Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 157

Gabriel’s POV

I offered Tina a soft smile, my heart swelling just thinking about Clairessa. "I thought you would’ve figured that one out by now.”

She shrugged lightly. "I had a feeling the moment you kept calling her name last night… even though you denied it at first.”

"I did?" I asked, brows lifting.

"Mmhmm." She hummed. "Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was those walls you’ve built so high around your heart. Makes me wonder how she managed to get past them.”

A soft laugh escaped me. "Well… you once told me to let go of the past. That holding onto it only gives power to the person who hurt me, while I stay miserable. So, let’s just say, I took your advice.”

Tina’s brows lifted slightly—an almost startled expression crossing her face, like she hadn’t expected that answer.

"And if I’m being honest," I continued, "I tried to fight it, but what I felt for her was too strong to ignore. So I took the risk. I opened my heart."

She leaned back, arms crossing loosely over her chest, her expression thoughtful. “Gabriel Storm… in love. That’s something I never thought I’d see. You fell hard. And honestly? I’m happy for you… just not entirely. We had something once, didn’t we?”

“Tina…” I sighed. “What we had was purely physical. We both knew that. It was never going to lead anywhere.”

Tina’s eyes dropped briefly, then lifted with a half-laugh. “I did. But a girl can dream, right?"

I gave a tight smile, saying nothing.

She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with interest. “Besides, she’s the Clairessa. If I’m not mistaken, I saw you two at lunch a few weeks ago—the same woman you introduced as your personal assistant.”

“Software engineer,” I corrected, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

A knowing look lit her face, like something had just clicked. “I see… the moment I saw her, I knew something was there.”

“Oh, did you now?” I said with a hint of a smirk.

“At that lunch, I noticed this unspoken chemistry,” she added, tapping her temple. “And I could tell she was jealous when she saw us talking. You might not get it, but a woman picks up on those things.”

I let out a short breath, almost a huff. “I don’t doubt it.”

Her curiosity deepened, lips curling slightly as she eyed me. “I’ve got to ask—what’s so different about her?

She’s younger—early twenties, right? You always said you liked women with experience. And yet…”

“Tina…” My voice dropped, softening. “Clairessa might be young, but she’s everything I didn’t know I was missing. She’s beautiful, warm, kind, witty—and she challenges me at every turn with her sass. Maybe that’s what drew me to her.”

I paused, the muscles in my neck tightening. “I tried to deny what I felt, but the more I pushed it down, the stronger it came back. And I knew I couldn’t let her go—not when the thought of her with someone else made me physically sick.”

Tina’s playful smirk faded. Her brows furrowed slightly as she studied me, no longer teasing. “That deep, huh?”

“Six feet beneath the ocean wouldn’t even come close,” I muttered, my voice rough, unable to hide the raw emotion that leaked through. My gaze dropped before I met her eyes again, no longer pretending.

“Then if you love her that much—and she clearly loves you—what the hell happened? Why were you even at the club?”

I rose to my feet, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “It’s complicated.”

She gave a dry chuckle. “Maybe I could help you uncomplicate it. I’m pretty decent with relationships these days.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify