Chapter 44 Chapter Forty-Four - Gabriella
I haven’t heard from Jartre in a few days. Sounds ridiculous to be worrying about someone with the power to tear apart the universe, but that’s what happens when you care about someone. I pick up on his emotions sometimes – something I’m still getting used to. It’s mostly just confusion and frustration, and I wish I could be there for him to make him feel better, but then there are these moments where I can feel that he misses me. I mean, I don’t specifically know it’s me he’s thinking of, but I know he doesn’t really have anyone in his life, and I know we have something special, so critical thinking would suggest that I’m the only one he could be missing.
I was going a bit crazy at home between no shifts and no rehearsals, so I was grateful when Wyatt called me up yesterday and invited me to join him and Derrick at the Glitter Hole for the Diamond Party tonight. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity, and that’s where we are headed now.
“How are your feet feeling?” Wyatt asks, glancing down at my 7-inch, platform leopard print and black buckle stilettos.
“If I can spend a night dancing in these puppies, I can manage walking a few blocks to the club in them,” I assure him.
“So, that’s why you’re clinging to Derrick’s arm?” He smirks.
“She just missed me. Didn’t you, beautiful?” Derrick coos, smiling down at me.
I grin up at him broadly, “Missed you like a missing limb.” I kiss him on his cheek.
“I’m surprised that giant wall of muscle let you join us,” says Wyatt, a mocking tone to his voice that earns him a pointed look from Derrick.
I glance between them. “You don’t trust him, do you?”
“We haven’t had a chance to get to know him, so we can’t say we trust him one way or the other,” says Derrick, being surprisingly diplomatic.
“Fine, I’ll say it. I don’t trust him. I don’t like the way he behaved that night at the club. I’m sorry Ella, but it was a huge red flag,” Wyatt explains unremorsefully.
I come to a stop, bringing Derrick to a stop beside me, Wyatt halting a second later.
“It’s a red flag out of context. Like Derrick said, neither of you has gotten to know him, so it’s really not fair to judge him. And I haven’t officially had us all hang out because this is still new, and I want to get to know him better before having him meet my family. But for the record, his behaviour was completely justified,” I say emphatically, feeling far more protective of Jartre than I have in the past. Maybe it’s because I know his past, or maybe it’s this bond, either way, it’s happening, so saddle up bitches.
“Acting like a jealous jerk is justified?” Wyatt scoffs.
“Come on, Wyatt, I think you’re going a bit far on this one,” Derrick says uncomfortably, coming between us.
“Frankly, it’s none of your business, but I don’t want either of you judging him, so here are the facts. Jartre wasn’t acting jealous, he was acting traumatised. His one and only girlfriend and first love of his life, cheated on him. Not only did she cheat on him, but it was with his friend. He was devastated and he spiralled into a really dark place after that. Unfortunately, during that time, his ex passed away, so he was never able to confront her or resolve any of his feelings. In fact, since we’ve been together it’s the first time he’s begun to deal with what happened, and it’s hard for him but he’s trying. Yeah, he has some bad traits, but he’s actively working on them because he understands they’re a result of someone he loved betraying him in such a horrible way. I’m not going to stand here and ask you to give him a chance for me, but I will demand you give him some decency instead of judging someone you don’t even know when you have no idea where they come from. I honestly would have expected better from the both of you,” I say with disappointment. They both look down in shame, but I just shake my head and walk towards the club.
As I get closer, they both catch up and run in front of me just as I approach the door.
“I’m sorry, Gabriella,” says Wyatt sincerely.
“Me too. Though for the record I wasn’t the one judging him,” throws in Derrick, cupping one side of his mouth as if that will miraculously stop Wyatt from hearing him. Shockingly, it did not.
Wyatt looks at him slack-jawed, “Judas!”
“Babe, I told you you were going too far on this one. From what I experienced when I met him, he seemed to really care about Gabriella. And let’s be real, if you walked into a club and saw me wrapped up in another guy’s arms, are you going to tell me you wouldn’t have immediately felt jealous, no matter how much you trust me?” Derrick points out.
Wyatt sighs, “I know you’d never let that happen, but if it did, yes, I would have felt some type of way about it.”
“So, you can understand how it might have looked to him?” I ask.
“Yes,” Wyatt says reluctantly, “But the man was in a gay bar, did he really think I was trying to make a move on you?” he asks dubiously.
I roll my eyes, “I’m a straight woman at the gay bar. Besides, what if you were bi, or pan, or omni?”
“Well, I’m not. I’m gay.”
“But he didn’t know that!” I say in frustration, “Stop trying to think up reasons to make him seem like the bad guy. Yes, he jumped to conclusions, but that’s because when he saw us, all he saw was history repeating itself. Now can you please stop being a jerk so we can go inside and enjoy the night?”
Wyatt lets out another sigh, “I’m sorry, Gabriella.”
“If you follow that with a ‘but’, your apology is officially null and void.”
“No ‘but’. I’m truly sorry. Like you said, we’re family, and you’ve been mistreated a lot by guys, especially recently. You’re like a little sister to me, and I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” he says with a soft apologetic look on his face.
“Now I’m gonna cry,” says Derrick fanning his eyes.
I smile at Wyatt, “And you’re like my big brothers. I love you both, but I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself. But it is nice to know you have my back.”
“Group hug!” Derrick cheers, pulling me and Wyatt into his arms.
With a chuckle, we both surrender to his crushing embrace. We wrap our arms around each other and after a moment of squeezing the air out of each other’s lungs, Derrick finally releases us.
“Enough of this outpouring of emotion, let’s dance and get hammered,” I say brightly.
“Sounds like the perfect idea to me,” Wyatt agrees.