Page 72 of A Vampire's Pain
I looked down, feeling my cheeks heat.
“Yes,” I said.
“Good. Gabriel might have flaws. We all do, but he deserves to be happy and so do you,” she said.
“I just hope my brother can accept us in the end.”
“Have you thought over it if he can’t?” she asked.
I sighed and walked around a little. Lara followed me, just letting me think, and eventually, I turned to her again and shrugged.
“No …”
“Valeri—”
“I don’t really want to think about it, because it means … it means I have to choose,” I said.
“Do you know what you would choose?”
I shook my head.
“I don’t think I can.”
“You know what that might mean, right?” she asked me.
I nodded.
“They will fight,” I said.
She nodded.
“They will … Gabriel is not giving you up, and if I know Damon, I don’t think he will either,” she said.
I looked down, feeling so sad, but then I felt Lara’s hand on my shoulder. I looked up, seeing her smile at me.
“Which is why it is important you talk to him first.”
“I know …”
“But of course, after we have shopped,” she said and winked.
I smiled at her.
“I love my brother, but I don’t think I can go back,” I told her.
“Then tell him that, and make sure he hears you this time,” she said.
I felt so happy at that moment. Lara was the friend I had never had, and I couldn’t believe how lucky I felt. Running into Gabriel seemed to have been the best thing to happen in a long time. I just hoped it wouldn’t cost me too much.
Chapter 30
-Gabriel-
Dominic and I spent most of the day together, while Lara and Valeri were out shopping. I knew he could see how happy I was, and he couldn’t help but smile either, yet something was missing in our little family, and that was Ace. I wondered if he would even come home again. I saw him leave last night, but he didn’t come home. I really hoped Valeri being here wouldn’t chase him away. Dominic knew Ace and I were close, but I think he was starting to realize justhowclose.
“Your turn,” I said as we played a game of pool.
Dominic placed himself by the table and sent one of the white balls towards one of the colored ones, seeing it fall into a hole in the corner, while I sipped my drink.
