Page 253 of Gabriel
“Hey!” I admonish.
“The guys obviously excluded.”
“That’s better,” I tell her.
And if he’s not,” she shrugs, “one date won’t kill me.”
“Way to be positive.”
Adriana grins, nudging my foot under the table. “Yup. I’m just a regular old ball of sunshine.”
CHAPTER 84
GABRIEL
I’m stretched out on the couch, my phone in one hand, half-listening to Julio and Deacon argue about some soccer game they’re rewatching. The faint hum of the TV mixes with their voices, a background noise I’ve gotten too used to. Felix is at his parents’ visiting his sister. Atticus had some study group thing, so it’s just the three of us.
Should be a pretty chill night. But I’m restless.
Scratch that—I’m agitated.
I haven’t had a minute alone with Cecilia all week, and it’s driving me out of my damn mind. Every time we get together, we’ve got an audience. My roommates are home, or it’s her parents, hovering like she’s going to break at any second.
I need to figure out a way to maneuver some alone time with my girl.
My phone buzzes, yanking me out of my thoughts.
Cecilia: Hey, Adriana and I were thinking of doing a double date Tuesday night. Is that okay?
A double date? I swipe my thumb over the screen, reading the message twice. I was hoping for some one-on-one time. Just us. Instead, I get to share her. Again. This time with Adriana and whoever’s dumb enough to think he can keep up with her.
I drag a hand over my face, the slightest chuckle slipping out before I can stop it.
“What’s up?” Julio asks, his voice cutting through Deacon’s ongoing commentary on the screen. He’s leaning back, arms crossed, the black ink of the rosary on his right hand standing out against his tan skin. I’ve always found it ironic—he’s got that cross and beads tattooed, but I’ve never seen him step foot inside a church.
“Just got a text from Cecilia,” I mutter, tossing my phone onto the coffee table.It clatters against the wood, and the sound pulls Julio’s eyes away from the screen for the first time since they put the game on. “She’s setting up a double date with Adriana and some guy.”
Julio’s posture shifts, subtle but telling. His shoulders stiffen, his jaw ticking like he’s just bit into something sour.
“Adriana’s going on a date?”
I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah. Tuesday.”
“Who’s it with?” he asks, trying for casual, but his tone? It’s anything but. The edge in his voice is sharp, and the way he grips the couch cushion has me intrigued.
“I don’t know.” I sit up a little straighter, smirking. “You jealous or something?”
Julio shrugs, but his eyes flick toward my phone like he’s thinking about snatching it from the table. “No. Just ... curious.”
Curious, my ass.
I lean forward, elbows resting on my knees, my grin spreading. “Uh-huh. Sure. You’ve got no reason to be wound up, right? You and Adriana never dated or anything.” I pause for effect. “It’s not like there’s any unresolved feelings there.”
“Drop it, Gabe.”
“Nah, I think I’m onto something.” I can’t resist poking the bear. “You and Adriana? You’ve always had that weird vibe going on. It’s been years, but some things never change.”
Julio glares, jaw tight, the muscles there working overtime. He moves to stand, but his knee knocks into the coffee table, and the sound echoes louder than I expected.
