Sarah Mayberry - One Good Reason

Gabby squeezed her back.

When Tyler had first introduced her to Ally, Gabby had been determined to like the woman who had made him so happy, even if it killed her. She’d been prepared to overlook anything, to be generous and accepting of any and all faults or shortcomings because Ally was Tyler’s choice, the woman he loved.

The woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Then she’d met Ally and realized that it would be no hardship to like her. She was warm and generous, smart and funny. Easily one of the most thoughtful people Gabby knew—witness the beautiful earrings, chosen with care and consideration. Not too dangly or elaborate—because Gabby was not a fussy woman—and, apparently, a match for her eyes. Although Gabby was pretty sure it was a stretch to compare her ordinary brown eyes to the warm golden gems. It hadn’t taken her long to understand why Tyler had fallen in love with Ally. She was very easy to love.

Tyler patted her on the shoulder fondly as she and Ally broke their embrace. Gabby gave him a wry look, then her gaze slid to where Jon was standing at a distance, watching them. Their eyes met for a moment before he glanced down at his still full wineglass.

“Okay, people. Make a beeline for the table, it’s time for the feasting to begin,” Ally said, waving them toward the dining table that occupied one corner of the room.

Gabby dutifully followed orders, but Jon lingered at the counter, arms crossed over his chest.

“That means you as well, my friend. The last thing I need is you hovering while I serve our meal,” Ally said.

“Funny. I thought only men suffered from short person syndrome,” Jon said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ally asked.

Jon looked at her, a smile quirking his mouth. “What do you think it means?”

“I think you’re saying I’m bossy.”

“Hey. If the shoe fits …” Jon said with a don’t-blame-me shrug.

Ally laughed and gave him a shove. “Move, you big lug.”

Gabby watched, fascinated, as Jon resisted Ally long enough to make her really work before finally deigning to shift from his position. There was a lazy, amused light in his eyes, not quite the same as the expression he’d had when he was chatting up the blonde in their showroom this afternoon, but certainly just as playful.

“Next to Gabby, please. Since I’ve already been labelled a dictator, I might as well have it the way I want it,” Ally instructed.

Gabby gave a silent sigh. Great. Now she was going to have to rub shoulders with Captain Studly through three courses and coffee. Not exactly the birthday celebration she’d been hoping for. But there was precious little she could do about it.

Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy night .

GABBY FIDDLED WITH THE STEM OF her wineglass as Jon hesitated for a telling second before pulling out the chair next to her.

Nice.

“Don’t worry, I don’t have cooties,” she said as he sat.

“Good to know. Although I’ve never really been sure what they are.”

“I think they’re the equivalent of girl germs.”

“Yeah? I’ve always been kind of partial to those.”

Gabby flashed to the scene she’d witnessed this afternoon. “No kidding.”

She realized immediately that he might take the comment the wrong way, but when she glanced at him askance he was smiling slightly.

Don’t get too excited, but you may have had your first civil exchange with Jon Adamson .

Not quite a miracle, but close to it given their record. Which probably meant she should make an effort to extend the cease fire.

“So, um, how are you finding Melbourne after so long away?”

“Busy. The traffic is nuts. I don’t remember it being this bad.”

“You’ve been away ten years, haven’t you? Melbourne’s grown by about a million people in that time.”

“That would explain it.”

A small silence fell and they both glanced to where Ally and Tyler were serving the meal. To Gabby’s admittedly inexpert eye, it looked as though they were still several minutes away from being rescued by their hosts.

Which meant more small talk was called for.

Over to you, buddy. I did my bit .

“So. It’s your birthday, huh?” Jon finally said.

“Yep. Keeps coming around every year, whether I like it or not.”

“Am I allowed to ask …?”

“Thirty-three. It’s actually on Saturday, but since we’re having the work Christmas party then, Ally wanted to do something tonight so I’d feel special.”

“Sounds like Ally.” There was a softness in his voice when he said the other woman’s name.

“Yeah. She’s pretty great.”

Another silence.

My turn. Think of something. Anything .

But the only thought that popped into her head was that he would have a hell of a time buying a suit off the rack with his broad shoulders.

She took a breath to launch into a discussion about work, but he beat her to it.

“So, Dino was telling me you usually dress up for the Christmas party?”

She gave him a mental elephant stamp for coming up with such a nice, neutral topic. Even they couldn’t go awry talking about this one.

“It’s kind of become a tradition.”

“What are you coming as this year?”

“I was thinking Rudolph. But I’m still toying with the idea of a Christmas tree.”

“What about your girlfriend? Does she get into the whole dressing-up thing?”

Gabby frowned. “I’m sorry?”

She was vaguely aware of Tyler and Ally ferrying dishes to the table.

“Here we go,” Ally said.

“Or aren’t partners invited?” Jon asked, his questioning gaze going from Gabby to Ally to Tyler.

Partners. Girlfriend .

The words circled Gabby’s brain like thought balloons. It took her a full five seconds to join the two together and jump to the only conclusion possible.

“I’m not a lesbian.” It came out sounding a lot more high-pitched and defensive than she would have liked.

Ally’s eyebrows rose as she stared at Jon. “You thought Gabby was gay?”

Tyler laughed. “Bloody hell. Where did you get that idea from?”

Jon’s cheekbones were a dull red. “She mentioned her girlfriend, and I thought …” His gaze went to Gabby’s hair, then dropped below her chin to her body. “I must have got the wrong end of the stick.”

“Girlfriend as in a friend who happens to be a girl,” Gabby said.

She didn’t need a mirror to know she was bright red—she could feel the heat radiating off her skin. Although why she was embarrassed was beyond her—he was the one who had made a fool of himself.

“Sorry. My mistake,” Jon said.

“No kidding,” Gabby said. Talk about a lack of perception.

Tyler was still smiling.

“Tyler. It’s not funny,” Ally chided.

“I know. Sorry. It’s just—Gabby as a lesbian … It boggles the mind.”

“Can we let it drop?” Jon said. The glance he shot her was full of apology.

Great. First he outed her as a lesbian, now he felt sorry for her.

“This looks great, Ally,” she said brightly, picking up her knife and fork. “You know, if you weren’t married, I’d be tempted to nab you for myself.”

Everyone laughed, including Jon. The knot in Gabby’s stomach loosened a little.

“This reminds me of a letter I got last month for the column …” Ally said.

Gabby reached for her water glass as Ally launched into her story. Gabby nodded and laughed and made comments in all the right places, but all the while, behind her smile and her I-couldn’t-care-less demeanor, her mind was whirring, obsessing over Jon’s mistaken assumption.