Dylan

12:30 and I was ready to go. Finally, I have to look forward to when I leave. Lyla texted me, saying she hopes I have a good night. She’s going out with her mother and a few of their friends. She didn’t know I was getting out early. Why would she need to know? I’ll say I was going to surprise her with a picnic. Which is the truth. Only now it’s a little twisted. She’ll be out, there will be a picnic, and it’ll be with her sister instead.

Gabriella. I can’t find any words to describe her. She’s a flower that has no name. A new element. A song. A feeling. When I met Lyla, I felt the same way. Lyla’s looks were different. She had glasses and bangs. After we got engaged, she started wearing contacts and let her bangs grow out. Lucy was full of energy still and Gabriella didn’t come into my thoughts when I needed to sleep. Lyla would. Would. Why Gabriella? How? No idea. But she’s there and I’m happy when I think of her. Thrilled. Excited. A hand touches my shoulder, causing me to spin around.

“Well, Mike is here early. So if you want to, you can leave early. He’s never early so I’ll make him work your shit too. Same pay. Have a good night.” Bill walked away and welcomed a young couple through the doors. With no hesitation, I grabbed my things and headed to my car. I zoomed to a hotel and paid for a room until tomorrow. Housekeeping told me there was no dryer, but I told them not to worry about it. Room service brought the three milkshakes I ordered. I downed one of them, taking a breath. She might like that! I threw the one I ate away, grabbed my keycard for the room, and my car keys, running to my car.

There were people walking out, but I didn’t see Gabriella anywhere. I look away for three minutes and there she is, standing on the steps. A dark blue hoodie, a black skirt, knee-high socks, and black combat boots. Her hair blew in the wind. My heart skipped a beat as she looked around. The engine started, she instantly made her way over, sitting in the passenger seat. When she bucked up, Gabriella leaned her head back, sighing.

“Long day?” The car backed up.

“Professor wouldn’t get off my ass about the fact that I’m falling behind. It’s not that I can tell him to his face that he talks too fast. He wants me tutoring the other kids because I got the highest score on the entrance exams and he thought he wouldn’t have to worry about me.” Her jawline looked so kissable, but I bounced back to focusing on the road.

“Well, this place has great milkshakes.” My eyes moved to her face, and she was smiling. Only a few more turns. We pulled into the parking lot and she looked a little confused. I shrugged, and we kept walking. Room 688. The room waited for us. I opened the door, letting her in first. I closed the door behind me as we walked in, She grabbed the vanilla milkshake, leaving me with the chocolate one. I shrugged it off, knowing she liked vanilla better. We sat at the foot of the bed, silent.

“I have a question. I’d like to warn you, I don’t dance around anything. I get right to the point.” A cough left her as she nodded. She stirred the shake, waiting. I cleared my throat. “Why did you kiss me back?” She stopped when the words left my mouth.

“I didn’t?” Her fingers fumbled while her feet tapped each other.

“Yes, you did.”

“No.” She continued to stir the shake more, ensuring that she didn’t catch my gaze. I put my glass on the TV stand and touched her cheek the same way I did the day before.

“Gabriella. . .”I mumbled. She looked into my eyes, her cheeks flushing pink. My hand grabbed the chilling cup from her hands and placed it beside mine. I leaned closer to her, she gently pulled away. Her forehead slowly rested on mine. Her lips moved close to touch mine, soft. The opposite of what she acts towards me normally. She jumped up, pacing back and forth with a panicked tone.

“She’s going to kill me. This is your. You married her. . .I.” Tears flooded Gabriella’s beautiful hazel eyes. My book shook while I pulled her close.

“We can get through that.”

“What if we can’t?” Her hand touched my wrist.

“We will.” I spoke as softly as I could.She breathed out, moving closer to me. We were kissing again. I stepped back, landing back onto the bed. His forehead touched mine once more, mumbling her fears. My fingers gently brushed her cheek, and she looked at me. Gabriella Graze. I fell in love with one and got the other. Gabriella chuckled, planted another kiss on my lips. My hands moved to her lower back, pulling her onto my lap as my lips traced her neck. Her hands touched the back of my neck, making me look into her eyes. Again, we kissed and ended up smiling. Sure, this is crazy as hell, but I feel this way for her. Gabriella. Why do you feel so good but you’re so bad for me? I lifted the hoodie off of her, exposing the black tank-top beneath. My hands wandered to her thighs, making her squirm a little. We kissed again, each time a new world. Her fingers played with my collar while we kissed. I pulled her shirt over her head, making her hair fall onto her shoulder. She pulled my shirt off, the two of us laughing. We stopped for a second to catch our breath as we laughed. Her phone rang, making her jump. She reached for her bag, sighing.

“Can it wait?” I groaned, kissing her neck and shoulder. She shook her head and answered the call.

“Hey mom, what’s up?” She stood, picking up my shirt. I stood next to her, holding her, kissing her neck as she told her mother an excuse. “I’m tutoring this new girl, Stacey.” Gabriella’s hand touched the top of mine. Her mother groaned, hanging up.

“Stacy doing okay?” I smiled, resting my head on her shoulder. She stayed quiet, then spun around to look at me.

“Can we, um, not do too much? You’re just. . .I’m a little.”

“Scared.” I finished for her, grabbing the shirt from her. Before she could cry, I pulled the shirt over her head, pulling her hair over the collar. Gabriella’s smile makes me feel weird. A good weird. The best weird. She fell into my chest, hugging me.

“I’ve had these weird feelings for a long time. Yeah, I married Lyla but just one day. . .changed everything. Gabriella, I saw you and my heart just knew. We didn’t even talk that day when I got these weird ass feelings for you.” I chuckled, she pulled me into the bed, lying down facing me. We lie there, face to face. After a while, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. No regrets. That’s what I live with. No regrets.

★

Gabriella left around 10:30 p.m, taking my shirt with her. It didn’t bother me. Instead, it made me smile. I grabbed a pack of beer on the way home. Just around 1, Lyla called me, asking me where I was. I told her I’d talk to her when I got home. We did. I threw the beer into the fridge and she waited in our room. We almost fought. Even now, as her head is on my chest, I wish it was Gabriella’s.

“You scared me, Dylan. You’re never that late.” She clenched my hand.

“I wasn’t at work. I went to a hotel and slept there for a while. At first, I was going to bring you so we could have a little picnic. But then you were out with your mom and friends, so I said nothing. Gabriella called and asked if I was busy. I picked her up and brought her there. She’s stressed because her professor is giving her issues. So, we settled it with milkshakes.” At least I didn’t lie about all of it. Lyla squeezed my hand tighter and kissed my chin.

“You’re so sweet.” Her voice echoed in my head. Even hours after she fell asleep, I could get her off my mind. Her smell, the way she felt, her lips, her smile, her laugh. Everything. A bird sang, telling me I wasn’t getting any sleep. Lyla rose, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I held her closer, groaning. I let go, realizing she wasn’t Gabriella. She climbed over me, pulling a dress over her head, spinning around to look at me. I sat up and kissed her after standing beside her. She smiled and grabbed her keys, walking out the door.

“Hurry up Gabby!” Lyla yelled down the hallway. Gabriella cleared her throat.

“I’m right here.” She answered, close to our door. My heart stopped. I don't know what gave me the balls to do it, but I opened the door more to look at her. Today's outfit was a skirt, leggings, high tops, and a tank top. Her hair sat high in a bun, showing the small tattoo on her neck. I pulled a shirt over my head and stood behind Gabriella as Lyla made her morning coffee in the kitchen. I whispered, making her shiver a little. My hand pulled the bun down. Her perfume flooded my senses, her body and her neck so kissable. I walked past her, to Lyla to grab the coffee. Lyla kissed my cheek, opening the door for the two of them. When they walked out, I could finally breathe. I can’t do that again or I’ll do what I was thinking of doing. The coffee burned my mouth. For the best.