Awe-Struck, Book 2 Read online

  “Oh would you behave?!” Sunny laughed as she tried to dodge him again.

  “Nope, this is just too much fun.” Gabe said pressing her into the counter as she tried to fill their plates.

  He kissed the tender skin of her neck, a particularly sensitive spot that made her giggle and shrink away from him.

  “Oh, is someone ticklish?” Gabe said as he tickled her side.

  “Gabe…I’m warning you. Don’t start!” She gave him a stern look, grabbing a knife she had used to cut up peppers, trying to threaten him and backing away at the same time.

  “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about. ‘Don’t start’ what?” Gabe said innocently as he inched towards her.

  “My brother found out the hard way when we were little. I peed all over the living room floor when he tickled me once.” Sunny warned as she rounded the island, looking for an escape route.

  “I’ll take my chances.” Gabe chuckled as he lunged after her.

  Sunny took off around the island, dropping the knife and ran into the den, towards the couch to put it between her and Gabe. But she was no match for Gabe’s speed and long legs. He caught her around the waist and smoothly tackled her onto the couch, straddling her midsection. Once he was on top of her, there was no getting him off, no matter how hard she bucked and his hands were everywhere tickling her until tears were streaming down her face and she was breathless with laughter.

  “GABRIEL! STOP!” Sunny shouted with giggles.

  Then suddenly out of nowhere she let out an unfortunately loud fart. They both stopped dead, staring at each other in shock. Apparently she had more than a weak bladder to worry about. Sunny’s mouth dropped open in horror and Gabe’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Gabe squeezed his lips together, trying to hold back his laughter. You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!

  Sunny covered her beet red face in embarrassment as Gabe’s laughter burst out in loud guffaws. He laughed so hard that she felt his body shaking uncontrollably over her.

  “Oh shut up! You suck!” Sunny said behind her hands.

  “Aw, come on babe! Don’t be embarrassed. It’s no big deal.” Gabe said, pulling at her hands, forcing her to uncover her face.

  “Says who, ya big jerk?!” Sunny tried to frown unsuccessfully as she looked up at his grinning face.

  “Don’t worry I’ll love you, no matter what…even when you’re stinky and flatulent.” Gabe said, his laughter starting all over again.

  “Oh you’re such an ass!” Sunny giggled as she pushed him.

  He was laughing so hard, he was caught off guard by the push and fell over off the couch. Sunny laughed at his surprised face as he landed on the floor. Gabe reached up and pulled her off the couch and she fell on top of him. They laughed until they couldn’t breathe and clutched their stomachs.

  He rolled over, putting Sunny underneath him. “I love you, Sweet Girl.”

  “Yeah…yeah. I love you too.” She said grudgingly.

  “Come on. Let’s go eat, before I molest you on this floor.” Gabe said as he stood and then pulled her up off the floor. Her embarrassment averted for the moment as they made their way back into the kitchen.

  “So…babies, huh?” Sunny broached the subject he had so casually brought up earlier, as she continued to fill their plates with noodles at the kitchen island.

  Gabe leaned his hip against the counter folded his arms across his chest and looked down at her. Sunny peeked up at him from under her lashes and he was smiling warmly at her.

  “Yes. I can’t imagine anything better than you barefoot and pregnant, round with my baby.” Gabe said sincerely as he got a wistful faraway look in his eyes, like he could see it.

  “I just hope that I can have kids. I never really thought about it. I guess I figured it would never happen.” Sunny shrugged filling wine glasses with a nice white wine to go with the noodles.

  “Really? You don’t want to have kids?” Gabe said slightly panicked.

  “No, it’s not that. It’s just that I didn’t think it would happen for me. So why get my hopes up? But I think it would be wonderful to have kids with you.” Sunny rubbed a reassuring hand down his thick corded arm.

  “Good. And don’t worry; we’ll keep trying until we do. That’s the fun part anyway. And I plan on keeping you pregnant.” Gabe wiggled his eyebrows at Sunny.

  “Uh…how many kids do you plan on having?” Sunny looked at him fearfully.

  “How about we try to give that one Mormon family a run for their money?” Gabe smirked down at her.

  “The hell you say?! You must be out your damn tree! My vagina would end up looking like ground beef, if you have your way!” Sunny backed away from him in horror, carrying their wineglasses as Gabe grabbed the plates.

  “Okay, how about five?” Gabe asked, completely serious.

  “How about we just try for one first and see how it goes?” Sunny compromised.

  “Fine.” Gabe pouted like a little boy denied a toy car.

  Wow…I went from chronically single to engaged and planning a big family in a matter of months! Sweet Mary Mother!

  Sunny’s head spun with every emotion under the sun. She prayed that she could be everything he needed her to be. Sunny was so deep in thought that all she was doing was pushing the food around on her plate, but not really eating anything. She felt a warm strong hand squeeze hers.

  “Sunny, I know all of this is happening too fast for you. And I’ve tried to slow things down so I don’t freak you out. But I can’t help myself. I get so excited and ahead of myself when I think of our future together. You know I’ve never had this either. And it’s so amazing to me that I want it all right now. So just bear with me when I get a little crazy.” Gabe looked at her in desperation.

  “I’m fine. Everything is moving fast, but I want it just as much as you do. It’s just hard to believe sometimes. I just need to stop and pinch myself every now and again.” Sunny grinned at him.

  “So…I’ve stalled in asking you something.” Gabe hedged tentatively.

  “Oh God, what now?” Sunny cringed.

  “Well, the MTV Movie Awards are this Sunday and I’m nominated for Best Male Performance for Clutch and I know it’s not the Oscars or anything but I want you to go with me.” Gabe asked shyly.

  “Babe, I wouldn’t be anywhere else. I know I’ve been a hermit the past couple of weeks, but of course I want to be there to support you and cheer you on.” Sunny reached over and caressed his cheek, freaking out a little on the inside when she thought of leaving the house. But she wouldn’t miss it for the world.

  ~~~

  The day of the awards show Sunny worked on her screenplay until she was finished. She stretched and smiled, looking at the last page with pride. It was almost time to get ready, but she wanted to email Francesca before she started.

  Francesca,

  The resort in Cabo approved our date for the wedding. It’ll be Saturday, July 27th. Keep your calendar open, because I’d love to have you there. Right now I’m just trying to decide whether to tell Gabriel now or surprise him the day of. It might be good to tell him now and maybe you could come stay with us for the next month, so you can get to know each other. I’ll keep you posted.

  Sunny

  Sunny looked at the clock and jumped up. Shit, I’ll never be ready in time if I don’t get moving. She wished now that she had taken Gabe up on his offer of having a stylist come to do her hair and makeup. But since she had finally gotten her cast removed earlier in the week, she figured she could do her own hair and makeup.

  She jumped in the shower and quickly washed her hair and shaved everywhere. She got out of the shower in record time and started on her hair and makeup. Gabe walked in and kissed her on cheek.

  “Hey, Sweet Girl. I’m getting in the shower. Be out in just a sec.” Gabe said stripping down.

  “You’ll probably be ready before me and started after. Oh, to be a man.” Sunny teased as she admired his naked form stepping into the large shower. />
  And of course he was out of the shower and dressed before she had started on her makeup. Luckily she only put on minimal makeup. It was her mass of curls that took so long. She took a little extra time to get her hair just right. She parted her hair on one side then loosely French braided both sides and pinned her curls in a messy side bun on the nape of her neck. She left out a few curling tendrils here and there to femininely frame her face.

  As she started on her makeup, Gabe called to her from the bedroom.

  “Hey, how’s the screenplay going? Were you able to finish today?” He said in a raised voice so she could hear him.

  “Yeah I did! I can’t believe I did it!” Sunny heard nothing but silence in the bedroom. “Gabe?”

  Sunny walked into the bedroom to see why he had become so quiet all of a sudden. Gabe stood in front of her laptop, and what he was looking at stopped her heart. No no no no no!!! Not like this…I didn’t want him to find out like this!

  “Gabe, I-” Sunny started.

  “You found her?” Gabe interrupted. “You contacted her? You fucking contacted her?!” Gabe shouted the last part.

  Sunny stumbled back as if slapped. Gabe had never raised his voice to her.

  “Gabe she loves you! Wants to meet-”

  “I told you I don’t want to meet her! My relationship with my mother is none of your fucking business!” Gabe yelled at her.

  “Gabriel Wolf! Don’t you dare talk to me like that! Not my fucking business?! I’m supposed to be tying myself to you in every way for the rest of our lives, yet your family is none of my business?!” Sunny yelled back.

  “I’m not discussing this with you. Conversation over.” Gabe said with dead finality.

  Gabe walked out of the bedroom leaving Sunny dejected and crestfallen. Tears threatened, but she refused to shed them. She already hated the media and getting her picture taken a million times. But she refused to face them with red-rimmed puffy eyes or smeared mascara.

  She couldn’t believe how irrational Gabe was being about his mother. He needed her, needed a relationship with her, to heal old and deeply buried wounds. And the fact that he so quickly had slammed her efforts hurt liked hell.

  Sunny tried to apply the rest of her eyeliner, but her hands shook too badly from pent up emotions. She dropped her hands to the counter and clutched the edge, breathing deeply through the nose trying to calm her nerves. When she felt she was under control and that her hands were fairly steady, she continued finishing her makeup.

  Sunny gave herself a dramatic smoky eye and added a clear lip-gloss for a more nude lip. She walked into the bedroom when she was finished, Gabe was nowhere in sight, probably not even wanting to be in her presence. All she could do was sigh and walk into the closet to get the dress she had chosen out of the several that at least five designers sent over.

  Apparently now that she was engaged to Gabe and she had suddenly become an involuntary spokesperson for plus-sized women, Sunny was now the “It” girl. Every designer apparently wanted her to wear their clothes and designed them with her in mind. It was overwhelming for her, but nice. She’d never in her life expected to wear couture anything.

  Many of the dresses were cute and flirty and she instantly loved them and vowed to wear them soon. But cute and flirty wasn’t what she wanted tonight. She had always been the ‘cute chubby one’; tonight she wanted to be sexy, especially since this was the biggest red-carpet event they had attended so far. Gabe was sexy as sin and she wanted to at least try to look like she belonged with him.

  So she chose the one sexy dress that had been sent to her. It was an all-white modern take on the Grecian gown. It had a sweetheart neckline that pushed her bust up till it was almost overflowing. The rest of the dress fit her body like a glove, all the way down to right under her knees. The expensive material was ruched and gathered slightly, to cleverly disguise any lumps and bumps she had. And her favorite part of the dress was the large gathered material that acted as a strap that crossed from the top of the left bust up and around her collar bone and neck to come back around to attach at the back giving it a sexy toga look.

  To finish out her whole look, she added a silver and rhinestone Grecian leaf hair clip above one braid, chandelier earrings, and sparkly bangle bracelets to partially hide her uneven arms, since her formerly casted arm was atrophied from lack of use for six weeks. And last she slid on the yellow wedge heels.

  Once Sunny was finished she grudgingly headed down to meet Gabe. When she rounded the corner downstairs he was sitting on the couch with a tumbler of amber liquid and ice. He looked up and his eyes widened in shock and he swallowed loudly.

  “As usual Sunny you take my breath away.” He said standing and kissing her on the cheek.

  “You look fantastic Gabe.” Sunny meant every word, but her voice held no inflection.

  And he did look ridiculously sexy in his midnight blue tux that had the slightest shimmer to it and a skinny black tie and black shiny dress shoes. And for the first time since she’d known him personally, his hair was slicked back in a sleek sexy way that emphasized the light stubble on his square jaw.

  “Ready?” Gabe asked softly, as if she’d fall apart if he spoke too loudly.

  “Yes.” Sunny responded shortly.

  “Sunny, I…” Gabe started, but his voice trailed off.

  “Let’s just go. We’ll be late if we don’t get going. And isn’t the whole point of getting there on time, the walk down the red-carpet?”

  “Alright. Let’s get going.” Gabe put his hand on her lower back leading her out of the house to the awaiting limo.

  The ride to the Kodak Theater was excruciatingly silent. Gabe wasn’t quite as angry as he was at first, but couldn’t find the right way to apologize. And Sunny was still hurt and tight-lipped not making any apologizes easy on Gabe.

  The limo pulled up and the cameras were poised with anticipation to burst with flashes at whoever got out of the car. Gabe looked at Sunny sadly, leaned in and gently kissed her temple and then opened the door and stepped out. Instantly several men shouted Gabe’s name to get his attention to get the best angles for their photos. The crowd that was wrangled in on the temporary bleachers went nuts.

  Gabe turned back and reached a hand in to help Sunny out of the back. As she stepped out and the cameras exploded with blinding flashes and the crowd remarkably got louder. She had no idea how it was possible that she had become an overnight sensation just for falling in love, especially after the initial poor reception she had gotten at first. But here she was and though it made her uncomfortable, she wouldn’t give Gabe up for the world, even when he was being a stubborn ass.

  Sunny smiled brightly at the cameras and crowd. She and Gabe may be in the middle of a battle, but she knew she couldn’t show that, so she mirrored Gabe as they made their way to the first interview station along the red carpet.

  “Wow, Gabriel! Sunny! You both look amazing! Who are you wearing?” The female interviewer waved them over.

  “Coincidentally I think we’re both wearing Valentino. Right, Sunny?” Gabe smiled down at her.

  “Yes, we are. I didn’t even realize it.” Sunny chuckled.

  “I guess great fashion minds think alike.” The male interviewer chimed in.

  “So you two have had quite the crazy last couple of months. I’m so glad to see you’re doing well Sunny and you finally have that cast off.” The girl commented.

  “Yeah, life has been pretty interesting to say the least. I wouldn’t mind a little quiet for a while.” Sunny responded honestly.

  “I can imagine. Well you look stunning tonight. And we’re rooting for you guys. You’re the hot topic around the water cooler these days.” She said to Sunny.

  “Oh boy! I’m not nearly as interesting as all that.” Sunny exclaimed.

  “Wanna bet.” Gabe said before kissing her temple, making both interviewers laugh.

  It was time to move on the next interviewing station. It took them a few minutes to make their w
ay down the red carpet because every show had to get an interview from the hot couple. The whole time the crowd of movie fans screamed and shouted their names adding “We love you, Sunny!”, “You’re so hot Gabe!” or “You guys are perfect together!” Practically the whole country’s view of them had changed after their time on The Chat and the video of Gabe’s proposal was aired and went viral. Apparently it had gotten over three million hits.

  At the end of the red carpet many of the celebrities were standing around chitchatting with one another before the show started. The first person to come up to them as they walked up to the gathering was Sophia Morales. Oh great! My favorite fucking person.

  Sophia sashayed up to them in a long gown with a plunging neckline that nearly went to her bellybutton and the matching back went down to the bottom of her tailbone. Stock must have gone up in double-sided sticky tape. Sunny felt like an Oompa Loompa next to the Latin bombshell.

  Sophia sauntered up to Gabe seductively; her back to Sunny, she double kissed him on the cheeks. Like she’s fucking French or something. Bitch you’re probably from Queens! Sunny didn’t actually know where she was from, but it felt good to think it.

  “Hello Gabriel. How have you been?” Sophia purred at Gabe.

  “Fine.” Gabe replied awkwardly.

  “How did you like that rumor that was going around about us and that sex tape? It reminded me of old times.” She seductively rubbed down his arm.

  Gabe looked uncomfortable and at a loss for words. Sunny had plenty and was in no mood to play the close-lipped pushover.

  “Are you fucking for real right now?!” Sunny said angrily as she tapped the statuesque woman on the shoulder. “Do you not see me fucking standing here? With his ring on my finger? Learn some respect and back the fuck off.” Sunny growled.

  Sophia gasped and Gabe sputtered, holding back his laughter. Sunny just scowled at them both and then turned on her heels and walked away.