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

Gabriel's POV

As Clairessa walked out, I stood frozen—caught between chasing after her or

letting her go.

And I let her go.

Even though it felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart out

without mercy.

The last look on her face—God, I'd never forget it. That raw, agonizing pain in her

eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks.

I did that.

All because I let my emotions override every ounce of reason I had.

Because of a fucking photo. One I didn't even trust. I reacted without thinking.

Without proof. Without giving her the benefit of the doubt.

I let it poison everything. Let suspicion consume me. Let anger drive me—and

now? God, now I might've destroyed the one good thing I had.

I may have just destroyed the only real chance at love I've ever had. At

happiness. At peace.

"Fuck..." I muttered, dragging both hands through my hair, fingers tangling in the

strands like I could burn the frustration out through my scalp.

But nothing made sense anymore.

Flashes from the night before hit me like a brutal tide. Standing Clairessa up on

the rooftop. Ignoring her messages. Driving to The Cave, letting the music drown

out my thoughts.

The burn of alcohol. The lights. The strippers. Tina.

Meeting her. Drinking. Letting her get close.

Bringing her here.

I remembered the strip tease. Her grinding on me. Her hands roaming as she

undressed me—lips on my skin, fingers tugging off my shirt... then reaching

lower, fumbling with my pants... my briefs.

And after that—nothing. Just a blank space.

I turned around slowly, dreading what I might've done.

Tina stood by the door, arms loosely crossed over her chest, biting her lip like she

didn't know what to say.

Like she was sorry.

Like she knew exactly what was running through my head.

"What the hell happened last night?" I asked, my voice hoarse. "Tell me we

didn't..."

I couldn't even say it. The words refused to come out. My stomach twisted at the

thought. I needed to hear her say it. I needed to know I didn't completely betray

Clairessa—physically.

"No, Gabriel," she interrupted, raising a hand. "You were drunk. Completely out of

it."

I stared at her, the words barely registering.

"What?"

"I mean... I tried," she admitted, looking away. "I used every trick I knew—ones

that used to work on you back in the day. But nothing did."

"We didn't," Tina said firmly. "You passed out right after I undressed you. I was

already half-naked from dancing—I just lay down beside you. That's it. Nothing

happened."

I exhaled hard, a shaky breath of relief leaving my lungs, the tight knot in my

chest loosening just a little.

Tina noticed my reaction and offered a faint, sympathetic smile.

"Contrary to what you might think,

Gabe..." she stepped closer, her

voice gentler now, "I have

boundaries. I draw the line at taking

advantage of a drunk man who kept

mumbling another woman's name."

I stared at her, shocked to my bones.

"I did that?" I whispered, floored by the idea that even through the haze of alcohol,

Clairessa had stayed with me.

She nodded. "Over and over. You kept saying her name—Clairessa. It was

honestly kind of heartbreaking to watch."

Tina paused, then added softly, "And

after seeing her so broken—thinking

you cheated—the pain on her face

the way she stormed out... and

watching you fall apart too... I get

why you couldn't go through with it

last night. You should probably just

tell her the truth—that nothing

happened between us."

I opened my mouth to respond, but my voice cracked. I looked down at my hands,

the shame too heavy to carry.

"I doubt she'll believe me," I said quietly. "I think I've burned it all to the ground."

Even though I hadn't slept with Tina.

It didn't matter.

It didn't erase the damage. Didn't undo what Clairessa saw when she walked in.

The look on her face. The betrayal she must've felt.

And the worst part?

She didn't even wait for me to explain. She just looked at me like I was a stranger.

Like I'd turned into someone she could never trust again.

Tina laid a tentative hand on my shoulder. I didn't pull away.

"For what it's worth," she said softly, "I believe she still loves you. And I think

there's still a chance for you to make this right."

"I don't know, Tina," I muttered. "There's a lot going on, and honestly, I don't want

to keep talking about this right now."

"That's fair," she noted gently, reaching for my hand. "But I want you to know

something—you don't have to go through this alone. Our relationship doesn't

have to be about sex."

She paused, locking eyes with me as she searched my face. "We can talk," she

continued, her voice low. "About what you're really feeling. It might help... instead

of keeping it all bottled up."

I pulled away slightly. The only person I'd allowed to see through me in years was

Clairessa—and no one else.

Then I looked at Tina—really looked at her. The seductress was gone. Standing in

her place was a woman offering me kindness. A friend.

And maybe, in this moment, that

was exactly what I needed: a friend

to share some of my thoughts with...

my confusion. Someone who could

help shed light on the clarity I

desperately needed, because my

emotions were clouding my

judgment.

I nodded faintly. "You're right," I murmured. "Bottling it up hasn't done me any

good. And getting drunk was the worst decision I could've made."

"No kidding," she muttered with a small smirk.

"Talking might help," I admitted. "Because clearly, I can't trust myself when I'm

spiraling."

"Then come," she said, tugging gently at my hand. "Sit with me properly. Just

talk."

And for the first time in a long while, I let myself.

We sat in silence for a moment before Tina tilted her head and locked eyes withnoveldrama

me. I knew the question was coming.

"So... Do you love her?"