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

avoid people. We only see each other when fate

still overwhelmed. "This

on," I said, dragging

led her upstairs toward the room

door and stepped aside, Jess froze in place. Her

a room-Claire, this is a mini-apartment. What the

I muttered, collapsing onto the couch with

was stepping into a dream, running her fingers along the textured walls before peeking into the closet-then

burned in the fire! How do you have all of

still reeling too. "Apparently Gabriel's been working on this for a while. I only

you two weren't even speaking. So how was he building you a secret princess suite behind your

hush-hush. I only found out because Jane, the housekeeper,

at me, then at the closet again. "Oh my God. That man is

know

closet straight out of Vogue. Who does

nodded slowly. "It surprised

doors wider with a squeal. "Girl, you don't need my clothes anymore.

stuff will just sit here unworn. Might as well let

over a silk blouse. "This is why you're

to me. "So... have you thanked

opened, but nothing

Jess gasped. "You haven't."

wouldn't fall back into his arms, and then...

lifted. "Wait-what exactly happened

I hesitated.

"Don't play coy.

"Maybe."

dropped. "Oh my God. You had sex

"No! Not exactly."

"Claire!"

laughed, cheeks heating. "Maybe...

with vague answers. Did you two

do the

my face in my

"Answer the question!"

didn't have

"But...?"

"But... close enough."

let that man eat you Claire, who even are you?! I don't need to

too. I

I was an alien. "Who is this

of temptation. And now you're-what? Owning your

guess I'm done being everyone's 'good girl.' Maybe I'm finally becoming the woman

exhaled like a

Absolutely. This is

fire to

told me he was going to scold you.

keep your voice down?"

Adrian. We wouldn't want

eyes, and she chuckled again, then

you and Gabriel need to talk and figure