Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [144]
She started weeping again, uncontrollable sobs that came from deep in her chest. Gabe pushed his seat all the way back and opened the driver’s door. “C’mere, cuckoo bird.”
Yasmine jumped out of the car, closed the passenger door, ran around to the driver’s side, and fell onto his lap, crying on his bony shoulder. After he closed the driver’s door, Gabe wrapped his arms around her. For the first time in almost a year, he could breathe without psychic and physical pain. “I love you, Yasmine.”
“I love you soooooo much,” she said softly.
He brushed his lips against hers, and she returned his kiss with a big juicy wet one. His reaction was immediate. Hallelujah, he thought to himself. Yes, I’m still alive.
She giggled when she felt him press against her.
He said, “As you can see, nothing has changed.”
Yasmine giggled again. “Congratulations on your great reviews last summer.” Gabe was taken aback. She kissed his cheek and said, “I used to google you in the library.”
“Okay.” He kissed her back. “They weren’t great reviews—”
“The woman in the Oklahoma newspaper called you an exciting, vibrant pianist.”
“That was the exception. One said that I showed a good deal of promise, one said that I was promising, and one said I was adequate. Okay, but not exactly stellar. But it takes time. More important is that you were interested in me. That’s worth more than a thousand great reviews.”
Yasmine said, “I never stopped wishing for you, Gabriel. Never, ever.”
“God, I missed you, too. And I’m so sorry your mom took your watch. Looks like I’ll have to start all over.” He punched the button on the glove compartment and took out a wrapped box. “Happy belated birthday. I sent you a card, but obviously you never got it.”
She looked at him, grinned openly, and then tore open the gift. Inside was a very thin white gold bangle studded with diamonds. She brought it to her heart. “I love it!”
“Do you really?”
“Yes, it’s the most perfect gift in the world. It’s gorgeous!” She laid her head against his chest. “But honestly I’d be just as happy with the box . . . anything from you that I can hold during the night.”
“Okay. So I’ll return the bracelet and you can keep the box,” he teased her.
Yasmine’s cell buzzed. “That’s my carpool—”
“You have a phone?”
“My mother gave me a new one for Chanukah, but she still doesn’t trust me. Every day, she checks my texts and my phone calls. She knows your number, so you can’t call me up.”
“Well, give me your number anyway.” When she gave it to him, he said, “Even if I can’t call you, it’s good to have you on my contact list again.” A sly smile. “You know, I can always change my phone number. I can even do a 310 area code, and we can pretend it’s one of your friends from school.”
She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no. “I better go before they send out the search party.”
“It’s dark outside.”
“Then walk me to the corner,” she told him.
The two of them got out of the car, arms around each other. He said, “You know you didn’t say anything about my spiffy car.”
“Silver gray VW Cabriolet, black leather interior, carbon graphite dash with wire wheels. Very, very nice. I approve completely.”
Gabe smiled. “Nothing escapes you.”
“Just as long as you don’t escape me.” She hugged him fiercely. “And you didn’t say anything about what I got.”
Gabe was perplexed. “What did you get?”
She brought his hand to her chest over her sweatshirt. “I got boobs.”
He laughed so hard, he buckled at his knees. “We’ll have to explore that much further one day.” They walked a block until she was across the street from her school. When the light changed to green, she stood motionless. He kissed her cheek. “Go. I won’t expect to hear from you regularly. But if you can write or text me once in a while, it’ll keep me going for a long time.”
“I promise I will. I love you, Gabriel. You own my heart.”
“I love you, too, Yasmine, forever and always.” He kissed her again. “Go.”
Once inside the crosswalk, she yelled over her shoulder. “Go home and eat a steak!”
When she got to the other side, she waved