Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [96]
Chapter Twenty-nine
Tuesday morning, Gabe’s phone buzzed at 5:22, eight minutes before his own phone alarm was supposed to go off. He fumbled for his glasses and then put on the nightstand light and read the text.
Yasmine had written: had terrible insomnia.
He wrote back: what’s wrong?
got my period last night. i feel horrible.
Yasmine wasn’t just making small talk. Though they hadn’t talked about it, they both knew that until her period came, an accident, however remote, was a possibility. Of course, the overwhelming emotion was relief. The surprise was that he also felt a tinge of disappointment.
so sorry. anything I can do 4 u?
no. always this way.
feel better. i love u. dream of me when u go back 2 sleep.
There was a long pause. He thought she signed off. But then his phone vibrated.
gabe, what r we gonna do?
He wrote back: what do u mean?
m obsessed wth u. it’s not normal.
m obsessed with u 2. that’s what happens when ur in luv.
so what r we gonna do?
Gabe wrote: what do u wanna do?
i dunno.
so why do anything?
Another long pause.
She texted back: it’s different now.
Another text from her: u know what i mean.
He understood exactly what she meant. do u regret it?
yes n no.
She sent another text: i don’t want things to be different. i still want u to luv me.
Her words broke his heart. He could feel the tears in her eyes. of course, i luv u, yasmine. i will always luv u. 2 me, nothing’s changed except i luv u even more if that’s even possible.
A long pause. what if i don’t want 2 do it again?
He sighed again. He wanted to do it again. Over the last two days, it was the only thing he thought about. He wanted her physically and totally—inside out and upside down. But he knew that the sex wouldn’t be sustainable. She was way too much a good girl and way too young. He knew he could force the issue, but that wasn’t him.
No matter. He’d take her on any terms she’d give him.
whatever u want, yasmine. do it or not do it, i will luv u always. A pause. Then he texted: i would still die 4 u.
stop saying that. it gives me the creeps.
just proving a point.
i luv u sooooooooooooo much.
He could feel her smile. i luv u so much with even more oooooooooooooooooooooo.
:)
Gabe wrote: feeling better?
a lot!
She sent a follow-up text.
now all i have 2 worry about is my mom finding out.
A third text.
maybe we should skip 2day . . . not b so obvious.
Gabe wrote: now m really depressed!
Then he wrote: cn we make out electronically?
how do we do that?
i dunno. how about ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
lol.
go back 2 sleep, yasmine. feel better. I luv u.
i luv u 2. i will always luv u . . . 4ever n ever.
4ever n ever, Gabe texted back, then shut off his phone.
He turned off the light and lay back in his dark room, staring at nothing. With his glasses on, he could make out shapes and shadows. One part of him was glad to have the extra hour of sleep. The other part missed her terribly. He was thankful that they had done it even if they never did it again. At least he’d have the memory—the ultimate sensation of their bodies melding into one. The image still sent shivers down his spine. Not to mention what it did below the waistline.
The clarity would last for a while, but he knew it would eventually fade, just like his mother’s love. It’s not that his mom didn’t love him; Gabe knew she did. It’s just that without her physical presence and all that went with it, the love was abstract and therefore meaningless to him. It provided no light when he was dark and despondent.
Yasmine was his beacon, but how