Gabe starred at me wide eyed for a beat and then immediately started flipping through his notebook. He looked at a few things and then started writing something down.
"What are you doing Meanie?"
"I have to write down how much Jasmine I added and what you said. I know it seems fucking ridiculous now, but after the shock wears off I might forget and then I will have to test different amounts later. It is a waste of time. Better to write it down now, then be done with it." He flipped his notebook closed and then brought his cell phone out. "Now I am calling Mr. B to see what he wants to do about our new info."
He's going to tell Owen? What if Owen thinks it is stupid of me to jump to the idea that it is Volto? "Wait, Meanie!" He picked his head up and paused what he was doing with his phone. "Trouble? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just…do we have to call him now? What if I'm wrong about Volto's scent?"
Meanie scrunched his eyebrows together. "Are you not sure if it's actually that masked bastard's scent Trouble? You seemed pretty fucking sure."
"No, I'm sure. As soon as I smelled it I was brought back to every time I have been near him."
"I told you that scent is a pretty powerful thing. We definitely need to tell Mr. B." He must have sensed I was still hesitant because he continued. "I know you are nervous about being wrong, or getting everyone riled up for no reason. Here's the thing though Trouble, we tell each other everything we think could mean something. Every fucking thing. You never know what small piece of information will tie a loose end up. You see this as something ridiculous, something small that we might not even be able to do anything about." I realized I was unconsciously nodding my head. "Do you want to know how I see it?" This time I nodded on purpose. "I have been trying to pin down this scent for months. It had to be at least two months before I ever met you. A scent I have never smelled before and have not been able to find replicated anywhere else, and trust me Trouble, I have fucking looked everywhere. So I just learned that this one of a kind scent is the same scent that a crazy mother fucker wears and to top it off he was hanging around way before you were with us." He paused. He was right. I hadn't thought of it that way. It always felt like I was pestering them with nonsense, but maybe I was going to be the one that helped them tie up the loose strings. Was that too much to hope for?
"Meanie, you should call Owen."
"Damn right I should. Wait, what? Did you just call Mr. B. Owen? Are we allowed to do that?" He already had the phone to his ear. "Owen I'm with…" he stopped talking and put his head down. "Right, sorry Mr. B…" I hope I didn't get Meanie in trouble. I know I am only supposed to call him Owen when we are alone, but it is hard to switch back and forth. Gabriel had walked out of the kitchen. I heard him talking but couldn't make out what he was saying. I wanted to do something, but didn't know what. I decided to see what I could make for dinner. As I was taking some pasta out of the pantry Meanie came back into the kitchen. "Better fucking quadruple whatever you are making Trouble, we are having a family meeting." As if on cue, I felt me phone buzz in my bra. Since I was half hidden by the pantry door, I pulled my phone out to see who it was.
Mr. Blackbourne: Family Meeting at 8:00pm, Mr. Griffin's House.
Other messages started coming in as the other guys responded. It looked like everyone would be here except Dr. Green, he couldn't leave the hospital.
Gabriel started packing everything up from the kitchen. He kept is eyes down and I think I would term his look as a scowl.
"Is everything okay Meanie?" He still didn't look up at me, but he nodded his head and said "Yeah Trouble. Just trying to wrap my head around everything. I was standing right in front of that fucker and didn't even know it." He slammed his fist down on the table. "Why was he there? Why the hell did he come scoping out Pam's salon? How long has he been stalking us? We thought it was all about you, but we were wrong. There is no way he knew about you before we did. What the fuck!" He threw his hands up and then started running his hands through his hair. He put his head back so he was staring at the ceiling and took a deep breath. "Sorry Trouble." Finally he looked at me. "I guess I am in shock by all of that and then a little bummed about our date being interrupted by a family meeting."
"I'm sorry Meanie." I walked over to him and put my hands around his arms to pull them down from his head. I kept my hands on his arms. "I ruined our date." Meanie's head jerked back a little and he started to laugh.
"You think you ruined our date Trouble? I am sad because our one on one time has been cut short, but if it wasn't for our super awesome date we would not have cracked part of the mystery of Volto. When the mystery is gone, all that's left is for us to catch him and torture him...or kill him, I haven't decided." He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. "Anyway, none of the other guys can say that about their dates." He wrapped his arms around me and placed his chin on my head. "Thank you Trouble. For being fucking awesome and perfect and…well just being you." He lifted his chin off my head and I felt his lips gently touch my forehead. I lifted my head up, wanting to meet him halfway, but was stopped short by the front door slamming shut and the sound of multiple footsteps coming down the hall.