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Yeah, let s go. Gabriel managed to drag his gaze away from the crowd and follow
Brogan out on the tarmac to meet the jet. It was the second hardest thing he d ever done in
his life. He kept telling himself that Tristan would come. He couldn t afford to think of what
it meant if Tristan didn t.
BROKEN Sage Whistler
92
* * * *
Tristan slammed his fist down on the steering wheel in frustration. His mother, seated
in the passenger seat in his dad s old Ford, jumped visibly at the action. He glanced her way.
Sorry, it s just that this traffic is at a crawl. He shook the cell phone in his fist. And I can t
get a damn signal in these trees.
What time is your flight? Samantha asked calmly, a little too calmly to suit his foul
mood.
It was an hour ago. Gabriel probably left.
You mean he didn t wait for you? It could have just been his mood, but there seemed
to be an accusatory lilt to her voice.
He can t wait forever, Mom. He needs to be back in L.A. to meet up with the band
tomorrow. And Gabriel wouldn t have had to wait if his mother hadn t insisted Tristan take
the shortcut to the airport, which turned out to be under extensive construction. Merging
traffic was backed up for a good mile or so. Damn it. He almost believed she d done it on
purpose. He hated to think she would do something so petty.
Knowing what conclusions Gabriel might jump to tore at his heart. No phone call, no
show. Gabriel would think he d changed his mind and decided to stay with their mom.
Gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, Tristan forced himself to
relax. There wasn t anything he could do about it at the moment. He had to stay focused on
the road and the creeping flow of traffic. He d arrange for a second flight out if he had to.
He just had to be patient.
A small smile quirked his lips as he thought of his brother s influence on him. Gabriel
used to be the impatient one.
* * * *
How are you holding up? Marilyn s comforting voice drifted to Gabriel through his
Bluetooth.
I could smoke a whole carton of cigarettes right about now, he half joked.
I m sorry about your father, she said, for probably the billionth time. Me and the rest
of the band really wanted to be there.
BROKEN Sage Whistler
93
We needed to keep some of the heat off me and here in L.A. Gabriel and his brother
hadn t been the only one s hunted by the paparazzi after his father s death.
Yeah, but at least one of us could have gone.
You didn t miss anything. Perhaps I shouldn t have gone myself.
Marilyn made a disagreeable sound on the phone. Don t say that. He was your father.
I know. Gabriel sighed, running a hand over his face. I don t mean it. I just& He
flexed his fingers, longing for something he could not touch.
You miss Tristan.
Yes. It s stupid. We haven t been apart that long.
He s your soul mate.
Yes& what? What did you say? Gabriel sat up, heart thundering against his ribcage.
His mind raced with a thousand thoughts and scenarios. How had she found out? Who else
knew? How bad was the damage?
Relax, Gabriel, I m not going to call a press conference. And no one but Brogan and I
know it. I know because I m a mother. I know how brothers interact around each other. Lest
you forget, I have Micah and Zeddie. You two don t behave like my sons. Almost, but not
quite. Took me some time to figure you out, too. I wasn t exactly certain until I heard your
reaction just now.
Gabriel fell back against the backseat of the Jeep he rode in with a sigh. So you re
saying I just gave myself away.
Yes, Brogan said from the front seat where he was driving. Thankfully, there was no
one else in the Jeep but them.
And how did you know? he asked, scared and hopeful at the same time.
Close observation. No one s around you guys more than me. Remember that.
Gabriel nodded, chancing a glance at Brogan s face in the rear-view mirror. He could
only really see Brogan s eyes and the bridge of his nose. Neither gave away what he was
feeling. Well?
Well, what? Brogan s dark gaze flicked to him. Look, so as long as you keep signing
the cheques and listening to me on matters that concern your security, I mind my own
business, Brogan answered him in a light tone that said he wasn t overly distressed by the
revelation.
BROKEN Sage Whistler
94
In his ear, Marilyn said, I cannot tell you who to love, Gabriel. I know you re a good
man. Yes, your love is unconventional, and a lot of people won t understand or agree with it.
It s not something we can go public with, but I m not exactly a conventional girl if you
haven t noticed. And& If you love Tristan enough to lead a double life, then that s the only
thing that matters.
Light-headed with relief, Gabriel nodded, realised neither of his friends could see him
then said, Thank you. I don t know what else to say.
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