DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
"T minus five days and counting," was the greeting I gave her at 2:35 in the morning, reminding us both just how long we had until I was going to rescue her from her sister's house.
"That's still too much time," she complained.
"God, I know. I miss you."
"I miss you, too," she said softly.
"Did she torture you too much today?" I asked, trying to lighten the tone. "Are you still reading from the book of Job?"
"They're pushing any kind of scripture on me that tells me I'm going to hell if I don't change my ways."
"I like your ways," I said, imagining the blush that was probably creeping up her face. "She's not convincing you to dump me and head off to some… convent or something, is she?"
"And live out eternity without ever ravishing you again? Not a chance."
"Not Telling Christine, you insufferable tease, what ever am I going to do with you?"
"Is that a rhetorical question, or do you really want an answer?" I inhaled sharply.
"Have I mentioned that I miss you?" I asked.
"How much?" she asked.
I was completely honest with her, telling her exactly how her non-presence had affected me. "I can't sleep." I sighed before continuing. "I can't sleep, I'm not eating well, I can't concentrate, I can't write, I… just… miss you." I heard her let out a sob and sniffle a bit. She was crying. "Gabi, please…please don't cry."
"I'm…okay, I am, but I know… God, I know exactly what you mean."
"What a pair we make," I said in reply. "Well…yeah, we do. What a pair."
"Think I can just stay on the phone with you until the five days are up?"
"I wish," I said. "I'm actually on my way to the airport, catching the redeye to the next city."
"Is Alfred driving you?"
"Nope, he's sitting right beside me, rolling his eyes and making those faces like he's getting ready to gag." I heard her giggle. "Jeez, Gabi, does this mean we're like… one of… those couples?"
"Yes," Jackie said, and Gabriella laughed even harder.
"Are we?" she asked.
"Yes…yes. Yes," I said, agreeing with Jackie, gladly accepting that label.
I still hadn't managed to get any sleep, wanting to spend all the time I could on the phone with her, and being in too good of a mood afterwards to go to sleep. But I knew that when I was with her, I'd be able to sleep, knowing she was safe in my arms once again.
I called her again the next night as quickly as I could after I finished my show, desperate to hear her voice.
We had been talking for a few minutes when she suddenly said, "Troy, I think my sister has a split personality." I laughed. "No…no seriously, like one minute she's all…'You're going to hell for hanging out in bars', and then the next she's saying that if you hurt me she's going to chop your balls off."
"Hey…hey…no joking about the nether regions there," I said, my tone now considerably higher than normal.
"Who's joking? I think Sybil was serious."
"Oh, great; one fuck up by me and it's Castration City. How would I sound as a mezzo-soprano? Hmmmm," I asked.
"You said you could do the Spice Girls," she reminded me. "Oh, and Hanson, let's not forget Hanson." I grinned thinking back to that conversation.
"And is it…spayed, or neutered? Which one of that is done to the male?"
"Do you really want to find out?"
"I think the question here is… do you?" I said grinning.
"Nah, I haven't had my fill of you yet," she replied breathlessly.
"Gah! Damnit, woman, stop it!" I exclaimed, laying back on the couch, closing my eyes as I felt my body react to her comment.
"T minus?" she asked.
"Four days and fucking counting," I replied through gritted teeth.
"Mmmmm, I love it when you do that."
"Gabriella… Christine… I swear to you I'll hang up this phone."
"Liar."
"Okay, you called me on that one." I exhaled slowly.
"You sound so tired," she commented.
"I am," I replied with a sigh.
"Still can't sleep?"
"I'm trying, Gabi, I really am." I had laid in bed for three hours last night, wide awake after getting of the phone with her, but finally got up after not being able to sleep, picturing her every time I closed my eyes.
"It doesn't sound like you're trying hard enough," she said. "So I'm making you hang up, whether you want to or not, and close your eyes. Rest."
"When I close my eyes, I see you."
"Oh, that's good Troy. That's… that's clever."
"That's serious," I said, making my tone serious to match.
"Well, what the hell good are you gonna be to me if you're so damn tired that all you do is fall right to sleep when you get here?"
"But…it's different," I said.
"How so?"
"Because," I began, "this time… we'll have all the time in the world."
I had some a couple of months vacation coming up considering I was wrapping up my were all in need of some time off, with no studio time or anything. I let Steven know I would be in Albuquerque the entire time, taking care of Gabriella. He actually smiled at that.
The next four days drug by. I didn't think they would ever pass. I continued to talk to Gabriella each night, knowing no sleep was going to be coming to me.
Jackie continued to be concerned about my lack of eating, trying to fix me things. I just had no appetite. The woman I love was hundreds of miles away from me right now, still healing from an accident and I couldn't be there for her, to support her.
I kept reminding Gabriella each night how close we were to seeing each other, pretty sure I had to be anticipating it far more than she was. I had a flight out to Albuquerque scheduled for Friday afternoon, letting Gabriella know I would be there Saturday morning to get her.
However, as Friday rolled around, we were once again back in New York and I just couldn't wait any longer. We quickly finished up with a few minor things that needed to be discussed and we went our separate ways, everyone leaving to go to their family. I left to find an earlier flight out. When I got to the airport, I found out I was in luck. I had my stuff with me and I moved my ticket to the earliest flight out, one that would put me there about the time I was supposed to leave New York originally.
As I waited, I called Ryan. He had been staying with Kelsi until he got better.
"Hey, man, what's up?" he asked.
"Not much. Just sitting in the airport waiting on my flight."
"Wait…I thought you weren't flying out until tonight."
"Yeah…well…I kinda got desperate and moved my flight up."
Ryan laughed. "You're so pathetic man. I bet Gabriella is happy about that, though. She's been bugging Kelsi for the past two weeks telling her how much she missed you."
My heart warmed at that. "Well actually Gabriella doesn't know I'm coming back early. I wanted to surprise her."
"Oh, okay. That's cool."
"Yeah. Hey, I need a favor, though. Can I talk to Kelsi?"
"Sure." I heard him hand the phone over to her before I heard her voice come on the line.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Kelsi. I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
"Sure, what's up? Something with Gabi, I'm assuming."
I laughed. "Yeah. Do you by chance have a key to her apartment?"
"Yes, why?"
"Well, I want it to be special when she walks in tonight. I've called the florist and ordered some flowers. They should arrive there around 5:00 this evening."
"Okay, and I'm sure her apartment could use some airing out, trash taken out, that sort of thing. Don't worry about it, Troy. I'll take care of it."
I smiled. "Thanks, Kelsi. You're the best. I do have one more favor to ask, though."
Kelsi laughed. "What's that?"
"Could you have some soft music playing, maybe that classical music she likes to unwind to? And turn the lights down low. Also, look and see if she has any wine, and maybe have that chilling."
"Sure, Troy. Gabriella's going to love having you back. She found a winner, Troy."
I blushed. "Thanks, Kelsi. I feel the same way about her." We hung up the phone after I told her I would send her a text when I landed so she could have everything ready and be gone by the time we got there.
My flight was called and I boarded the plane, putting my bag away and settling into my seat. My plan was in place. Now…to get to that girl to prove to her how much I meant that…
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