“I know I don’t, I will call the police if I have to, please don't worry, Gabe’s here if I have any problems. Thank you Jem, thank you for caring so much, I love you and I'm sorry that all of this shit has landed on your doorstep, I really am”
“No worries chicky. We need to have a catch up so you can let me hear all the filthy details about you and Mr Bow Chicka Wow Wow. When are you moving into the unit? Jo told me you are staying at his till it’s ready. So, have you done the deed yet, fuck Lauren, what’s it like with someone else after all these years?”
I am glowing crimson, Gabe can hear every word and is looking at me with his head tilted the way that he does and he has is sexy arsed, knicker exploding, clit tingling smile on his face and his eyes are giving me that laughing look. I take in a few deep breaths but I can’t wipe the smile off my face as all I can think as I answer is that he’s mine, might not be forever but for right now, he’s all fucking mine.
“Yeah I am staying at Gabe’s, in fact, I’m not going to the unit now, I’m moving in here”
“No way? Fuck Loza, you don’t mess about do you? Mind you, I wouldn’t say no if he asked me either”
“Jemma, he’s right here and can hear every word you’re saying”
“He can? Hey Gabe, when you wear her out, give me a shout would ya, I’m a much better root than she is”
“Only because you’ve had a lot more practice, with a lot more men, than I have”
“Yeah, you’re not wrong there, anyway, call me, love ya lots like jelly tots, bye, bye”
She hangs up. Gabriel has downed his drink and is pouring another. I fire off a text to Jo and Lulu to let them know Jay is on the warpath and tell them not to hesitate in calling the police if he plays up. I get messages back instantly asking me if I'm okay, I assure them I am and turn to Gabe and shrug at the latest bit of drama in my life. Really, I should write a book. 'How NOT To Leave Your Husband' is the title that springs to mind. He doesn’t mention Jems teasing; he just gets straight on my case regarding Jason.
“And you still think you'd be safe on your own, in that unit?”
“You know what Gabe, that's really not helping; I can't believe he would frighten Jemma and the kids like that though, he must be really mad”
“You’re not worried are you? There's no way he could know you’re here”
“No, I'm not worried about him showing up here but I am worried about the fact you’re drinking bourbon on a Wednesday arvo”
He gives me such a shy, sheepish smile, he looks so young, I can't help but grin stupidly at him.
“What, what is it, why the drink, why the smile?”
“I’m nervous and happy and celebrating”
“Nervous, happy and celebrating, right, well that clears things up then” I frown and shake my head at him, waiting for an explanation.
“I’m celebrating the fact you said yes, that you are going to move in here permanently, I’m celebra...” My phone rings and cuts him off, my stomach lurches as I see that it's Jason. Shit, I really don't want to speak to him but I know ignoring him will just make him more pissed off. I look across at Gabe standing on the other side of the bench top
“It’s him”
“Well answer it and tell him to get fucked”
“Not helpful Gabe”
I shake my head and let out a long breath.
“Jason” I say into the phone.
“You fucking bitch, I will fucking kill you next time I see you! Who the fuck do you think you are, coming in here when I'm at work and taking whatever the fuck you like, you cheeky cunt?”
Well okay then, he’s definitely pissed off with me. I move the phone away from my ear, he's shouting so loud, it's actually painful. Wrong move, so the wrong move. Gabe takes the phone out of my hand and says into it, “listen you fucking dick head, I don't know who the fuck you think you are but stop calling Lauren and giving her shit, I'm fucking over all of your fucking bullshit, your nothing but a fucking wife beating bully and if you come near her again I will break your fucking skull”
He presses End and hands the phone back to me, with a smile on his face, I stare at him with my mouth wide open.
“What?” he shrugs, like he needs to ask. He takes a swig of his drink and shrugs again.
“Do you not think you could have thrown in a few more fucks? Just to help get your point across”
My facetious comment is completely lost on him. He’s smiling, but only with his mouth, his blue eyes are steely grey again and his jaw tense, I can tell that he too is pissed off.
“Fuck him Lauren, who the fuck does he think he is? I'm not having him call you up and give you that kind of shit. Tomorrow we will go and see my lawyer and get your divorce petition up and running and then we will go and get you a new phone”
He really has no idea how angry he would have made Jason; I haven’t heard the last of this.