Once Upon a Friendship

“Liam?” Her hands dropped back to her lap as she turned her head just enough to see him.

“It’s okay, Gabi. I’m prepared. Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.” He hadn’t told her about his idea for the article yet, about his editor’s positive response. First, because, though he’d called, he hadn’t been able to reach June to make certain the offer still stood in light of the day’s events.

And secondly, because they had to figure out the day’s repercussions before he socked her with another issue. Gabi was best at one thing at a time. Always had been. She’d studied for one final at a time. Ate food off her plate one item at a time. Paid her bills one at a time on the day each was due.

“No...there’s something else...”

His stomach lurched. Had she noticed the way he’d first looked at her when she’d walked toward him at the police station? Did she know that he was developing extremely uncomfortable feelings where she was concerned? He was pretty sure he’d kept them to himself. But...

She hadn’t worn her sweats, as if she was trying to keep distance between them. Or wasn’t comfortable around him anymore.

She wasn’t saying anything. The pained expression on her face was enough to keep him rattled.

He could bring up what was happening. Talk about finding her irresistible all of a sudden. But what good would it do? They both knew what they’d be risking by starting anything between them. Assuming she even had an interest in trying to date him. Marie would be hurt, left out. A third-wheel situation didn’t usually work well for long. Plus, he was rich. Gabrielle had never hidden the fact that she wasn’t comfortable around so much wealth.

But, most importantly, if his interest moved on—and though he couldn’t imagine it at the moment, the reality was, based on his history, that it probably would—there’d be no way to go back to the “them” they’d been. He’d have lost his family.

So maybe if they talked about it—agreed that neither of them wanted to pursue anything—the allure would die a natural death.

It was possible.

The elephant in the room and all that.

“Look,” he started, having no idea what was going to follow, knowing only that he had to take accountability and somehow make this right before it was too late.

“No... I... There’s...”

“Gabi, it’ll all be fine—”

“I screwed up.” She blurted right over him, as though the falsity of his assurances was so strong it had blown her reticence right out the door.

Liam stepped back. Away from the emotion that flooded him as he looked into those pain-moistened eyes.

Wait. What was she talking about? He was the one who’d gotten himself arrested.

He was the one who’d somehow fallen for his attorney.

Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry. I wanted so badly to help you, and instead I’ve made everything worse. At a time I didn’t think it could get any worse.”

His system stopped for a moment. Total shutdown.

Gabi was crying? For him?

Marie was the emotional one. Not Gabrielle...

The agony in her gaze hit him anew. Whatever she’d done...it must be bad.

“What did you do?” he asked, the question infused with dread. Had she agreed to move away? Taken a job somewhere? Was she leaving him?

“This morning. Out front. I was going to make that ‘no comment’ statement to reporters, if there were any out there. Like we talked about on the way home last night.”

In the cacophony of his day, he’d completely forgotten that little detail.

“So what happened?” He was trying to look stern but wanted to smile. Gabi wasn’t used to his life, to having reporters at charity functions or having her picture in the society pages now and then. She’d probably chickened out, gone out the back way. She was, after all, the reserved one of the bunch. Unless she was in court.

“This jerk...” She glanced away then, as her voice, full of anger and disgust and he couldn’t tell what else, continued on. “He was out to nail you to a cross. He’d already made up his mind about you—certain that you’re in as thick as your father is. He was just looking to get me to sa

y something that he could twist to fit the spin he’d already put on his story.”