Chapter Thirty-Two - Three Months

Chapter Thirty-Two - Three Months
Gabe

It's been three months since I last saw Peyton. She stopped answering my calls and replying to my texts. At first, she happily talked to me for a couple of weeks, but suddenly everything changed without warning. I don’t understand what happened or why. I know she’s okay through Kaitlyn and Anthony. If I knew her address and that Max wouldn’t be there, I’d go to her door. However, Kaitlyn and Anthony wouldn’t give me her address if I asked, and I don’t want to put them in that position. 

I managed to handle it for a bit, until I couldn't anymore. It felt like losing her all over again, even though she hasn’t been mine in years. My way of coping? Drinking excessively and sleeping with a different woman every other night. It's not the best way, but it seems to be the only distraction I have. This is how I dealt with everything before, and now history is repeating itself. 

Tonight, though, I need to keep it together because I have a family dinner, something I dread. I hate family dinners. They are a waste of time. It is spent talking business, everyone bringing one another down, and our parents reminding us of every single failure. I would rather not go, but if I don’t, it will make things worse. I will go and get it over with. 

I am not going alone. I am taking a date, well, not really a date. She is a friend who is going to pretend to be my date to keep my parents off my back. Florence has a girlfriend; she isn’t into men at all, but when I asked for a favour, she agreed. It is better than going alone. I have barely seen my family since I returned. I’ve never forgiven them for the part they played in ending my relationship with Peyton. Obviously, I can’t put all the blame on them, but they were a major part of the problem. I wish I could just cut them off, but I can’t; they would make it impossible. 

“Gabe, you can always cancel. You're stressing too much," Florence says, sitting on my bed while I get ready. 

“I can’t. Even if I do, they will find a way to make my life hell until I agree to go to dinner with them. Thank you for doing this; it will keep them off my back.” 

Florence smiles. “You’re welcome. That’s what friends are for. You would do the same for me. Still no word from Peyton?” 

I shake my head. “No, and honestly, I don’t believe I’ll hear from her again.” 

Florence isn’t familiar with Peyton, but she has listened to me rant and share my feelings about it. She understands the situation, and I needed to vent. I didn’t want Kaitlyn and Anthony to become tired of hearing me go on about it. 

“Gabe, you can't be sure of that. It has been months, but if you genuinely believe you are meant to be, she will return to you when the time is right.” 

“I wish I could believe that, Florence,” I sigh. 

“You need to, and screwing every woman you run into who has a pulse isn’t going to solve anything either.” 

I sit on the bed, running my fingers through my hair. “I know you're right. It won’t fix anything, but it's the only way I have to distract myself." 

“You need to stop and get yourself together. Do you really want to be in this state if she does come back?” 

“No, I don’t want to be like this if she comes back.” 

“Then stop. Everything will work out.” She smiles and pats my back. 

I nod, hoping she is right, but a part of me fears I will keep messing things up. That's just my tendency. I quickly get up and finish getting ready because we have to leave soon. I'll make my visit to my parents’ place quick. As long as I show up, they'll stay off my back. 

A knock comes at my front door as I am getting ready. I am not expecting anyone. 

Florence smiles and climbs off the bed. “I will get it; you finish getting ready.” 

“Thank you. I have no idea who it is. I am not expecting anyone.” 

Florence leaves the bedroom to answer the door. I catch muffled voices, and shortly after, the door closes again. I then hear her returning to the bedroom. 

“Wrong door,” she laughs. 

“That makes sense, as I wasn’t expecting anyone.” I chuckle. 

I don’t think much of it and finish getting ready. We quickly grab a drink before calling an Uber to pick us up. I would drive, but that means I can’t drink, and I can’t deal with my family without a drink. Florence will need a drink if she wants to get through the night. I don’t know how my family will react to her, maybe well, because to them, she seems like the perfect woman for me. She’s intelligent, wealthy, beautiful, and polite. She comes from a rich family like mine, which they will like. That’s partly why they didn’t like Peyton — she didn’t come from a wealthy background. My parents hated that and convinced themselves she only wanted my money, even though we’ve been together since we were teenagers. Peyton never asked me for anything, but they didn’t see it that way. 

“Let’s get this night over with," I groan as I see the notification on my cell that our car is outside. 

“It will be fine. We will go, make conversation, eat, have a drink, and leave as quickly as we can.” 

“I like the sound of that plan.” 

We head out, and I lock up. Sighing, we head for the elevator. 

Florence takes my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “It will be fine. If it becomes too overwhelming, we simply leave—no questions asked.” 

“Thank you. I am sorry if they try to pull you into the family drama.” 

“Don’t worry. I can handle it. My family is just like yours.” 

“True. Have you ever wished you could vanish and start over? Leave behind the family you were born into?" 

“I do, but no matter how much they piss me off, they are family, after all.” 

“I guess…”

I’d gladly vanish and change my name, but I wouldn’t get very far. My parents would have someone tracking me right away. We leave my building and get into the waiting car. I want this night to end as soon as possible.