Chapter 286: Can You Not Do That Again? (2)

You know that feeling when you jump from a height, and your heart seems to leap before dropping to your stomach? That's how Gael felt upon seeing Angela's text that morning. He never thought he'd feel exhilarated just from a text.

[ Angel: Hi. My battery died while sending you my reply this morning. Merry Christmas, Gael. I hope you had fun with your family last night. ]

[ Angel: Oh, and this is what I woke up to ]

An image loaded on his screen. It was Angela in her bed with Honey curled up into a ball in the crook of her neck. Honey's head rested on Angela's shoulder. It was the most adorable thing he'd seen all morning.

He tapped the screen to enlarge the photo, and he stared at it, a broad smile growing on his face.

"What are you smiling at?" Susan wondered as she subtly peeked over his arm. "Oh, how lovely! Honey looks so comfortable next to Angela. She must really like her. She doesn't do that to just anyone, does she?"

Gael nodded. Aside from Gabby and his grandmother, Honey didn't like to be around other women. When his grandmother walked away, he quickly tapped his response.

[ Gael: I'm jealous. ]

Another message popped in soon after.

[ Angel: Of what? ]

[ Gael: She gets to wake up next to a beautiful face. ]

[ Angel: …you talking about her or me? ]

He laughed.

[ Gael: I'm jealous that Honey gets to wake up next to you. Is that clear now? ]

Though he couldn't see Angela's expression, he assumed she was smiling. He hoped she was. After waiting for a minute and not receiving any reply, he called her, and she answered after two rings.

"Hey," he greeted as he walked out of the house and leaned against the brownstone railing. A cold wind swept across his face, and he shoved his hand into his pocket. The weather was a little annoying.

"Hi," she replied, her voice as angelic as he'd remembered it, making him exhale a sigh of relief.

"How was your sleep?"

"It was…okay. However, I woke up sometime around dawn. I thought someone else was in my room. Then I heard Honey snoring. I didn't know dogs snore. I didn't know she snored."

Gael worried as he listened to her, and then he chuckled. "Yeah, she does, especially when she's exhausted and is sleeping comfortably. I'm surprised she slept so deeply when it's her first time there. She's usually restless when she's new to a place. I guess she must really trust you."

"Is that so?" She paused. There was shuffling in the background, and Oliver's muffled voice was heard. "I was in the living room just now with Oliver and my dad. They're playing with Honey."

"I'm glad she's well taken care of. Thank you." Gael rubbed his nape and scanned the tranquil street. Everyone seemed to be staying in this morning. The sky had sprinkled little snowflakes since an hour ago. "Where are you right now?"

A door clicked, and he guessed that she was in an enclosed space. "I just got into my bedroom. We're opening gifts in a little while. I just snuck out for a bit."

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"I see…" A curtain from the living room window not far from him moved, and he met his father's gaze when he looked up. Alessandro tapped his watch, signaling him that it was time to leave. He nodded and raised a hand to give him a little more time. "When are you going back to your apartment?"

"In a few days, maybe. I'm not sure."

"You're not spending the new year with your family?"

"I am, but we might be at Oliver's or mine. Why?"

"Nothing. Just…wondering if you're going to be in your apartment by yourself."

"Oh… I guess. I mean, I'm used to it. So, yeah, I'll be in my apartment in a few days."

Gael let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he gathered his thoughts and tried to see if there was a way to work around his situation. He didn't like that he had to choose. His family in New York needed him, and so did Angela, even though she wouldn't tell him that she did. And the fact was daunting to him because right now, he had to choose. If only he could be at two places at once. 

"Is everything okay?" she probed when he didn't respond.

"Yeah. I just thought I could come back tomorrow. But I need to be here longer, Angel…" He swallowed and closed his eyes. She didn't respond right away, and it was even harder for him to imagine what was going through her mind at the moment. Was she disappointed? Was she relieved? Was she even the slightest bit sad? 

"That's okay."

Shit. Her brief answer made him anxious.

"I'm sorry, Angel. I really want to come back sooner."

"No, you don't have to apologize for being with your family. Besides… You technically don't have any business to be here other than…" She hesitated. "It's okay, really. Don't worry about it."

Gael ran a heavy hand down his face. What was he supposed to do? There must be something that he could do to be with Angela while also being there for his family. He felt like crap. Their distance was killing him. "Could you stay with your family while I'm away? I don't like the thought of you being alone in your apartment."

Angela didn't speak, and all he could hear was a faint sound of wind through the receiver.

"Baby, you still there?" he asked.

"Okay," she answered. "I'll stay with my dad until you come back."

It was as though a tidal wave passed by and washed away his worries. Gael wasn't completely relieved, but he was hopeful that she'd be safe, and he didn't have to worry too much while he was not there with her. He still had to hear what her decision was with the necklace he gave her, and he was dying to know. But he didn't want to put pressure on her because he'd already broken her trust. More than her accepting the necklace, he prayed she'd never had to use it.

"Thank you. That makes me feel less worried." He pushed himself off the railing and idled by the door. "I have to go. Can I call you again tonight?"

"Tonight. Okay. And Gael?"

"Yeah?"

He heard her take a deep breath before speaking her mind. "The last time you went home… You…" Silence. "You being there…doing what you have to do… You ended up getting shot and disappeared for a while." Another bout of silence. "Can you not do that again? Getting shot and disappearing."

Gael didn't know why but what she said made him feel so warm, and suddenly the weather was no longer annoying. "Don't worry, Angel. I'll come back to you in one piece. I'm not disappearing again."

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