GeoMirOre, thank you for taking the time to write a lovely long review that made me laugh out loud, I would love to know if someone did see you whining away!

CHAPTER 13

Showering with Troy had actually been a really special moment for Gabi. He had done as promised and been really sweet with her- just cleaning her with his gentle hands and then soaping himself; with a little help from her and then they had gotten out and dried off; no foreplay, no pressure. It was different than the unpleasant sex she'd had with Cal in there. It was something that made her fall even deeper in love, if that were possible.

As it was, she watched him bring over a coffee for her as she sat in the kitchen and he leaned to kiss her mouth before heading back to make breakfast; wearing long shorts and a vest and treating her to the visible solid muscles of his arms.

She watched him with a smile, a fluttering in her belly at seeing him happily being domestic in her kitchen. It surprised her how quickly she had gotten used to him being there and them being together this way, like it was so normal and so right. After spending so long denying it; she was sad they'd only had two short days to share.

"Scrambled eggs and toast, Madame," Troy delivered her breakfast.

She looked up. "Thank you…"

"It's still so early," he husked, still waking up somewhat as he sipped his coffee. "We can snuggle a bit if you want after breakfast…"

She gave him a warm look. "Don't you mean make out?"

"No," he denied, smiling too as he cast his eyes on her. "I mean snuggle…"

"Look, just because I had a wobble over showering doesn't mean we can't spend our last couple of hours having fun…" She argued.

Troy shrugged. "I'm happy to just chill…"

"Troy…"

"Hey, you know I checked my study chart and I'm free the weekend after next." He changed the subject quickly.

"Really? So soon?" She wondered.

"Yep…unless you wanted to wait a bit…" He added in case he sounded too keen.

"I think two weeks is long enough," she measured. "I was just surprised, that's all."

"Well, I want to make time to see you," he admitted shyly.

She nodded. "Me, too."

"It's a date, then?" He checked and she giggled, then sobered.

"Troy…what do you think your friends will think about me?" She wondered.

He shrugged. "They'll be so shocked I managed to get a woman to date me they'll probably not even care about anything else…"

"Troy!" She laughed at his self-derision. "That's not true…"

"It is," he raised his brows. "Just ask Jared. I am the dateless wonder..."

"And yet you appeared so confident the night we met," she mused.

"That was different," he argued.

"Why?" She wondered, quite reasonably she thought.

"Because it was you," he bemused.

"I would love to know what you saw when I walked across that room, Troy," she derided of his charming words.

"I told you…a beautiful woman."

"And that was enough for you? To make love for the first time in your life?"

He tilted his head, wondering why she was asking about this now, so far after the event. But he could understand her scepticism. They had both acted out of character that night so it was understandable she wanted to test his morals.

"Would you normally go to bed with a guy you hardly know?" He squinted in return.

"No…" She admitted.

He shrugged. "I'd like to think it was fate that made me follow you to the bar."

"You're right…we both did something unheard of that night…"

"Gabi, what do you want to hear?" Troy wondered. "That night was special no matter how little I knew you then…"

"Do you honestly not know how attractive you are?" She wondered. "What you said about not dating…"

He pulled up one side of his mouth. "I was waiting for the right woman."

"I just don't understand how you knew I was her," she commented.

He nodded and stood up from the breakfast table, taking her hand to pull her up, too. Once she was up, he cupped her hand to his chest, against his heart.

"My heart knew." He said simply, not able to explain any more because he himself still couldn't fathom their instant attraction. "I don't know what else to say…"

She reached up and kissed him. "That's enough," she assured, "more than enough…"

Troy leaned down to continue their kiss.

/

Troy brought his bags down to the front porch and looked out nervously for the taxi he had ordered, hoping it wouldn't come just yet.

He and Gabi had made love after his assurances to her; and he still felt the intimacy and closeness they'd shared then as he prepared to leave. Gabi watched on somewhat forlornly, not knowing what to do.

"Is that everything?" She asked, coming out onto the porch with him.

He wrapped her into his arms with a sigh. "Not everything, but then I can't take everything with me that I'd like to," he mused.

She smiled and looked up into his face. "You never stop, do you?"

He smiled shyly back. "You bring out my charming side, what can I say?"

She kissed him, indicating he didn't need to say anything.

"Say hi to Jared for me," she asked softly.

He nodded. "I will."

"I'll see you in two weeks," she reminded.

"And I'll call you…if that's okay," he added unsurely.

She smirked. "It's more than okay."

Troy looked up as he heard tyres crunching on gravel.

"Taxi's here," he said, unnecessarily.

Gabi hugged him again, tighter this time.

He wrapped her into his body, then pulled back to kiss her on the lips. He gazed into her eyes longingly.

"I love you," he proclaimed, in the quiet, sacred moment they had while the taxi drew up.

"I love you, too," she reached up and kissed him firmly to evidence her feelings. His smile at her reciprocation made her want to send the blasted taxi back where it came from so she could enjoy him just a few minutes longer.

The taxi driver got out of the car as they pulled apart.

"These bags to go?" He checked and Troy nodded, walking to the car with his fingers linked through Gabi's.

"Okay, this is it," he forced an upbeat smile.

"Be good," she teased in a mock-motherly way.

He grinned. "You know it."

"Call me when you get home," she added.

"I will," he cupped her neck. "Good bye, beautiful," he leaned down and kissed her one last time.

She stepped back as he opened the taxi door and slid in; causing her to wave sadly at him in a poignant goodbye.

He waved back with two fingers, cutely, then turned to watch her as the taxi pulled down the drive.

"Is that your girlfriend?" The taxi man asked bemusedly into the mirror.

"I don't think girlfriend covers it. She's the love of my life," Troy told him unashamedly.

The driver smiled. "She's a little older than you, huh?"

Troy smiled in good-natured acceptance.

"Yep."

The man nodded. "Well, good for you, son."

"Saying goodbye is never easy," Troy mused.

"I see a lot of those," the man shared. "Don't worry if you want a cry…"

Troy swallowed and nodded. "I think I'll be okay. But thanks."

"We'll get you to where we're going in a jiffy," he assured of the two-hour drive.

Troy smiled. "Thanks, man," he slouched back in his seat.

Now he had two whole hours to think about what he was missing and what he was going back to- University life, without his lady. He was looking forward to seeing his friend again and even thank him for his part in getting Gabi to realize her feelings; but some small part of him still worried that while he was gone, Gabi might change her mind.

Maybe some guy her own age would show an interest and his inexperienced youthful offering wouldn't match up to what an older, professional man could offer. He hoped not; he trusted her after-all, but he couldn't help his insecurities.

The reason he was single and still a virgin at twenty-two, after all, was because he had been cheated on twice before in his teens. Gabi didn't know that, yet. He'd told her he just hadn't met the right woman and that still rang true. She was definitely the right woman and he'd known the second he saw her.

But they had two weeks apart to fill the void.

It couldn't go fast enough for Troy.

/

"He's gone? What do you mean he's gone?" Taylor McKessie came into Gabi's kitchen and laid down her handbag.

"He left this morning…" Gabi shared as she put on the kettle for coffee.

Taylor pouted. "No fair. I wanted to meet him."

"Taylor, you did meet him!" Gabi laughed.

"I mean properly," she said. "Not a thirty-second encounter at the park…"

"Well, I got cold feet," Gabi explained of that episode. "I didn't want you and Chad to see us that way…"

"Why?" Taylor asked. "You told me all about him, anyway."

"But not that we were maybe-dating," Gabi sighed, bringing their drinks over to the breakfast bar where they sat, with cookies too.

"Well, it was obvious you were together," Taylor remarked. "And that was after we saw you holding hands…"

"Yeah, that was stupid," Gabi admitted. "We had a row when we got back to the car that day."

Taylor tilted her head. "We didn't think he was too young or anything," she ventured supportively.

"It was just weird," Gabi tried to describe. "Being seen with him…being judged as a couple."

"But you are a couple, right?" Taylor begged.

Gabi relaxed into a smile. "We are, yes. After that argument Jared locked us in the garage together and we…well we sorted a few things out," she described.

Taylor grinned and winked. "I bet you did…"

"He's my son's friend, Tay," Gabi added. "I had that on my conscience, too."

"The boy is devil-hot," her friend announced, changing tact.

"Well…" Gabi refrained from gushing about him.

"Go, on say it. He's devil-hot…" Taylor goaded.

"He's very handsome," Gabi allowed shyly. "I still find it unnerving."

"Unnerving? That's not the word I would use!" Her friend teased and Gabi laughed.

"Okay, I find it attractive, too!" She admitted. "But Cal found out about it and I'm still conscious of what some people think…"

"Cal?" Taylor repeated, disgustedly. "What the hell did he want?"

"He brought my parents over and told them how I was perverted and that it was wrong for me to be with Troy and how Jared would suffer…"

"But Jared got you together," Taylor mused.

"He doesn't know that," Gabi admitted. "Thank god…"

"Well he has no business sticking his nose in," she added.

"That's what Troy told him," Gabi smirked. "As did I…"

"And James and Maria?" Taylor checked.

"Thankfully, they were okay," Gabi shared.

"Well, your parents always were quite cool…" Taylor considered.

"Yeah, but you never know with these things," Gabi added. "I mean, the way Cal had tried to make things out and the fact I hadn't told them yet…"

"I'm not surprised, it's kinda sudden," Taylor sympathized.

"It is sudden," Gabi agreed with a stricken look across at her friend. "Maybe too sudden…"

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked.

"We said 'I love you' already," Gabi shared softly. "I've known him for two weeks…is that insane?"

Taylor shrugged. "Maybe. But it's a good insane. You deserve someone like Troy after Cal."

"A good insane?" Gabi repeated. "Is there such a thing?"

"Look, I know your divorce is new and you weren't really looking, but no-one else really lit your torch," her friend observed. "As long as it isn't a rebound fling…"

"A what?" Gabi choked on her coffee.

"A rebound fling," Taylor shrugged. "You know, to get Cal out of your system before you settle down again…"

"No," Gabi said right away. "I maybe insane but I'm not using him…"

"Well, then, good," Taylor brightened. "Just enjoy it."

Gabi darted her eyes to Taylor's. "What if he meets a girl his own age?"

"He must meet girls his own age every day," Taylor bounced back. "Do you really think that's an issue?"

Gabi sighed. "No." She admitted softly.

"Are you afraid of being in love again?" Taylor noted insightfully.

Gabi bit her lip. "Yes."

"Oh, honey," Taylor reached over and hugged her. "It'll be okay, you'll see…"

Gabi smiled at her best friend. "Thank you," she said genuinely.

"No problem," Taylor assured. "Now, tell me what he's like in bed…"

/

"So, man, how's my mom?" Jared clasped Troy's hand and gave him a man-hug as he dropped his bags into their shared dorm room.

"Yeah…fine," Troy relayed lightly, adjusting to his new but old surroundings.

"Really? She didn't cry when you left?" Jared doubted.

"Nope," Troy assured.

"Hmm, maybe she doesn't like you after all…"

Troy grinned and lofted his pillow at his friend as he went back to his bed.

"Cheers, buddy," Troy mused.

"So, how are you?" Jared asked next.

Troy shrugged. "Yeah, I'm good."

"It's been quiet without you…"

"Gabi said she sends her love, by the way."

Jared smiled. "I should think so too."

"She's coming to visit in a couple of weeks…"

"Do I have to move out?" Jared joked.

"No, man of course not…" Troy frowned bemusedly.

"Just checking…any other news?" He added.

Troy sighed. "Well, I met your dad and your grandparents, but I can't say it was under the best circumstances…"

"You met my dad?" Jared awed.

"Yeah…he turned up at the house because he'd heard Gabi and I were seeing each other…"

"Wow, dude. I'm sorry you had to suffer that…"

Troy shrugged. "I guessed he might come into the picture at some point."

"But my grandparents? How did they get involved?"

"Cal brought them down and made a big deal about the age difference thing," Troy relayed. "Your granddad pretty much ran him off the porch…"

"I bet he did," Jared grinned as he imagined the scene. "Were they okay with you?"

"Yeah…yeah I think they were…"

"And you and mom survived," he added more to himself.

"You know what I could use?" Troy looked round at his friend.

"What?" Jared asked.

"To shoot some zombies," he grinned. "Let's get the X-box warmed up…"

Jared smiled back. "Good call, Troy my man…good call…"

/

Gabi busied herself at work for the next two weeks which wasn't a hard task considering she had taken a two week break and had plenty to catch up with on her return.

Everything seemed that much harder, that less interesting each time Troy crept into her thoughts and reminded her of another part of herself that she didn't let loose very often- only in front of him seemingly if her behaviour the last two weeks was anything to go by.

She had been looking forward to her weekend away with Jared and Troy so much that the time soon sped by and as she packed up early on the Friday night before her drive over to their University; she found her Assistant Manager poking his head around the door.

"Ah, Gabriella," Clive Fullerton stepped into her office with a nervous look about him.

She looked up, expecting a last-minute emergency to restrict her intended early-exit.

"Yes, Clive?" She asked tensely.

"I just…" he cleared his throat. "Are you busy this evening?"

She frowned a little. "Actually, I am, rather. What is it you need?"

"Ah…well…actually, I wondered if I could bother you for dinner…" He broached and she met his kind grey eyes with a sympathetic smile.

Clive was a little older than her; and quite an attractive man if you liked that sort of thing- smart, groomed and professional. Unfortunately, Gabi had already let her heart out to another man- a far younger one who wasn't anywhere near as put-together, but he was twice as sexy for it in her opinion.

"I'm sorry, Clive, I'm busy tonight. I'm packing to go away for the weekend to visit with my boyfriend…" she explained politely.

"Boyfriend?" He repeated, with a surprised lift of his brows. "I didn't realize…"

Well he wouldn't, she mused. It had happened in the space of her two week holiday- a holiday romance of sorts if she thought about it that way, but still, she planned to make it last a bit longer than that, too.

"I hope you have a lovely evening anyway," she offered, not willing to share any more details of her private life with her work colleague.

"Of course, thank you. Have a nice weekend," he added as he turned to go.

Gabi watched him leave and let her worried frown turn into a happy smile. She could go home now and pack her case! In just over twelve hours she would be on her way to seeing Troy again, a thought that filled her with giddy excitement. Would he be as eager to see her? Would Jared be okay still with them dating? What would they do over the two days she was visiting? The possibilities filled her mind.

In fact, she might even surprise him by leaving tonight as opposed to tomorrow morning. She could be there in two hours and by the time she packed her case and was ready; she could be there by eight. It wasn't too late for them to catch up and do something. Okay, he wasn't expecting her, he might already have plans but then she could pamper herself at her hotel and still meet him tomorrow as planned.

She smiled as she called the hotel to rearrange her plans.