Read Online Healing Gabriel by Elizabeth Kelly - Free Book Online

be strong baby girl.”
    She sighed and stood up.  “I’d better get to bed.  It’s
getting late.  I’ll come by before work tomorrow okay?”
    “Okay.”
    She squeezed his shoulder briefly.  “Good night Gabe.”
    “Good night Morgan.”
    * * *
     
    “Well, would you look at that?”  Peter nudged Lacey and she
turned from where she was setting out the bowls of chips on the patio table.
    “Oh my God.”  She breathed lightly.
    Gabe’s truck had just pulled into the driveway and he and
Morgan were climbing out.
    Morgan glanced up at Gabe as they started towards the back
yard of his sister’s place.
    “Okay?”  She asked softly.
    “Yeah.  A little nervous.”  He admitted.
    “It’ll be fine.  Lacey said it’s all people you guys went to
school with.”
    “I haven’t seen most of them since high school.”  His side was
hurting.  He didn’t think it was nerves.  It had been painful and throbbing for
over a week now, and he had lost most of his appetite.  He’d even thrown up
this morning after breakfast.  He sighed.  He would have to go to the doctor
and just the thought of going was making him even more nauseous.  Ever since
the accident, anyone wearing a white lab coat made him want to puke.
    “Are you sure you’re okay Gabe?  You’re pale.”  Morgan was
frowning at him.
    “I’m fine.”
    “If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to.  You know
that right?”  She had been surprised when he said he was going to the
barbeque.  She knew that he had started to come out of his shell, especially
with her, but he hadn’t made any move until today to socialize with other
people.
    “I know.  I – I want to.”  He lied.  He didn’t want to but
he also hadn’t wanted to sit at home alone while Morgan went to the barbeque. 
They spent nearly every Saturday together now.  He made her dinner while she
did her laundry, and they usually watched a movie after dinner. 
    He had told her he was going to Lacey’s on impulse – an
impulse he was now deeply regretting.
    Lacey held her breath as she watched Morgan and Gabe pause
outside of the yard.  She had a feeling that Gabe was about to turn and bolt
and she reached for Peter’s hand.  He took it and squeezed reassuringly. 
    “I don’t think he’s going to stay.”  She murmured.
    “He will.”  Peter kissed her temple.  “And if he doesn’t –
at least he tried.  That’s more than he’s done in years.”
    Lacey watched as Morgan suddenly reached up and put her hand
on Gabe’s forehead and then his cheeks.  He didn’t flinch or draw away from her
and Lacey’s eyes widened.  He never let her or Natalia touch any part of his
face, and Morgan had just touched the scarred side like it was no big deal.
    She glanced at Peter.  “Did you see that?” 
    “See what?”  Peter asked.
    “He – he let her touch him.”
    “Gabe, you’re really pale and sweaty.”  Morgan frowned and
reached up to lay her hand on his forehead, before moving it to first his right
cheek and then his left.  He closed his eyes at her touch.  He wasn’t even
thinking about the fact that she was touching his scars; he was too wrapped up
in the slow burn of excitement in his belly that always happened when she
touched him.  It even blotted out the pain.
    “I think you have a fever.  Are you feeling okay?”  She
dropped her hand and he had to resist the urge to follow her hand with his face,
like a dog looking to be petted.
    “I have a bit of a stomach ache.”  He admitted.  “I’ll ask
Lacey for some Advil.”
    “Are you sure?  Maybe we should stop at the emergency after
the barbeque and get you looked at.”  She was staring at him worriedly.
    “No hospital.  I’m fine Morgan.”  He snapped at her.
    “Okay.”  She didn’t seem upset by his grumpiness but he
immediately felt bad.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.  I’m just nervous.”
    “I know.  But it’ll be fine – you’ll see.”
    There