Behind The Proposal novel Chapter 57

"We don't hang out and have a beer together, ever," Gabe grumbled.

"I'm busy." Was that really how Gabe saw things?

"You don't tell me what's happening in your life. You didn't even tell me you were getting married."

"We didn't tell anybody," Tom dismissed.

"Except Tristan," Gabe grumbled. "Are you really so busy you can't even make time for your own brother?"

"Come on, Gabe. When have we ever got along?"

"We did when we were kids..." Gabe paused. "But I guess I was still just an obligation to you then. You couldn't go out like a normal teenager coz you were babysitting your little brother."

"It wasn't like that," Tom denied. "It's not like that."

Gabe sighed. "I didn't come here to argue with you, Tom. I came to apologise and see if there is anything I can do to help. Maybe I could go talk to Sophie?"

"No," he cut him off. "You don't go near her again. You got it?" Tom jabbed a finger at him.

"Fine." Gabe nodded. "I never actually thought you loved her."

"Yeah, well, I do."

"I can see that," Gabe said thoughtfully.

Tom narrowed his eyes at his little brother.

"You look like crap," Gabe teased, a grin on his face.

"So I've been told," Tom grumbled and ran a hand through his hair.

"You were so adamant you'd never get married or have kids. I figured the ultimatum really was the only reason you did it."

"It probably looked that way," Tom admitted. "It even seemed that way to me at the time, but there was a lot more to it right from the start. I met Sophie and I just knew I couldn't live without her."

Sophie was nervous. She nearly turned and walked out before she'd even given her jacket to the cloak room attendant. And then again when she'd gotten a glimpse of the enormous ball room and all of the glamourous people mingling and laughing inside. Sophie had never felt so out of her depth. Apart from Tom and his family, who she could not see, she knew nobody. She didn't belong here, in her borrowed dress and heels.

It was why she'd initially declined the invitation, despite Kim trying to convince her to attend. She knew she'd have to face him at some point, but she was hoping that she'd have her emotions and body back under control by then. He affected her too strongly - she just knew that if she saw him, if he touched her, or begged her, she'd cave in. It was why she hadn't wanted to come, and why she'd refused him every time he'd reached out. She wouldn't have turned up either, if Gabe hadn't convinced her that very afternoon to attend.

"If you care about him at all, please come to the dinner," Gabe pleaded. "Even just to see what amazing work he's done. And if you still don't want anything to do with him, at least you've given it a shot, right?"

Sophie hesitated. She shouldn't be thinking about this. Tom had probably begged Gabe to come and see her. "Did he put you up to this?" She had to know.

"God no," Gabe shook his head. "He'd kill me if he knew I was here. He made me promise to never speak to you again."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because I don't think he has forgiven me for ruining his marriage," he shrugged and then left as quickly as he'd arrived.

Taking her lip between her teeth, Sophie fought the need to run away and instead stepped tentatively through the doorway, her eyes darting around the room, trying to find a familiar face - his mother would be good. Then she saw him. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't laid eyes on him since she'd kicked him out of the house and out of her life. He was definitely the most handsome man in the room, dressed in his black tux and white shirt - despite the dark whiskers covering his jaw. He turned and his grey eyes met hers, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Her shoulders tensed and she couldn't breathe - she needed some fresh air. Turning, she pushed past the other people milling around in the foyer until she got through the front door. She rubbed her trembling hands over her arms as she took a deep breath of the cold Melbourne air, trying to figure out what to do.