakes her head. "Hell no. I'm not ruining our first sleepover together because of sleep ."

Her words, slightly slurred from tiredness, make me chuckle. "I'm staying for a while, Gabi," I assure her, slowly stroking her back. "We'll have plenty of other nights."

She shakes her head again. "It's not enough," she mumbles, making me freeze. She's right. It's not enough. Two months isn't nearly enough after spending four years away from her. But it has to be enough. Because when summer is over, I have to go back. "Stop trying to get rid of me," she says, twisting out of my hold so she can sit upright. "Here. Grab the controller. Let's play a game. That'll keep me awake."

I smile. We haven't played together in a while, at least not in person. "I can't wait to kick your ass," I joke, grabbing the remote from her hand.

"Pfttt." Gabi shoots me a playful glare. "I've gotten better than you remember."

I arch an eyebrow. "Really? Did you forget I practically do this for a living?"

She waves me off, rolling those gorgeous eyes of hers that I love so much. "Sure, but there's this guy who plays like a pro. We've played together a few times, and I might have picked up some new tricks."

The end of her sentence drowns out as my heart bangs against my chest. "Guy?"

"Yeah." Gabi shrugs, starting up a game. "He's great. Dude's an amazing basketball player, too. He's huge. Like so tall it hurts my neck to look at him."

I can hardly hear her over the pounding of my heart, shaking my head slightly as I blink at the side of her face. "Oh, I… I thought you said you weren't dating anyone?"

I doubt she'd hang out and play video games with just any random guy she hooked up with, right?

"What?" Gabi's head snaps to the right, facing me with a twisted expression. "Ew. Gross. No. He's dating Leila."

"Leila?"

"Yeah. One of my best friends. I think I've mentioned him before. Aiden Pierce. Captain of the basketball team?"

The name rings a bell, and I nod, feeling heat creeping up my face. "Right. Yeah. Sorry."

Gabi shivers, her face twisting. "I can't believe you thought I was dating him. He's kind of like the brother I never had," she explains. "And Grayson is like the brother I didn't want."

I let out a laugh, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. She didn't refer to me as a brother, and I hope to God she never does.

"He uh…" She smiles a little. "He actually wants to meet you."

"He knows about me?" Honestly, I don't even remember the guy. Every time Gabi calls me, I get a little distracted by the sound of her voice, and by the fact I'm talking to my best friend.

"Yeah. I talk about you a lot." I like that. Fuck, I really like that. My friends are sick and tired of hearing me talk about Gabi, so I'm really fucking happy that she talks about me too. "Last year, Madi was busy with her career and everything going on with Lucas. I didn't want to bother her with my stupid problems, so I guess Aiden and I kind of got close."

I blink, my brows dipping. "Bother her with what?" I ask.

She shrugs, not meeting my gaze. "Just things."

The worst possible scenarios flood my mind, and I drop the controller, sucking in a breath. "Gabi—"

She lowers her controller, and meets my gaze. Swallowing hard, she shakes her head. "I didn't, okay? It wasn't that . I just needed to talk."

My heart breaks a little. "And you couldn't do that with me?" I was the one person she would always tell everything to, and the fact that she didn't, feels like a punch to my gut. Actually, it feels like a knife digging inside my skin.

"I tell you everything, Chris," Gabi says, with a sigh.

I feel a lump form in my throat, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. There's something she isn't telling me. Something she went to some other guy for.

"But?" I coax, afraid of what her answer might be.

My eyes drift to her slender neck, noticing the subtle movement as she swallows. "It was just a small issue. Not important at all."

Not important my fucking ass. It's obviously important if she felt like she couldn't come to me. I drop my eyes, trying to see if I can see any—

"Stop that!" Gabi's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I lift my gaze until our eyes meet. I see the tears welling up, her eyes turning glassy.

Fuck. My heart pounds against my chest as I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. "If you didn't tell me—"

"It's not that," she repeats, shaking her head. "I promise."

I promise . Her promise settles the turmoil in my stomach, and I blow out a breath, not wasting another second before I pull her into me. She's never lied to me. And she's never broken a promise. Her shaky breath makes me close my eyes as I clutch onto her tightly.

"I just… I felt alone, Chris," she mumbles. I snap my eyes open, guilt churning inside of me. "You were in London, and I needed to talk to someone."

I pull back, clutching her face in my hands, staring into her glassy eyes. "You can talk to me, Gabi. Doesn't matter where I am. If you need me, then you call me, text me, hell, just send me a plane emoji and I'll get on the next flight and be there for you," I tell her, my heart pounding in my chest as I hold my whole world in my hands. "No matter what."

She shakes her head. "I can't disrupt your life like that, Chris."

I want to shake her, to tell her that she couldn't disrupt my life if she tried. I pull her into me again, pressing my lips on the top of her head. "There's no life if you're not in it, Gabi," I mumble against her. "You are my life." She lets out another shaky breath as she wraps her arms around me. "I'm here now, Gabi. You're not alone. You have me."

"For two months," she mumbles, tightening her hold on me.

I close my eyes, the weight of her words sinking in. "Always," I correct. She's always had me, more than she realizes. Pressing another kiss to her head, I pull back and hand her the controller. "Come on. Let's play a game so you can get some sleep."

Gabi wipes her eyes and shoots me a glare that looks adorable as hell. "Three games."

Her eyes are heavy with exhaustion, and I doubt we'll get through three games, but I nod as I grab my controller. "Fine."

She smiles and lays her head on my chest, turning on her side to face the TV as I press play. "There's a party on Friday," she says, her gaze fixed on the screen. "I could introduce you to my friends." Her head lifts, and her eyes meet mine. "Maybe you could come?" The way she asks, unsure and a little nervous makes me smile.

The idea of going to a party doesn't really excite me, but doesn't she know by now that I'd do anything she wanted? If Gabi wants me there, and wants me to meet her friends, there's no way in hell I'm saying no to that.

"I'd love to," I assure her.

"Yeah?" she asks, her eyes lighting up.

I chuckle, nodding, and her smile widens before she turns her attention back to the TV as we play a game. She doesn't even make it through one game before I hear her soft snores, the controller slipping from her hand and rolling to the floor.

I press my lips together in amusement as I lean down to press a kiss to her forehead, closing my eyes as we both drift off to sleep.