Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 151: Held Hostage By My Own Fears

Gabriel's POV

The vibrating sound came first.

Then the soft thud of my phone against the desk as it lit up again.

Clairessa was calling for the tenth time this hour.

I tried to look away, tried to focus on the reports in front of me, but my traitorous

heart wouldn't cooperate. I reached for the phone, tempted to toss it into the

drawer and forget it existed.

But my fingers hovered, trembling slightly. No matter how hard I tried to ignore her

call, my chest clenched each time I saw her name.

It was already evening. The sun had set, and I still hadn't moved—same

position, surrounded by silence—except for her persistent calls.

I finally gave in and picked up the phone.

Thirty missed calls.

A dozen unread messages.

Messages lined my screen like daggers pressing against my chest.

I scrolled past each one, feeling my heart betray me.

Babe... have you landed?

Gabe, what's wrong?

I'm worried.

Talk to me.

I heard you're back. Went to see you but Tems didn't let me through.

Please talk to me. I'm losing my mind.

I love you!

Why are you avoiding me?

Did I do something?

We can talk about it.

What about our dinner plans?

Gabriel Storm I love you!

That last one gutted me.

"I love you."

How could she say that so sweetly, so easily, while stabbing me in the back?

It was hard to believe. My sweet, beautiful Clairessa... the woman who melted in

my arms, who looked at me like I was her entire world—could really be cheating

on me.

I should hate her.

had evidence, didn't I? That

hair. Hands on her waist like he owned

of my heart and moved on

bastard I'd always been.

hovered over the

I didn't trust Nicole. That viper could

make it seem like the truth. I had to give Clairessa the benefit

to hear it

phone. "My Sweet"

done for anyone else. The words seemed

but I

couldn't leave

So, I replied.

Dinner, 8 PM.

Velenia Rooftop. Open air. No

came almost

Clairessa: So you're alive!

tone came through even in the text,

my mouth lifted

just happy you

Shit.

my

see her. Look into her eyes and get the truth—whether

know if I could take it. If she lied,

true, it would shatter me beyond

muttered

rose from my

the shelf. I poured

amount into a

liquid catching the

it back in

little to

in my chest.

Trey announced from the

I didn't move.

gone by since I told Clairessa to meet

the rooftop restaurant. From my position in the

the perfect

came

seated by the light,

her

toyed with her hair,

strands and letting them

her face like she

scene. Her

her curves like it

onto her body,

sultry, and completely her.

God, she looked breathtaking.

had only been two days, but it felt like

just seeing her. I wanted nothing more than to get out

up into my

nothing else mattered.

the doubts and evidence and rumors

and make love to her like none of

handle—and didn't move. I

by my

was

A big one.

truth was—I didn't trust myself. Not around her. Not when she looked

with how much

love made me stupid. Vulnerable. And I couldn't afford

her. Not when I hadn't even begun to recover