Dinner by 7
1084 Words
Morning sunlight flows through my curtains, warm and peaceful, a stark contrast to how I feel inside. I didn’t sleep well every time I closed my eyes, I saw Gabriel's face in the shadows, heard his voice telling me not to let others decide who I am.
It wasn’t just what he said.
It was how he looked at me.
Like he had seen every secret I was trying to hide.
I drag myself out of bed, throw on a loose shirt, and head downstairs.
The house is too quiet. Mom..mom!! isn’t she around? My Dad’s car is gone. Went to the counter to see if my mom had left a note.
“Out with clients she said in her note.
Breakfast in the fridge, love you, my princess.
I pour myself some coffee, scrolling through my phone, when a text appears from Cole.
“Cole” Lila, can we talk?
Please. I messed up.
I stare at the screen for a long time.
My thumb hovers over “delete,” but instead, I type back
There’s nothing left to say, Cole.
Then I hit send before I could change my mind.
But a small part of me still hurts.
Not because I love him anymore, but because I once did foolishly.
Before I can get lost in regret, the doorbell rings. I smirk, opening it without thinking.
And there was.
Gabriel.
Black shirt, dark jeans, sunglasses perched on his head.
The kind of look that shouldn’t be on someone his age, but somehow it is. Effortless, controlled, magnetic.
“Morning,” he says, voice deep and calm.
“Hi…” My voice trails off, unsure why he’s here.
“Did you forget something last night?”
“No.
Your mother asked me to drop off a few papers for your father.” He pauses, studying my face. “You look like you didn’t sleep.”
“I didn’t,” I admit before I can stop myself.
He tilts his head slightly.
“Cole?”
I blink.
“Why would you assume that?”
A faint smirk.
“Because I’ve been that age. You wear heartbreak like perfume hard to miss.”
I want to be offended, but the way he says it is quiet, certain it doesn’t sound cruel.
It sounds like he sees things clearly.
“I’m fine,” I say instead.
“Of course you are.”
His gaze lingers, just long enough to make my heart race. Then he steps past me, placing the envelope on the table.
When he turns back, his eyes catch the sunlight.
Cold gray.
“Tell your mother I’ll see her tonight,” he says.
“She didn’t mention plans.”
“She will.”
He walks out before I can ask what that means.
His cologne rich and smoky lingers long after he’s gone.
I press my hands against the counter, trying to steady myself.
There’s something about him that pulls me in, even when I know I shouldn’t care.
By afternoon, I try to distract myself with music and arrange my room.
But around six, my Mom finally returns, wearing a fitted cream dress and a diamond necklace that looks new. Her phone is glued to her hand.
“Who were you with?”
I ask, pretending not to sound curious.
She glances at me briefly.
“Business.”
But Mom you barely check on me these days you have been too busy for me.
Mom Gabriel brought an envelope it's at the counter.
And he said he was coming this evening
She stops halfway up the stairs yes baby I know
And just like that, she’s gone again.
Hours later, when the house grows quiet, I step out into the garden for air.
The night sky is clear, the air thick with the scent of roses and rain. I’m about to head back inside when headlights flash at the gate.
A black car.
Gabriel’s.
He gets out, jacket over his shoulder, the faintest look of surprise when he sees me.
“Couldn’t sleep again?”
He asks.
I shrug.
“You either.”
“Sleep is overrated.”
He walks closer, the night swallowing his voice. “Your mother said she went to bed early.”
“Yeah.
She usually does after she gets what she wants.”
He stops, eyes narrowing slightly.
“You sound angry.”
He exhales, stepping closer.
Too close.
“Then why are you here?”
I ask, matching his stare.
He looks down at me for a long time, his jaw tightening.
“Because I shouldn’t be.”
The silence between us crackles.
His gaze drops to my lips, and for a dangerous second, I think he might actually kiss me. My heart hammers so loud I can hear it.
Then he steps back.
“Goodnight.”
He turns away, walks to his car, and drives off leaving me in the dark, breathless, and shaking.
I stand there long after he’s gone, trying to make sense of what just happened.
Why does it feel like something is pulling us together something neither of us wants to name?
Back inside, I grab my phone, needing a distraction.
Another message from Cole flashes on the screen.
“Cole”I’m outside.
Please, just five minutes.
I groan, moving to the window and sure enough, he’s there, leaning against his car, hair dripping from the rain.
I shouldn’t.
I know I shouldn’t. But curiosity wins.
When I step outside, he looks up, eyes soft and desperate.
“Lila, I’m sorry,” he says immediately.
“I was drunk, stupid”
“Save it,” I cut in.
“You didn’t make a mistake, Cole. You made a choice.”
He grabs my wrist gently.
“I love you. I still do.”
I shake my head.
“No, you love control.”
Before he can speak again, another car passes slowly down the street Gabriel’s.
His headlights sweep across us, and for a second, I swear his eyes meet mine through the glass.
Then he drives off without slowing down.
Cloe frowned “Who's that”?
“No one”, I lie, pulling my hand free.
“Doesn't look like anyone.
“Goodnight, Cole.”
I turn away from the house, my heart racing for an entirely different reason.
Once inside, I secure the door and lean against it, my breath quickening. The air still carries a hint of Gabriel’s cologne, even though he left hours ago.
- Writer
