Sofia immediately starting to trying to call her, hoping she would want to talk to her, but she wouldn't pick up.
After multiple calls and texts from Sofia and Josh, Gabi texted back that she didn't want to talk to any of them right now.
"I'm gonna go home and wait for her there, she probably just needs time to cool off" Sofia said.
"Sofia, I'm sorry I got you into this mess. it's my fault she's mad at you. I'm sorry to all of you" Josh frowned.
"Well its not really your fault, I mean it is, its definitely your fault, but I shouldn't have gone along with it" Sofia said before leaving, giving his arm a supportive squeeze.
"Elliott, Alan, I'm especially sorry to you for ruining your big night" Josh said apologetically.
"You can make it up to us by paying for the wedding" Elliott said. Josh shook his head and hugged him.
"Deal" Josh agreed.
"And the honeymoon" Elliott added.
"Don't push it" Josh said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now let's celebrate the happy couple" he said, trying to put on a happy face.
"Joshua, you have to go after her and explain yourself" Alan encouraged.
"I will. But she needs some time, she's not ready to hear it yet" he explained, knowing Gabi so well.
He picked up his phone and texted her again. "Gabi, please talk to me when you're ready. I swear I can explain everything. I love you"
Then he texted Cooper. "I'm sorry man, I know it wasn't cool what I did but I couldn't not tell her I love her. I know you understand that because you love her too. And if you want to punch me in the face, I totally get that and will let you.
Cooper didn't respond but Josh saw that he had read the message.
Sofia stopped at the store for their favorite wine and ice cream and cake for them to yell/talk/cry it out.
She was surprised to find Gabi already home, changed into pajamas and curled up under a blanket on the couch, wine in hand watching Pretty Woman.
"Hey bestie" Sofia greeted her tentatively.
Gabi scowled at her in response and looked around the room.
"What are you looking for?" Sofia asked, confused.
"Whoever you are calling bestie because best friends don't keep insanely important, life changing secrets from each other!" she said angrily.
"Ok, that's fair" Sofia said, squeezing in on the edge of the couch.
"Gabi, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about everything with Josh, I wanted to but it turned into this whole mess. You liked him but we didn't know he liked you back until after you were with Cooper, and you seemed so happy with Cooper, we didn't want to interfere with that. Then Cooper found out about Josh and I agreed to let him tell you because he wanted to see your face so he would get a true reaction to know if you had feelings for him too. But you told Cooper you love him so he didn't tell you either, but I still should have. You deserved to know the truth and I promise I'll never lie to you again if you'll still be my best friend"
Gabi was silent for a moment, contemplating, her face expressionless.
"Damn it that was a good speech" she said, finally.
"So you forgive me?" Sofia asked hopefully.
"Not yet" Gabi responded quickly. "But maybe with more wine and whatever apology snacks you brought" she smiled slightly.
Sofia hurried into the kitchen to grab utensils and a glass for herself as she joined her on the couch.
"What happened after I left?" Gabi asked.
"Well Cooper left and then Josh apologized to me, and everyone. Have they reached out to you?" she asked.
She nodded "Josh has, he wants to talk, says he loves me" she said smiling at the words, despite her anger.
"He does you know?" Sofia smiled. "If you could have seen him in the airport coming after you and how heartbroken he was when you didn't respond. Ugh!" Sofia said putting her hand over her heart.
"Well he should have told me, not lied and manipulated everyone and everything to hide it from me"
"Then there's Cooper" Gabi frowned.
"He is a good guy but you have to admit there's no comparison to Josh, you've been into him from the start and it grew into full blown love as you two became friends and spent time together. I definitely get why he didn't want to tell you about Josh because he knew" Sofia said knowingly.
Just then there was a knock at the door, which surprised them both, causing them to jump at the sound.
"You have to get that" Gabi said, attempting to hide under the covers.
It was Cooper. "Hey, I just came to get my stuff and give you back your key" he said, holding it up.
Sofia made herself scarce so they could talk.
"Cooper, I'm so sorry about all this. I never meant for it to happen. I never wanted to hurt you" she said honestly.
"I know" he smiled. "I'm sorry too, for not being honest with you, but mostly for the way I acted tonight. I'm better than that"
She smiled in agreement.
"I hope Josh can hold onto you" he said.
"You do?" she asked disbelievingly "Then you really are the best guy ever because I wouldn't" she admitted sheepishly.
"He was big enough to apologize to me and tell me he had to do what he did because he's in love with you and I can relate" he shrugged.
Gabi smiled tenderly and put her hand on his.
"And he offered to let me punch him and I'm really thinking about taking him up on that" he grinned deviously, causing her to laugh.
They parted ways amicably.
"You can come out now, not that you didn't already know that because you were listening at the door the whole time" Gabi called.
Sofia returned to join her on the couch. "What? Like you weren't m going to tell me anyway, it saves time this way" Sofia shrugged.
"So that went well" she said getting back to the topic at hand.
Gabi nodded "Yeah, I'm relieved he doesn't hate me"
"What about Josh?" she asked.
"Still mad" she answered quickly.
"In light of our new no secrets pact, he did text me to make sure you are okay. Are you going to talk to him?"
"Nope"
"Gabi, you work for him" she reminded her.
"I think I'm feeling a little under the weather, probably wont be able to go in tomorrow " she said fake coughing.
"Okay, but you're gonna have to deal with it sometime" Sofia said, patting her leg before heading off to bed.
Gabi tried to go to bed but couldn't sleep. Neither could Josh. He kept staring at his phone, willing it to alert him to a call from Gabi.
While scrolling on her phone she came across an internship opportunity in Switzerland with an accomplished chef and on a whim applied for it.
The next day she decided to go to work after all.
"Gabi, I just want to tell you I'm sorry for keeping Josh's feelings from you, but he made me and he's the boss so its really his fault" Yolanda explained.
"I couldn't agree more so no worries" she smiled and made her way to the kitchen.
"Gabi, I just want to say I don't care if you're mad at me. I would never do anything to help you be with Josh" he grinned snarkily.
"Good talk" she said rolling her eyes.
Josh came around the corner, having heard her.
"Gabi, hi. I thought I heard you" he greeted her nervously.
"Good Morning Josh. What would you like this morning?" she asked, in work mode
"For you to give me a chance to explain" he said then looked at Elliott and Yolanda lurking nearby.
"Can you guys give us a minute?" he asked.
"Why bother? They know all about your lies and manipulation" Gabi huffed.
Yolanda grimaced and backed out of the room, pulling Elliott along.
Josh's face was crestfallen. "I'm sorry Gabi, will you please just hear me out?" he pleaded.
"Fine, if it gets you to stop this" she said dropping onto the couch.
He sat next to her and faced her, careful not to touch her, as much as he wanted to.
"What Cooper said is partially true. After I found out you were the one who made me the blanket, I realized I had feelings for you. After I broke things off with Caroline I couldn't stop thinking about you and I wanted to see you, so I went up your fire escape in the rain, with roses but you were kissing Cooper so I never told you. And then I had to see you with him and hear you talk about him and it killed me inside" he said touching his chest.
Gabi's face softened at the emotion in his voice.
"Then you asked to go to China with him and Sofia found my glove on your fire escape and realized I had been there. She said you needed to know how I felt so we came to the airport but we were too late to catch you. I left you a message telling you about that night but you never got it because your phone was off. I thought you had gotten it and didn't feel the same and I ran into Jilly and tried to move on I guess. Sofia wanted you to hear it but after she asked you about your trip and you gushed over Cooper I knew I couldn't let that happen. But as soon as I saw you again I was right back there with you and Jilly figured that out. I didn't tell you that either." He smiled sheepishly.
"Finally just the other day Yolanda got tired of me whining about you and Cooper and told me to tell you how I feel, so I did. And that's the part of this I'll never be sorry about, and that kiss was magic" he grinned, remembering it vividly. "I'm sorry I didn't say any of this before and that I dragged everyone else into it with me but I swear my intentions were always good"
"Wow that was a lot to take in" she said, overwhelmed.
She took a deep breath "Since we're being honest, I was spiraling when you moved up your wedding and I wish you had gotten to my apartment sooner because I would have been so happy that you came for me, and that you came to the airport, my God its straight out of a Hallmark movie" she said, causing him to laugh.
"You're the only girl I would have done those things for" he said honestly then added "Not that it mattered"
"It matters" she said taking his hands in hers.
"What we have between us is undeniable but its also messy and complicated" she said
"Go on a date with me" he interjected.
"What?"
"We've been through so much but we've never been out on a date, I think we deserve another chance" he said gazing at her, her hands still in his.
"Okay" she agreed
"Yeah?" he asked for confirmation.
"Yes" she smiled.
"Okay, well tomorrow is Elliott's engagement party. How about dinner after?" he asked hopefully
"It's a date" she smiled giddily at him before returning to work.
She got a call to come work alongside the chef at the restaurant that night as an audition. He was brusque but she impressed him with her skill.
The next night as she and Sofia were getting ready to leave for the party she got a call from the chef giving her the internship but would have to leave that night to be ready on Monday for 3 months. She accepted but needed to talk to Josh.
They got to the karaoke bar and her breath hitched as she caught sight of him looking so handsome in a dark suit. He looked good in anything but he made her swoon in suits.
His face lit up in a smile when he saw her, looking gorgeous in a blue romper and heels, her hair swept up on the side in a delicate partial up-do.
They walked towards each other, meeting in the middle.
"You are absolutely stunning" he complimented, smiling so brightly.
"Thank you" she smiled happily at the compliment. "You look amazing as well" she said taking him in again.
"Gabi" Sofia called, walking right up to her face, bringing her attention back to the task at hand.
Gabi startled "Right, focus, Um Josh, I need to ask you something" she said, looking around at the crowd. She took his hand and led him away for privacy.
"What's up?" he asked, once they got to a secluded corner.
"I was wondering if we could postpone our date until tomorrow night" she asked nervously.
"Uh yeah, sure. Whenever you want"
"Great" she said, relieved.
"Also, can it be in Switzerland?" she asked nervously
Josh stared at her in confusion. "What's that now?" he asked holding up a finger.
"So here's the thing, I applied for this amazing culinary internship but I never thought I would actually get it but I did and its in Switzerland for 3 months, which reminds me I also need 3 months off" she rambled.
"Wow, Switzerland. Ok. 3 months, lot to process" he rubbed his temples.
"Josh, I really want to do this but I also really want to do this" she said pointing her finger at him then back at herself.
"Could you I don't know come with me, or at least come visit some? I know it's a lot to ask but hey you're rich" she joked.
He thought about it. She stared at him, nervously awaiting his answer.
"I guess an international flight is a pretty unique first date" he grinned.
"Yes!" she yelled excitedly and pulled him in to a kiss.