Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 221

Clairessa's POV

My phone buzzed.

Jess: I'm outside.

Outside? I blinked, frowning. Outside where? She never said she was coming

over.

Another ping.

Jess: At the door.

I shot upright in bed, blinking like I'd misread the screen. She was here? Now?

What the hell?

Grabbing my phone, I immediately hit call. "Jess?!"

Her voice came through the speaker, full of excitement. "Oh my God, Claire. I know I came here last night, but I didn't realize how beautiful this place was. Seeing it in the daylight? It's actually insane."

I tossed the covers off and padded toward the bedroom door, still in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"Obviously checking on you," she replied, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "After everything with Adrian last night—and Gabriel's emotionally constipated drama-you think I'd wait around for a text? Nah. I had to make sure you were alive with my own two eyes."

"You could've at least warned me," I murmured, turning down the hall and heading to the access door. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I didn't want to give you the chance to say no,” she said with a smug little laugh. "Besides, I missed you."

"I bet," I said, still clutching the phone to my ear as the door slid open. "But I'm actually really glad you're here. I think it's a good thing you came... because with everything going on,"

I let out a sigh, "I really needed to talk to my bestie."

Jess gave a dramatic aww as soon as she saw me by the entryway.

I rushed into her hug without hesitation, and we held on tight for a second too long.

When we finally pulled apart, she blinked up at the tall ceilings and wooden floors.

"Claire..." she breathed, spinning slowly as her eyes swept across the grand hall. "This place is insane."

She turned in a full circle, awe written all over her face. "I mean, I knew Gabriel had money, but I didn't know he had movie villain estate money. This looks like the kind of place Bond villains vacation in."

I laughed. "You're doing too much."

"I'm not!" She gestured around. "The paintings, the floors, the air-it smells expensive."

"Jess," I rolled my eyes, chuckling. "Are you going to keep drooling or are you going to follow me to my room?”

"Lead on, princess," she said, falling in step behind me, still sneaking glances at the decor. "So... where's Mr. Stormy Control Freak? And the prodigal son?"

I shrugged. "Probably hiding in the west wing-or the east. Who knows. This

to avoid people. We only see

overwhelmed.

said, dragging

upstairs toward the room Gabriel

aside,

isn't a room-Claire, this is a

muttered, collapsing onto the couch with a

like she was stepping into a dream, running her fingers along the textured walls before

thought you said everything burned in the fire! How do you have all of this?" She spun around, wild-eyed. "The clothes, the shoes, the

I said, trying to sound casual, even though I was still reeling too. "Apparently Gabriel's been working on this for a while. I only

arching nearly to her hairline. "But you said you two weren't even speaking. So how was he building you a secret princess suite behind

He kept it hush-hush. I only found out because Jane, the housekeeper, relocated me here.

the closet again. "Oh my God. That man is in love

know about

you a closet straight out of Vogue. Who

slowly. "It surprised me

don't need my clothes

stuff will just sit here unworn. Might as well let someone

blouse. "This is why you're my best friend."

her eyes narrowed, and she turned to me.

opened, but

Jess gasped. "You haven't."

mean, I swore I wouldn't

lifted. "Wait-what exactly

I hesitated.

"Don't play coy. Something

"Maybe."

my God. You had

"No! Not exactly."

"Claire!"

cheeks heating. "Maybe... something

away with vague answers. Did you

do the

my face in

"Answer the question!"

didn't have

"But...?"

"But... close enough."

God. You did take my advice and let that man eat you Claire, who even are you?! I don't need to ask how

he floated too. I might've returned

me like I was an alien. "Who is this woman? My Claire would've

of temptation. And now

being everyone's 'good girl.' Maybe I'm finally becoming the woman I was meant to

exhaled like

Absolutely. This is

to this

me he was going to scold you. Now he's

your voice down?"

want him

eyes, and she chuckled

Gabriel need to talk and figure all of this