Chapter 33: Home

POV: Zac / Gabby

Monday, December 10, 2007

It was 6 am and they said she was going home today, yet she had not even said where she was going. She’d spent a lot of time the last few days talking to Abby, Max, and Shawn via texts and she sometimes seemed happy and sometimes not. I wondered if Shawn was offering her a place too, but I really wanted her to come home with me. She got up at 7 and after the doctor checked her over well she showered and got dressed. I packed everything up for her while she did that, including chargers and my own things.

“You can head on home.” She said.

“Um, you can’t walk out with no ride.”

“Not a problem, Stella is coming up at 9. She’s going to wait and then we’re gonna grab lunch and then I’ll come to your place, all my stuff is there and I don’t have near enough here.”

I swallowed, that didn’t sound promising at all. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.”

“Zac, we’re doing lunch and she wants me to come shopping with her. You don’t want to do all that. Head on home, get a hot shower take a nap. It’ll be rather late when we come by.”

“Okay.”

I took the bags with me but I felt this overwhelming sense of just dread. I gave her a quick kiss goodbye before leaving and the drive home was painful. She didn’t want to come home with me and that meant she probably was going to listen to Max and Abby, apparently I was not worthy of being a husband to anyone. Priscilla didn’t think so, Gabby doesn’t think so. I got home and dropped her bags with her boxes and put mine in the bedroom and then I cried. I wanted to be her husband and I wanted to be there for her, I didn’t want this divorce or annulment, but if she wasn’t going to come here then I couldn’t do anything about it. I hadn’t said anything to her since we talked, no pressure at all.

I cried for over an hour before I told myself I was being irrational. I fixed breakfast and then cleaned the entire apartment, it kept my brain from being over active and kept me from worrying. Yet, about noon Gabby sent me a text asking for the exact address for my apartment, she couldn’t remember the numbers. I reluctantly sent her the full address, knowing that probably meant she was at a lawyer’s office and they needed it to serve me. I tried not to cry again but it was not easy, I decided playing games would help. So, I played and snacked. At 5 the doorbell rang and I hopped up but checked the peep hole first.

Priscilla stood outside and I laid my forehead against the door. Gabriella and Stella could arrive really, at any moment. If she showed up and Priscilla was inside the apartment I was sure that would be it. I opened the door, but left the chain locked so it only came open 2 inches.

“What do you want?”

“I’d like to come inside and talk to you. Maybe do some fooling around.”

Based on the attire she chose, the fooling around part was more what she wanted. Yet, normally I would get some kind of reaction to seeing her in tight blue jeans and a tight shirt, but this time nothing happened. Not even a slight reaction.

“We are not together and we don’t have anything to talk about. I really don’t want to fool around with you either.”

“Oh come Zac, she’s not here. She’ll file and you know it. Just let me in so I can make you feel better.”

She went to reach through the opening and I stopped her before her hands even made contact with my body.

“No. I don’t want you to make me feel anything. I want you to leave.”

She crossed her arms. “No. You keep telling me you don’t want me but I saw your eyes traveling, you know damn well you do. You always wanted to go all the way.”

“Yeah and you told me you wanted to wait until we were married, then I find out that you were far from a virgin like you said. I don’t want you anymore. You need to just go home Priscilla.”

I closed the door in her face and even locked it so she couldn’t open it. She must have stood there several minutes before she started pounding on the door. When my phone rang, I scrambled to get it because it was Gabby’s ringtone.

“Gabby?”

“Hey, we’re bringing Pizza for dinner. So don’t fix anything. We’re about to leave the place now so, should be 20 minutes maybe 30.”

“Perfect. I have drinks already.”

“Okay…um..what is that noise?”

Shit! She must be able to hear Priscilla knocking on the door, or rather trying to bust it in or something. I knew I could lie but there was no need too.

“It’s Priscilla, she came over and I won’t let her inside. I told her to leave but she apparently intends to just knock until I go crazy.”

“Oh, well as long as she’s outside the door.”

“She is. I promise.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

She then hung-up and I told Priscilla to leave but she kept knocking, yelling at me to open the door, how she just knows I want her so badly, how I want to slam her against a wall and do naughty things. It was weird that I had no reaction to anything she was saying when back then I would have been dying and scrambling.

“Priscilla I don’t want you. Just go home.”

“No.”

She kept on and when she stopped I was confused, it had been 40 minutes and when I heard Gabriella’s voice I paused. She told her she needed to stop banging on the door because the neighbor down the hallway was about to call the police. The problem with that was my neighbor wasn’t home. The next knock was lighter and only once, but I still checked and Gabby was standing there.

“Any day Zac, my arms about to die.”

I unlocked the door and seen she had several bags, pizza box, and other stuff so I grabbed a handful and let her in.

“She seriously stood there the 40 or so minutes it took for me to arrive?”

“Yes. I was expecting you and Stella sooner, um..where is Stella?”

“She dropped me off, Taylor called her for dinner plans like a mile from here. It would have been hours ago but the DMV took for fucking ever.” She said.

“DMV? Why did you both go there?”

“Hospital informed me my license was expired, apparently back in October. So, she took me there and other places first.”

“That’s good.”

Once her hands were empty she got the small piece of plastic and handed it to me, I was confused at first. I knew what license looked like for the state and I really didn’t want to see Stella’s address there, because I am sure that’s what she used. Yet, I looked down and saw her picture, she even took amazing license pictures, mine looked horrible! Inadvertently my eyes traveled and there was her name printed in bold letters.

Gabriella Skye Hanson

I blinked, clearly I was misreading and just seeing what I wanted too. That was not right, no way. I moved my thumb and in bold letters was my address, exactly like it should be.

“I had to have the address at the social security department, I couldn’t remember the exact number to the complex.”

I didn’t understand that at all, why did she go there? Why would they need my address?

“Why?”

“They have to mail my new card to me. They had me back in like ten minutes, the DMV took two hours, and then she went shopping. I did pick out something for Taylor for Christmas, she recommended it.”

All I heard was new card out of all of those sentences, they have to mail her new card. They would only do that if she changed her name.

“You changed your name?”

She moved my hands and moved in closer, pressing her lips against mine and I sighed.

“I asked Stella to pick me up so that I could do this and surprise you. Taylor came and got the license and papers for me because I had to have them at the social security department and the DMV office. I just wanted to surprise you.”

“You did, very much so. Does that mean you…?”

“I chose to come here. I cannot guarantee that you and I will make it, but you can’t either. I asked for everyone’s opinion on what I should do and then I chose. I’m sure that Abby and Max will be pissed off but it’s not their life. I want to be here with you.”

I shouldn’t have but I couldn’t resist lifting her and spinning her around, thankfully it was a giggle and not a scream because I totally forgot she had stitches still! I also couldn’t resist the right kind of kiss for this situation, one that I was sure was passionate enough because she kind of just melted into my arms.

“Wow…I need to change my name more often.”

“No, once is enough. I really didn’t think you’d come here. I was pretty sure you’d go home with her.”

“I was and I’m really hoping this decisions is right, please don’t make me regret it.”

“It is the right one and you won’t regret it.”

“Good, I’m starving now. Lunch was far too long ago!”

I looked at her license again, she’d changed her name for me and came here. I really didn’t want to make her regret this decision. She had several bags that were at the end of the counter but we fixed our plates and drinks first and ate.

She looked at the stack of boxes. “You didn’t even unpack? You come on so arrogant just assuming I would be here, I rather anticipated my things to be unpacked.”

“I started too but the idea of watching you pack everything to leave was…painful.”

She slid over and poked my shoulder. “Guess that means you get to do it then.”

I looked at her and smiled. “You think I mind? Please.”

Yet that smile she gave me, perhaps I would mind more than I think. She got up carefully and got one of the smaller bags.

“Stella said Taylor told her my things were still boxed up. So, I picked up something.”

“I see that, what did you get?”

I totally regretting asking that question, the item she pulled from the bag was a blue apron with white lace trim all around the bottom part. The top was a solid blue material with a lace pocket.

“That would look absolutely amazing on you.” I said.

“I’m sure it will, but I’d rather like to see you wearing it.”

“I kind of figured that was coming…”

It wasn’t that bad, but before I slipped it over my head she stopped me.

“Without the shirt.”

That should have been my first major clue, because after the shirt was off and the apron was over my head she tugged at the waistband of my pants and before long the only thing I was wearing was the apron.

“Least if anyone shows up the front is covered, the back, not so much.”

“Looks perfect to me.”

“I bet. So, what first?”

“Kitchen.”

I headed to the kitchen and was acutely aware that her eyes were glued to my ass.

-Gabby-

It had been a hard decision and ultimately it wasn’t Max, Abby or even Stella that helped it had been Shawn. He didn’t know anything about Zac’s past and his unbiased observations about how he acted made me realize that perhaps I did need to give this a chance. It was obvious he wanted me, he’d been disappointed when I hadn’t answered. The apron came while we were shopping earlier because really, I couldn’t lift the boxes for another several weeks and with my arm in a brace I couldn’t even really do much of anything. I swear on his way to the kitchen with the plates he swayed his hips and I giggled. This was maybe the best idea ever, one that no one else I’d been with would ever do. I moved to the island so I could watch him better.

Truthfully, I hadn’t really paid much attention to just the way he looked or the way he moved. The way his hair slightly curled some, the way it moved and how his tongue kind of stuck out while he washed the few plates. The kitchen was clean in record time and then he began to move the boxes from the living room to the bedroom, as 90% of my stuff was clothes or something. I sat on the stool and watched because the one time I tried to pick up one bag he took it and told me to sit. Okay, not that I was pissed about that!

Watching him come and go in just that apron, bending and lifting. Really was making me think of way better things we could be doing but can’t. It however gave me a moment to appreciate the thighs and calves, the way they moved when he lifted boxes. When he got the last one I followed and he giggled.

“Suppose you’re going to watch me unpack them too?”

“You know it.”

“You are getting way too much joy out of this.”

I simply smiled and sat down in the closet on the plush stool. He started with the hanging clothes which he’d apparently just thrown in the box.

“Thanks a lot for the wrinkled stuff.”

“No problem. It’ll flatten and if not I’ll toss it in the dryer.”

“Where is the dryer? Washer?”

“First door on the right, it’s also a storage room.”

“So..now that I’m pretty much living here..Is there anything I should know?”

“About?”

“The building, neighbors, anything.”

He paused before taking the next box. “The building is pretty straight forward, all utilities are included with the rent so there isn’t any fuss there. Trash I take usually on Monday on the way to the studio as it’s near the rear entrance where I leave. Neighbor wise, Mr. Edwards is across from us and he’s a nice man. Older gentleman who lost his wife many years ago, they had two kids and he spends a lot of time with the grandkids when he’s not working. The apartment directly below is empty right now but on the other side is a young couple the Smiths. They work erratic hours as well.”

“They seemed quiet the few times I was here before.”

“It’s a quiet neighborhood.”

I watched him put the boxes of heels on the top shelf, watched the muscles of his back flex and move and I leaned back against the wall. I should have chosen that apron when I could do a lot more.

“How do I know you’re staring at me without even turning around?”

“Who else am I going to stare at?”

“Good point. See something you like?”

“I don’t know, that little tie is interrupting my view.”

Without missing a beat he just untied it and let the ribbon hang down his sides. Fuck that was the perfect view of his ass.

“Better?”

“Oh yeah.”

I couldn’t deny he had a perfect ass but I kept my own glued to the seat, reminder of the stitches and I didn’t need to bust them. I was sick of hospitals. He finished unpacking the clothes and the last few had bathroom items which he put up and the last was just odds and ends. Which he slide under a shelf. I then followed him to the living room.

“You know this is like some torture method to yourself right?”

“Believe me I am acutely aware of that but it’s not often I get to really appreciate someone.”

We sat down and he kept the apron on, which untied didn’t do a lot to cover him up at all.

“So you told me you wanted to be a doctor when you were eleven, but Shawn is convinced you just wanted to follow him.”

“What? I couldn’t follow him? Not all of us are rock gods when we’re six.”

He smiled. “But what did you really want to do? If you could go back right now and change everything. What would you do?”

That was a deep question with a lot of parts to it and I actually considered it, if I could have done anything, what would it be?

“I’m not entirely sure what I would have ended up with but I think I would have told someone about Jacob and I would have tried not to be so attached to Max. It was irrational to just replace Shawn with him, even if he didn’t know.”

“What interested you?”

“Everything interested me, I was a naturally curious child. I did a lot of things until he left and then I just stopped. Max even saw it I guess Abby did too.”

“If they’re your friends, why did you not listen to them?”

That was a million dollar question, why hadn’t I? They’d told me for weeks to stay away from him, that he wasn’t good for me, that I needed someone else.

“They haven’t even called to see where I am, what I’m doing, where I went. I guess in some way I saw the signs before and just..didn’t believe them. Abigail knew all along how I felt about him, yet I am sure she lied to me about their relationship. I mean, I lived there for months before I found out. They didn’t think I was at the party, didn’t think I saw them and that kind of triggered the crap I should have seen but didn’t.”

“Doesn’t explain why you didn’t listen.”

I slid over some. “Priscilla aside. There isn’t a single thing you did that upset me or hurt me. I think after Colorado occurred you tried your best to make sure I was happy. They kept telling me what an asshole you were and how you didn’t care about anything or anyone. You proved them wrong with birthday cake and come on, do you think Max has ever gotten tampons?”

His cheeks flushed a cute little shade of pink. “No. I imagine he never has.”

“People that don’t care about anything or anyone, they don’t do things like that. You tried to cheer me up when I was down and you tried to just be nice. It helps you took no for an answer and didn’t really push it.”

“I’m dying to know…did your head really hurt that first time?”

“Not until later that night, but if I resume being the roadie you better take those fucking feathers from Taylor or they might end up somewhere the sun doesn’t see often.”

He laughed. “I don’t know why he does that shit.”

“Well, some men do scream like girls.”

“So…I’ve never really lived with a girl more than a few days and that was you…is there anything I should be aware of?”

“You don’t consider living on a bus together as living with a girl?”

“I do but at the same time here it’s just the two of us. On the bus there is us and an assortment of other men. So, if you normally sleep in nothing, you won’t there.”

“I sleep in footie pajamas.”

“Do not make me misplace them all.”

“Depends on the house, if it’s usually warm then I usually sleep in t-shirt and underwear. If it’s a freezer I’m wearing footie pajamas.”

“You saying I need to jack the heat up?”

I giggled. “Only if you’re cold, I mean you are wearing less than I am.”

“Way less.”

I pulled on the ribbon gently. “Could be nothing…you did tell me once you didn’t wear anything at home.”

“Doesn’t bother me but you make the wrong move and we may have a problem.”

“Wrong move huh?”

“Although I am fully aware of what Dr. James said you can’t do. I clearly recall sex being at the top of that list.”

“It was, the bastard.”

“Well, I have a dozens of games, lots of snacks, a big bed if you’re tired.”

“I got to change bandages, yippie.”

“You could have gotten me some nurse outfit, pretty sure maids don’t change bandages.”

“Maids don’t, but husbands do.”

I swear he seemed to light up hearing that and when he got up I was confused but he came back with everything I needed to change them. Didn’t bother me to lay down so he could. As much as I wanted to do something sexual, I couldn’t. I also kind of wanted to see if we could have something besides just sex. I’d changed my name for him and I was going to potentially ruin the only two friendships I had because I chose to stay with him. I needed to know it wasn’t just because he felt stable and real. So, after the new bandages were secured and I’d gotten a kiss to apologize for any kind of discomfort we played games for a while and eventually went to bed. It did feel much better laying in a bed that I knew would be there in six months.

It was a comfortable feeling to call this home.