Page 234 of Gabriel
“Sorry, not you,” Felix says quickly. “The guys are being stupid.”
Oh. “Okay, so—yeah, I’m at the corner of Priest and Boone. Is that far from you?”
The line goes quiet for a moment, and then I hear him curse under his breath, followed by a rushed conversation with someone else in the background. My stomach twists. Why does it feel like there’s something more going on?
“Felix?” I say, voice wavering.
“We’re on our way,” he responds, his tone suddenly sharp. “Don’t hang up, though. Okay?”
I frown, staring down the empty street. “Yeah. Okay.” I shift on my feet, glancing nervously over my shoulder. I wasn’t planning on wandering off, but the urgency in his voice makes me uneasy.
His words suddenly register. “Wait—what do you mean, ‘we’? Who’s with you?”
There’s another muffled conversation in the background. It’s obvious I’ve interrupted something. Guilt gnaws at me. This was a mistake. He’s busy. I don’t know what I was thinking. “Actually, don’t worry about it,” I say quickly. “I’ll call a ride share. Enjoy your night?—”
“DO NOT HANG UP THE PHONE.”
The command is so sharp, so sudden, that I freeze mid-step. Felix has never spoken to me like that before. His voice is always easygoing, playful. This? This is something else.
“O-okay,” I stammer, unsure what else to say.
He exhales, the sound rough. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. But, Cecilia ... the last few hours have been a shitshow trying to find you.”
My heart skips a beat. “You were looking for me?”
“Yeah.” He hesitates, and I can hear the tension in his voice. “I didn’t want to tell you over the phone, but?—”
I cut him off, already knowing what he’s about to say. “Austin’s out on bail.”
The silence on the other end is heavy for a moment. Then, quietly, “You heard?”
I huff out a bitter laugh, staring up at the sky, the stars blinking coldly above me. “You could say that.”
Felix’s voice is softer when he speaks again. “Are you okay?”
I swallow hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to breathe. “Yeah,” I whisper, my fingers tightening around the phone. “I’m okay.”
“We’re less than ten minutes away. Just keep talking to me, alright? Tell me where you’ve been.”
I hesitate. My conversation with Jaymin feels like something I need to process on my own first, something I’m not ready to share. “It’s ... complicated,” I hedge, my gaze flicking up and down the empty street.
“But you’re safe? You’re not hurt?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.
“I’m not hurt,” I assure him. “Just ... a little shaken up.”
We fall into small talk, the minutes ticking by as I keep my eyes on the dark road. I’m glad Felix made me stay on the phone. Being out here, alone, in the dark, sends a chill creeping up my spine. Every gust of wind, every shadow feels like it’s hiding something. Someone.
A pair of headlights cuts through the night, the beams growing brighter as they approach. My heart picks up, and I squint, trying to make out the car.
“That’s us,” Felix says through the phone. “I see you. We’re pulling up now.”
We both end the call as his car pulls to a stop in front of me. The passenger door flies open before the car even comes to a full stop, and Felix curses as Gabriel barrels out, heading straight for me.
“Cecilia!” Gabriel’s voice is hoarse, desperate. Before I can even process what’s happening, he has me wrapped in his arms, my feet lifting me off the ground like he can’t bear the distance.
His body is warm, solid, and I cling to him without hesitation. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I squeeze him tight. His breathing is ragged as he buries his face in my neck, and I feel the soft tremble in his shoulders.
“Fuck, I was so worried,” he breathes, his lips brushing the sensitive skin of my throat. His hold on me is tight, like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he loosens his grip.
