Chapter 26: Did you really?

POV: Gabby

Word Count: 4036

June 17, 2009

The doctor’s appointment Monday had gone well. The lab results were normal from my 12 week check and a Doppler scan proved his or her heartbeat was still strong and steady. All good signs. Now that Isaac was back we were back at the studio, I had considered staying at the house but really I didn’t quite want to be there alone yet. The cameras did help calm my fears some but the fact that Simon knows where I live now, wasn’t a nice feeling.

I brought a few canvases something to keep me company really, since they were writing and brainstorming for the new album. Sierra asked me to do a nude drawing of her for Heather and Taylor wanted his as well, one of Stella. So, I had two I could work on. I’d actually chosen Stella’s first, there was a picture he took of her on the boat, she was by the rail at sunset, overlooking the ocean. Given that he kept that one on his desk, I went with it.

I was really making progress when I heard Lucas and Andrew talking, it wasn’t long before Lucas was standing at the door.

“Hey Gabs. Are you real busy?”

“Just working on Taylor’s birthday gift. Why?”

“I was installing cameras for a client yesterday and overheard them talking about wanting a drawing of their children, they have three. I mentioned you.”

“Did you give them my number?”

“Well, I started too but with the recent gifts and stuff, I was kind of wary about just giving your number out. I told them I’d see what you were doing and if possible head out to meet them. Zac said they’re just brainstorming and all.”

“Uh…like now?”

“I am suppose to go back today, I can just bring you with me. I shouldn’t be there long, maybe stop and get lunch on the way back.”

“I..uh…probably should go with Zac.”

“Come on, I can protect you from Simon if he dares show up. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

There was this very deep down feeling that said I should stay but Lucas was his friend and reality was he would protect me as well, so I agreed. I stopped by the room to let Zac know.

“Text me wherever you stop, we may want you to bring food back.” Taylor said.

“I was going to anyway.”

“Good luck.”

I picked up Zac’s shirt from the chair and slipped it on, I’d worn a pair of the shorts Shawn bought but my shirt was a spaghetti strap and while Taylor and Isaac wouldn’t stare at the breast, Lucas would.

“It’s hot outside, your shirt was fine.”

“Not for meeting clients, I’d prefer pants really but I can’t be too picky.”

He smiled and Zac just looked at me as I buttoned his shirt up, covering anything that didn’t need to be seen. We then left, I was nervous about being with him alone, he really hadn’t done anything bad just he did like to stare at the breast and that made me uncomfortable. I also had never rode with him, so seatbelts were super important.

“Can you tell me about them?”

“Mrs. and Mrs. Woods. They had me install some security cameras, there nice, polite, they have three young kids. I think two boys and a girl, but I’ve not seen them just the pictures and it’s hard to determine if the youngest is a boy or girl. They were looking for drawings of the kids specifically. I didn’t think to ask size.”

“I can figure that out when we get there. I thought you did computer networking.”

“I do. Computer networking tied in with security work, so I work for a security company doing the networking and computer related security. It’s complicated but mostly I install cameras and make sure homes and families are protected.”

“Do you do like nanny cams?”

“I have, yes.”

Not that I’d ever need a nanny. It was nice to know he could do that as well.

“What were you drawing? Looked like a scenic picture.”

“I owe Taylor a drawing and I was cashing in. He wanted one of Stella, so I chose the one on his desk. She’s overlooking the ocean at sunset.”

“Did you take any like that?”

“Uh, Zac has a few from Friday when we saw the boat, but we weren’t in the middle of the ocean. I was sick as hell the rest of the trip. By the time I was feeling somewhat human it was docking in Florida. Not sure I want to do that again.”

“Can’t blame you there.”

He turned a few times and we were headed to the lower-income area of Tulsa, I’d been here a lot as a teenager and I knew that this area wouldn’t want an expensive canvas or drawing. I was a bit confused as to why here. He parked at a house with a nice exterior, well mannered lawn, very nice house.

We walked up to the door together, I wasn’t sitting in the car because the area looked sketchy. He knocked and we waited, he then knocked again and we waited some more.

“Maybe they went to work?”

“They knew I was coming back today at this time, assured me someone would be here.”

We waited another fifteen minutes before he called his cell phone.

“Hey Mr. Woods. I’m here at your house with Gabby and no one is answering. Mrs. Woods said she’d be here.”

I didn’t hear the reply but saw the worried look. “Oh my, I hope he’s okay. I’ll reschedule with your wife when things are settled.”

He did some nodding and agreeing and then hung-up.

“What happen?”

“The middle child fell this morning, really nasty gash and she took him to the hospital. He said he was fine but the doctor’s are talking about keeping him. So, we’ll reschedule in a few weeks when there sure he’s fine.”

“I hope he’s okay. That’s fine really, will give me time to finish Taylors and Sierra’s.”

“How about lunch now?”

“It’s a little early, but lunch should be fine.”

“We can just hang out by the river, the route 66 places is just down there.”

“That’s fine.”

I headed back to the car but a guy approached as I was getting to the car also.

“Haven’t seen you around very much, I’d remember a sexy lady like you.”

“I don’t live in the area and I’m married.”

“To him?”

“No. He’s a friend of my husbands.”

I went to open the car door and this guy just shut it. “Maybe you should just come with me instead, I can take good care of you.”

“I’ve heard that line before, it’s not very original. In fact, my husband didn’t use that pathetic of a line.”

“Feisty too.”

“Is there a problem?” Lucas asked.

“No. He was just leaving.”

He glanced past me to Lucas. “I was telling the pretty lady she needed to come with me. Clearly she doesn’t believe that.”

“The pretty lady was telling you she’s not interested in some wanna be gangster with bad pick up lines. So, why don’t you turn around, move along.”

He went to get my arm and I got it and turned it under, put pressure on his hand.

“Not interested. Touch me and I’ll kick in you in the balls. Got it?”

“Got it.”

I let him go and he backed away which let me get in the car, I was tired of always being the weakling. So, when Lucas decked him I wondered why, but he got in the car.

“Zac wouldn’t approve if I let him get away with calling you a whore.”

“Should have told me, I’d have kicked him in the balls.”

“He got the message.”

He drove to the Route 66 area, where we got out and went to the bridge across the road. I’d been here a few times, admiring the dirty, overgrown old bridge next to the new one.

“Gabby.”

I turned and I know he took a picture or two. “Sorry, I know you live with a shutterbug or two.”

“Zac’s not bad really. Only if I ask.”

“Do you ask often?”

“No, not really. Just a few times.”

“He mentioned taking some photos but not sharing any.”

“Yeah, we can’t share those.”

“Were those really you and Sierra that TMZ posted?”

“Unfortunately. Simon the dick strikes again. I don’t know what his deal is.”

“Well, he’s not going to bug you today for sure. I’ll kick him in the balls for you, pretty sure I can kick harder.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

I went on across and admired the statues there, getting a few and even using Instagram to post some. We then headed to Blue Rose, which wasn’t far. I texted the guys and they requested tacos, which he didn’t mind going by and Zac said to eat here. He knew all I wanted was the damn fried mushrooms. Which I ordered two servings of.

“Like them do you?”

“Yeah.”

But I ordered a salad for lunch I just wanted the mushrooms.

“How are you and Zac doing?”

“Good, the house is taking time getting use too, but that’s kind of normal.”

It still didn’t feel like home to me, but maybe it was because so much was still scattered around and things weren’t in place yet.

“Do you ever check his phone?”

I paused that mushroom halfway to my mouth, that was a strange question.

“No…and he doesn’t check mine either. Why?”

“Just…I worry about him not being right.”

“What do you mean Lucas?”

“Do you trust him not to go back to hotel rooms, or call those girls in town?”

I laid the mushroom down. “Why are you asking these questions? He’s been faithful to me Lucas, since he asked me to be his girlfriend. He hasn’t been with anyone else but me.”

“That you know of. Did he tell you about the keycards he accepted last year?”

“Yeah, he threw them away.”

The waiter sat the salad down and his huge burger.

“All of them?”

“I don’t like cryptic shit Lucas, if you have something to say. Spit it out and stop hinting. I am close to Sierra and I have no problems calling her to come get me.”

“We were talking, with Andrew there and he said there were three that he accepted with the full intention of going to the room. It was during walks you didn’t attend, before the doctor and hospital.”

“But he didn’t.”

“Because he knew you’d find out, they would have tweeted about it the moment he left and he knew that. He basically admitted that he wanted to cheat on you, but only if you wouldn’t find out. You can ask Andrew too, he was there.”

I really didn’t feel hungry anymore. He’d never told me he accepted cards but never went, he always said they got thrown away.

“I just..I worry that while he says he wants this, that deep down he’s just pacifying everyone to think he stopped being some man whore.”

I almost didn’t make it to the bathroom before the mushrooms and ranch dressing was back, had it not been for my hand I doubt I would have. That really couldn’t be right, couldn’t be true. When I was certain nothing was coming back I washed my hands but got my phone and called Sierra.

“Hey Kitten, what’s up?”

“Come get me please.”

“Where are you?”

“Blue rose café. I’ll be waiting on you.”

I hung-up and took another few moments to wash my face off before I returned. I knew he’d be almost done so I asked for a to go plate.

“You’re not going to eat anything?”

“Just threw up Lucas, I don’t feel like eating. Sierra is going to pick me up. I’ll forward their order and they’ll pay you back when you get there. I’ll let them know.”

“Gabby? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

The waiter bagged the boxes and I took them to the front, Sierra must not have been far away because she was waiting. I told Lucas bye and got in Heather’s BMW.

“You didn’t steal this did you?”

“No. Why didn’t you call Abby?”

“She’s with Andrew.”

“Studio?”

“No. Anywhere but there.”

“Well, you are talking while we’re riding, so may as well be prepared.”

I sent Isaac the text that Lucas was bringing them lunch, that one of them would need to pay him back if he asked. I got a okay message, but I could almost feel his asking why I wasn’t riding back. Sure enough a few moments later Zac called and I ignored it.

“Shit…Did he do something?” She asked.

I texted that I was with her and that was it. She headed toward town, high rise building where Heather lived. I didn’t say a word about anything until we were inside I was seated across from her, deciding some of the salad was needed.

“Lucas said he accepted cards last year with the full intention of going to their rooms. He didn’t because he knew I’d find out.”

“I’m not sure I trust Lucas’s words really.”

“Andrew was there too and he hasn’t said a word.”

“And you think avoiding his call, running away and hiding is going to help? You did run away because you called me.”

“No running away would mean I’d never set foot in that house again.”

Which is exactly what I wanted to do, but I couldn’t say the reason I wasn’t was a baby that we created.

“Which I’m not letting you do. Why not call Andrew and ask?”

“Why?”

“Come on Gabriella. Andrew is his best friend and I know he’ll want to protect him but I think if you told him you know then he’d tell you.”

What the hell? What did I have to lose? I called Andrew and I was kind of shocked he answered the phone, given they were on a date day.

“Hey Gabs.”

“I’m going to ask and I really don’t want a lie. Did Zac tell you and Lucas that he accepted keycards with the intention of going to the rooms last year during the early tour and that his reason not to go was that he’d knew I’d find out and that’s why he didn’t go?”

“Um..wow…I wasn’t expecting that question ever. I’m going to assume that Zac didn’t tell you, since your calling me which means Lucas did.”

“That did not answer my question.”

“Yes, he told us that he accepted three with intent. But, and I assume Lucas left this out, he didn’t go because he saw you when he got back and it reminded him that if he did go, it would be cheating on you and he wanted to remain your husband and be committed to you. He didn’t listen to the part of his body that just wanted sex, he listened to the one that said it was a bad idea and he needed to not go. I asked him if he thought you’d find out, he did say that they would have tweeted right then and that the idea of you leaving him hurt, he couldn’t handle that.”

“Why would Lucas even tell me?”

“Because he doesn’t think Zac is telling the truth when he says he hasn’t been with anyone else. But, I can tell you Gabriella he’s not lying to me. I’ve known him a long time and he’s only ever gotten one lie by me and that was you.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, I asked him why he was staying and he said you were his girlfriend. He lied, you were his wife not his girlfriend. You should talk to him.”

“Oh, I will. Thank you.”

“No problem but Gabby, future advice don’t believe everything Lucas tells you about him. He’s just thinking like Abby did a while back and like Max did. He doesn’t feel like Zac’s being real despite the fact he only talks about you.”

“Now you’re just buttering me up so I don’t hurt him when he gets home.”

“Hey, I gotta look out for him somehow. But, Abby has just informed me I am not warning him..so…he’s on his own.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to do that. I know how to cut you off too.”

“See, I knew there was a downside to dating your best friend. Bye Gabs.”

I said my byes and Sierra looked at me. “Want me to hurt him for you?”

“No.”

“Are you wearing his shirt?”

“I had on a spaghetti strap shirt when Lucas came. He likes to stare.”

“I’ve noticed. I was kind of shocked you went with him.”

“He’s not going to hurt me, truthfully I think he fears Zac may hurt him. But, it was odd that he’d mentioned it now.”

“Ditto. So…”

She swiped a mushroom from the plate and I giggled. I sat back.

“He won’t be home for a while, can I draw you like the French girls?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Say what?”

“You want a nude drawing…I got a big ass house.”

Her eyebrow rose and I know it sounded weird. “You just want to see me naked. Admit it.”

I shrugged. “As long as I’m not recreating pictures and come on, you don’t cheat.”

“What the hell.”

She drove to the house and I got the right tablet, she didn’t want a canvas she wanted pencil and paper. Since he would be hours I had her choose where she wanted to be and her position, which oddly was the living room couch. It was much easier to draw her laying like Kate Winslet had in Titanic when she really was laying there, down to the necklace she wore. I actually was finishing the last few details when I heard the front door open, she was dressed already. I signed the bottom and covered it with a clean sheet.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She talked to Zac for a few minutes before she left and he came to the living room, just the look on his face was enough, he knew something was wrong.

“You’re mad at me and for the life of me I can’t figure out what I done. You were fine before you left.”

“What do you want for dinner?”

“For you to tell me why you’re mad, why you’re upset.”

“Sure you want to do that beforehand?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not really mad or upset, I’m disappointed. Lucas told me about the key cards you accepted last year before the miscarriage. Ones you didn’t throw away because you fully intended to go to their rooms. Ones you didn’t need because I was right there. He made it seem like the only reason you didn’t, was because you knew I’d find out.”

“That wasn’t the only reason or the primary reason.”

“I called Andrew also. But you should have been the one to tell me.”

“I didn’t go to their rooms Gabriella, I stayed there with you.”

“I’m aware of that but you still kept the cards and you intended to. I assumed they were blonde also, you can’t keep doing this every tour. I get it, fans don’t want to accept that you are married and they keep trying. Why even want to go?”

“Because I was an idiot? Because you seemed to be closing me off and that was my fault for not paying attention to what they said. They came up, handed me the key and it was a reaction to that, when I got back to the venue you were always there and it reminded me that if I went you wouldn’t be waiting for me anymore. The keys always were thrown away before the show.”

“Why not just tell me then? Even after?”

He walked over and moved some of my hair aside. “I didn’t tell you because you were already depressed and questioning everything, I figured if I even mentioned them you’d leave. Turns out I didn’t have to because he sent the photos and then I know we talked but you didn’t seem to be trusting much of what I said. I knew mentioning it would make you leave. I don’t want you to leave.”

“You’ve had chances to tell me, after that. I shouldn’t have heard it from Lucas.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you about them.”

“The cards have to stop Zachary. You’ve been married over a year and by the time tour comes around it’ll be close to two. Sew your pockets shut, let them fall to the ground, I don’t care. They’ve got to stop. I can understand early 08’ because it was new, but they should have stopped later and they didn’t.”

“I know and I’ll make a post or something. I may have to sew them shut. No more cards.”

“You should have chosen to eat first, now you get to cook.”

Ironically, I really did just mean cook…but I was perfectly fine when he stripped down and put the pink apron on. I didn’t even say anything as he fixed dinner in that apron and just the apron. Even got served dinner at the table without getting up.

“You do know you aren’t in the dog house right? You didn’t have to wear the apron with or without clothes…”

“I know, but I also know you like the apron without clothes.”

He’s gone with fried chicken pieces, salad and green beans, it was yummy and well, the fact he was sitting there almost naked was too. I didn’t bother with the dishes, there wasn’t enough to really wash and he looked concerned when I turned the TV off, but smiled when I undid the tie of the apron.

“You are being mean…”

“Only if you don’t feel good.”

“I have weeks to go..”

I just smiled at him and got his hand, leaving the apron on the couch he followed me up-stairs. I may not be able to do anything sexually, but didn’t mean I couldn’t just be nice. Give him a shower, since he couldn’t sit in the tub yet, wash his hair like he liked, shoulder massages, shower him in kisses.

“I’m confused. You were mad and now I don’t even know.”

I kissed the side of his neck, his back was against my chest. “It was a bad decision for you to accept the cards with any intention. But, you ultimately didn’t go to their room, you chose to come to the bus. I can’t be mad at you for not going, I can be for accepting them. But you’re here with me.”

“There were four and all of the ones I accepted were girls I’d been with before, remembered something about it. But, when I got back and saw you I remembered Halloween and that feeling you gave me. Going to their room wouldn’t provide that feeling. I didn’t like the idea of you leaving, even then.”

I slightly nipped his neck. “I just wish you had told me and not him.”

“Speaking of, you never mentioned how the client went.”

“They were not home, he called and apparently one of the kids got hurt and she had to take him to the E.R. But, I’m not sure they’ll want me anyway. “

He turned slightly to look at me. “Why not? You’re amazing.”

“The house was outside town, up near that area we said hell no too. I can’t see someone in that area wanting an expensive canvas. Drawing maybe.”

“Could be what they want, I mean you can always listen and see.”

“Yeah. Alright, you are as relaxed as I’m going to get you.”

“Next stage is sleep.”

“Exactly, so we should curl up and snooze.”

“Can I persuade you to come to bed without your gown?”

“Persuade me? All you have to do is ask.”

We laid down for bed and I left the gown off, which in turn meant I wasn’t as hot all night, also was a better feeling to be against him. I could get use to this naked sleeping if it kept me cooler!

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