The Bodyguard

Chapter 27 - Gossip

I attend all my classes on Tuesday, but my mind is elsewhere. I’ve barely made any notes and couldn’t get anywhere with my pre-raphaelite style painting. I had barely drawn an outline in 90 minutes, which is so unlike me.

My mind is on Gabriel and my whatever my feelings for him mean all day. Jason’s words have gotten to me.

I head home exhausted and glad it’s my night off work. I decide I need something to take my mind off Gabriel so I head to Amy’s room and ask if she fancies getting a takeaway and sharing some wine tonight.

“Sounds great!” She replies grabbing a pizza menu.

We choose our food quickly and Amy makes the call and places our order.

“So, how was your weekend?,” Amy asks me with a smirk, clearly desperate to get the gossip.

“It was really fun, we had dinner at a little Italian place and then went to Jill’s on Sunday for lunch. He’s invited me again this weekend.”

“So you did go out in between all the s*x?” She teases.

I feel my face flooding with colour, why does this subject make me feel so uncomfortable?  If only she knew about the s*x, she would be shocked at me, but then again I'd be mortified if anyone knew about the car incident or the shower for that matter.  

“So, you guys are getting very close quickly,” Amy comments, trying to change the subject as she can see my embarrassment.

“We are, but it feels right. I don’t want to play games, he likes me and I like him so why not just see where it goes at whatever pace suits us?”

“You make a good point, just don't let him push you into anything before you are ready.” 

“How long have you and Dex been together?” I ask curiously.

“About a year and a half, my parents live not too far from Dex and Gabriel and I met Dex while on a night out.”

“You seem well suited.”

“We’re happy right now. I’m not sure what will happen after I graduate though,” she says sadly. “I have ambition and I want to travel with work and focus on my career. Dex just wants to stay in his small town and see his friends.”

“He might come round when it’s actually happening,” I say hopefully.

“Maybe,” is all she replies. She doesn’t sound convinced.

“How do Dex and Gabriel know each other?”

“They’ve known each other since they were kids. They got into mischief together in their teens and their parents bonded as a result of both sets having to watch both of them.”

I laugh imagining them as teens, being idiots together and finding their way to where they are now, still being friends.

“They both have different priorities now so they aren’t as close as they were, but that’s grown up life isn’t it? Dex has done some work for Gabriel in the past but it’s not really his thing. Dex is happiest driving, it’s why he won’t stop being a delivery driver even though he’s capable of so much more. If he can drive, make money then come home and see his friends, that is all Dex needs to be satisfied. We are just very different people.”  Amy looks sad, like she wants so much more for him.  His lack of ambition is definitely an issue for her.

“Dex seems like a good person though,” I comment.

“He is. He’s very genuine and has a good heart.”

“That’s how I see Gabriel,” I say, but I hear my voice and it isn’t convincing and Amy frowns at me. I explain myself, “my ex Jason was waiting for me when I finished work tonight. He told me Gabriel isn’t a good guy, he’s involved with someone dodgy and Gabriel threatened him.”

“Wow! Jealous much?” She says dismissively.

“That’s exactly what I thought, but the way he said it was so convincing. He had researched Gabriel, knew his name and other suff, he mentioned Gabriel being connected to Zach Thomas, who I think is Zach from the party we went to. He said Zach is not to be trusted and neither is anyone associated with him.” I’m telling her everything so any slight truth she knows of would come out.  I know Amy wouldn't lie to me if she knew of any reason I should be wary of Gabriel.

“I don’t know much about Zach, he clearly has some enemies or Gabriel wouldn’t have been there, but that’s business. Gabriel would never be involved in anything untoward.” She tells me.

She leaves me with my thoughts to go and answer the door as our food has just arrived,

She was reassuring and I’m positive now that Jason’s words were just jealousy and bitterness coming out. He can go to hell.

I’m with Gabriel now, we’re in a loving, mature, faithful relationship and I’m not giving Jason any more of my time, thoughts or headspace. I’m saving all of that for the one person who really cares about me.