“Okay, have her come out now. I’m not leaving until I know you’re with her.” I’ll admit I’m a little apprehensive; Gabrielle doesn’t go out much and I don’t know that I trust Harper not to ditch her if a guy catches her attention. She is seeing someone though, maybe that won’t be an issue. I always worried about Gabrielle when she went out, even before we were in this new relationship. I worried about someone taking advantage of her innocence or her kindness. I worried about her getting separated from her friends and getting home safe on her own. It’s why I always kept my phone near me when I knew she was out. I knew if she was ever in trouble, she’d call me and I never wanted to let her down. I always wanted to be there for her when she needed me, and nothing about that has changed.

A mass of blonde curls bangs on my window breaking me of my thoughts and I see Harper bouncing up and down and waving. “Hey, girl, hey!” She waves as Gabrielle gets out of the car. We’d already kissed goodbye three streets ago, and although I’m tempted to grab her by her neck and kiss her senseless, I settle for a smile and a squeeze of her thigh.

“Call me if you need me,” I tell her as she opens her door.

“Always,” she says before she gets out of the car. I watch as she heads inside with Harper behind her and after no less than a minute my phone beeps with a text message.

Gabrielle: I love you.

I smile at her words and rub my finger over the screen, wishing like hell that she were in front of me.

Me: I love you too. Be safe.

I’m at the bar a few doors down when a figure drops down next to me and slams his hand down on the bar. “Two shots of tequila por favor,” Isaac says as he takes the barstool next to me. “I was not trying to come out tonight; you’re lucky I live down the street.” He runs a hand through his hair and looks up at the television at the football game. “The Giants are losing now? Oh, what the fuck. They were winning when I left my apartment.” He pulls off his coat and sits down next to me. “So, what are you doing here by yourself anyway?”

Isaac is my closest friend in New York so I’m mulling over the idea of telling him what’s going on with Gabrielle. I hold the shot in my hand and down it. “I had to drop Gabrielle off somewhere and just wanted to stop and get a drink before I headed back home. Figured you may be around.”