Read Mending for Free Online Page A

glanced from the phone up into his tender blue eyes.  She couldn’t help but smile.  He was proving to be far more than she ever expected.  “That is so sweet.  Are you just trying to be charming?”
    “I don’t have to try to be charming.” He raised an eyebrow.  “I am charming.”  He let out a small laugh, grinning, as he put his phone away.
    Gabby giggled and nudged him. “You’re something, alright.”
    “Oh you have no idea.” He pulled her into a hug.  “So I’ll email you so you’ll have my info when I get back to the hotel. I’ll call tomorrow and arrange for the therapy to start.” He inhaled sharply and gently caressed her cheek.
    Gabby closed her eyes and savored his touch. “Thank you again for everything.  Goodnight.”
    He moved his hand to behind her neck and leaned in and placed a long kiss on her forehead, “Goodnight.”
    He turned on his heel and walked towards his car.  Gabby’s breathing was ragged as she watched him confidently turn back towards her to get in the car and wave.  “See you next week.”
    She waved back with a huge grin. “Next week.”
     
    Chapter 5

    January 14, 2011 ~ 12:35pm
    The Present  ~  Gabby
    Gabby sank back against the cold metal wall of the elevator as it quickly plunged down towards the ground floor of Bradley’s apartment building.  She was unable to hold back her tears any longer.  Sobbing, she ran out of the entrance to her car as quickly as she could.  As she approached her car she grabbed her keys and unlocked the door.  She fumbled to start the ignition as she was looking over her left shoulder to back out of the parking place.  She pulled her seat belt and fastened it.  Throwing the car into gear, she quickly jerked the car into the street. 
    One thing Sam had always told her when teaching her to drive was to never drive while you were crying.  Overcome with emotion, she decided to pull over to gain her composure.  Gabby hated crying.  She stopped at the nearest gas station to fill her tank.  As soon as the car was stopped in front of the pump she leaned her head onto the tops of her knuckles because her hands were still gripping the steering wheel full force.  She sobbed. 
    She wasn’t sure how many minutes had passed when someone beeped their horn at her.  She was taking up space at a valuable pump in downtown Atlanta.  She looked into the rearview mirror and wiped the tears away from her reddened eyes with her palms, inhaling a deep breath.  She cut the engine and grabbed her debit card, opening the door to begin pumping her gas.
    After filling her tank, she climbed back into her car and pulled back onto the highway.  Before she knew it she was back on I-285 driving towards I-20.  She was driving home.  Her chest was tight and while she had been able to stop crying, she was still sighing and her breath was hitched.  She hated the way she felt after she cried so hard.  She was exhausted and her eyes hurt.  Bradley had been right.  Driving home tonight was not the smartest decision she had ever made, but there was no way that she could admit that to him.  As much as the thought of things being over with them hurt, she knew being near him would hurt so much worse.
    She fumbled through the stations trying to find music to help keep her awake, but every song that seemed to come on was a song that reminded her of the past five months she’d spent with Bradley and they made her lips quiver, tears pricking the backs of her eyes.  Finally, she decided to cut the radio off all together and roll the windows down slightly.  The cold winter air felt good on her warm splotchy face. 
    She was nearing Augusta, Georgia, when her phone rang Falling Slowly.  She knew who it was.  That was his ringtone.  As she glanced down at the caller ID, it showed the picture she had taken of Bradley when they had been playing putt putt.  It had been his turn and he was leaning forward slightly, knees bent when she had said his