The Eternity that Follows (33 page)

On Thursday, Gabriella politely asked Joey if he would
make her breakfast. Joey was mad at the thought, because he had a
long, hard day of work ahead of him. Joey ate his words after he
asked if she thought she was a princess. Gabriella said, ‘what if
I’m busy with the baby and you have to? I just want to make sure
you know how,’ causing Joey to feel badly for his princess remark,
and not being able to help, but laugh over how cute she was. Joey
agreed to making breakfast, and then confessed to not knowing
how to make anything other then food that was cooked in the
toaster. He assured Gabriella he was even incapable of pouring a
bowl of cereal. Gabriella knew he was only teasing, but told him
pop tarts were fine for her, causing Joey to laugh. Joey brought
Gabriella breakfast in bed, and treated her like a princess for the
rest morning.

Joey left Gabriella feeling special the whole day. Besides
bringing her breakfast in bed, Joey gave Gabriella a full body
massage, deciding to cut his workout at the gym short to have the
time to make Gabriella, feel like a princess.

When Joey got home from work, Gabriella gasped with
excitement. Gabriella kept herself busy all day long, but she still
found moments where she felt there was nothing to do, but think of
Joey.
“My prince, your home.” Gabriella said, wrapping her arms
around Joey in the front doorway.
“I am home. My lovely princess.” Joey said, taking Gabriella into
his arms.
“No. I was a princess this morning. Tonight you are my prince.”
“If I’m your prince, wouldn’t that mean you’re my soon to be a
princess?” Joey asked, lifting up his left hand, and showing his
ring tattoo as proof.
“Well. I guess so. No. You’re my prince because I’m a part of
your kingdom, and tonight I will be serving you.” Gabriella said,
leading Joey into the kitchen.

Joey took Gabriella’s left hand and rubbed her tattoo,
reminding her that she was indeed his princess.
“Serving me what?” Joey asked, not possibly able to imagine what
Gabriella had cooked for him to make him feel like a prince.

Gabriella set Joey down a plate of appetizers. “You made
all this?”
“I sure did” Gabriella said, looking at the array of appetizers.

Gabriella made Joey homemade stuff mushrooms, baby
stuff artichoke hearts, mozzarella sticks, and zucchini sticks.
“You didn’t make all of this homemade did you?” Joey asked.
“I did”
“How did you make homemade triangle mozzarella sticks, and
what are these called?”
Joey asked, holding up a zucchini stick.
“It’s a zucchini stick. I cut breaded and fried Joey.”
“You’re amazing.” Joey said, as he then kissed her face.
“Thanks.”

When Joey was done with his plate of appetizers, Gabriella
set down a dish of the main course.
“What’s this?” Joey asked, feeling almost full.
“It’s eggplant rollatini.” Gabriella beamed.
“You mean that wasn’t dinner before?”
“Do princes eat one course at dinner?”
“Well.” Joey said, tasting the plate in front of him. “Yum.”
“You like it?” Gabriella asked, trying it herself. 'It is good',
Gabriella thought while she chewed and swallowed.
“I like you.” Joey said, after seeing Gabriella’s face of delight as
she tasted the food, and knowing he didn’t have to assure her, her
cooking was delicious.

When Joey's stomach was on the brink of it's belt buckle,
Gabriella stayed in the kitchen to finish up the rest of the dishes
while Joey went to shower. When Joey got out of the shower he
lay on his stomach and told Gabriella,
“just my back please.”
“Oh you think your getting a massage?”
“I am the prince tonight.”
“You sure are.” Gabriella said, climbing ontop of Joey's butt.

Joey feel asleep throughout his back massage. Gabriella
hopped off his butt, and picked up the phone to call Josephine.
She wanted to check up on her friend, to see how she was doing,
since they last talked. Josephine sounded upset on the phone, and
informed Gabriella she still wasn’t on speaking with Jemma. No
matter how hard Jemma was trying to regain their friendship back,
like Gabriella, Josephine was unwilling to budge. Josephine felt
even if she didn’t sleep with Vinny, she shouldn’t have left her and
Sara at the bar that night. Gabriella was happy to hear, Josephine
wasn’t quick to forgive Jemma. Josephine and Gabriella stayed on
the phone for awhile, talking about all the bad things Jemma had
done to both of them throughout the years. Josephine and
Gabriella also talked about all the lies they had caught her in.

When Gabriella brought up Sara, Josephine seemed even
more upset. Josephine filled Gabriella in on how Sara had been
out with Jemma most nights the two last weeks, and had only gone
out with her one night. Gabriella made plans with Josephine for
Saturday night, wanting to be a good friend, and she also didn’t
want to leave Josephine sitting home alone. Josephine requested to
go out somewhere other then Mandala, because she didn’t want to
run into Jemma. Gabriella was delighted by the idea.

Gabriella then took the time to call Sara, to catch up and
because Gabriella wanted to discuss her side of not wanting to talk
to Jemma anymore. By the end of the phone conversation, Sara
agreed, it was best if Gabriella and Jemma didn’t make up right
away. When the situation between Jemma and Josephine came up,
Sara said she didn’t want to talk about it. Sara told Gabriella she
wanted to stay out of their situation as best she could. Gabriella
was able to understand, but was unsure why Sara had been picking
Jemma’s side, as Josephine made it sound. Gabriella asked Sara
what she was doing on Saturday night, and Sara informed she had
plans with Jemma. Gabriella and Sara left their phone
conversation off with making plans to go out one night next week
together. Sara claimed to miss her terribly since she had been with
Joey. Gabriella said she would get back to her on what night was
good for her.

When Gabriella got back into her room, Joey was still
asleep. Gabriella laid down next to Joey, falling asleep herself.
Joey woke her up a few hours later, giving Gabriella kisses on the
back of her neck, suggesting what he was in the mood for.
Gabriella woke up and caved into Joey’s desire, as his kisses had
felt too good to deny. When Joey and Gabriella were through
making love, Joey stayed up watching Gabriella sleep in his arms.
He prayed they'd always be faithful and then prayed for her safety
if she was ever to cheat on him. He brushed off thoughts of her
ever causing him harm, and bringing out his past rebellious side,
realizing she truly did love him, straight from the start.

Over breakfast the next morning, Gabriella informed Joey
she had spoken to Josephine, and Sara and she was going out with
Josephine on Saturday night. Joey didn’t have too much to say
about it, expect that he was coming along. Gabriella didn’t argue
with him, and asked if he had spoken to Tie yet. Gabriella hadn’t
heard anything about Tie since had called to congratulate Joey.
Joey informed Gabriella, how he had spoken to Tie, a few days
after he called to congratulate him. Gabriella was a little upset that
Joey hadn’t metioned so sooner. Joey gave Gabriella Tie’s account
of the night, saying Tie said Sara ditched him in the club while
dancing with some guy, so he left, taking the train home. Gabriella
felt bad for Tie, and then wondered if Tie would like another
chance at seeing Josephine. Joey said he would ask Tie if he
wanted to go out with them on Saturday night. Gabriella hoped he
would so Josephine wouldn’t feel like a third wheel.

Joey left for work, wishing to still in bed with Gabriella,
but happy to be taking her out with her friend on Saturday night. It
wasn't his intention to take her away from her friends, though he
would rather Gabriella all to himself. Joey then thought it would
be nice for he and Gabriella to spend time with his friends. So
Joey called Gabriella on lunch, asking if Gabriella would like to go
out with Gavin, Sadie, Josh and Anna tonight as a Friday night
outing. Gabriella loved the idea of going out with all of Joey’s
friends as couples. Gabriella also wanted the chance to get to
know all of his friends better.

At around two o’clock in the afternoon, the front door bell
rang to Gabriella’s parent’s house. Gabriella answered the door to
a man with a hand tuck and four boxes. Gabriella signed for the
packages, taking the card that came along with them from the
delivery man. Gabriella opened the card, and saw it was signed,
Alice.
Gabriella then opened up one of the boxes, and found it to
be her china set. Joey’s mom had given them their entire china
collection as their wedding gift. Gabriella was shocked over the
present, and how thoughtful Joey’s mom had shown to be.
Gabriella didn’t want to disturb Joey at work by calling and telling
him about his mother’s gift. She feared Joey would take it as her
way of making up for the lost years, and found it best to wait until
he got home from work to tell him of the gift.

When Joey arrived home, he noticed the packages on the
living room floor right away. Gabriella was in the kitchen heating
up the left overs from the night before. Gabriella’s parents had
gone out for dinner with their friends, like they had been every
Friday since even before Joey moved in.
“We’re getting wedding gifts already?” Joey said, happy it was
Friday and he was off from work early.
“Guess so.”
“Who are they from?” Joey asked, thinking the boxes to be
multiple gifts.
“It’s our whole china set from your mother.” Gabriella said, in fear
of Joey’s reaction.

Joey was actually quite pleased his mother had given them
such an elaborate gift. His mother had always tried contacting him
to give him money, ever since he hadn’t come home when he was
fifteen. Joey never let his brother give his whereabouts to his
mother though. Joey knew for his mother, a gift like pleased her to
give.
“Well I better call her and thank her.” Joey said, shocking
Gabriella.
“Okay.” Was all Gabriella said. She didn’t want to say anything to
change Joey’s mind.

Joey called his mother from the living room while he sat
and looked at the boxes. Joey had a twenty minute conversation
with his mother. When the lost years and the incident with his step
father came up, they both concurred to let it be. Neither of them
wanted to argue about their side of the story, and they both found it
best to leave the past in the past. Gabriella overheard the final part
of the conversation, when she came in to tell Joey the food was
ready. Gabriella hadn’t expected Joey to still be on the phone with
his mother, but Joey didn’t mind what Gabriella had overheard.
He would have told her anything her little heart desired to know
anyway. Gabriella was sure in her heart, she had a postive
infulence on Joey, and the man he was proving to be, and the man
he was coming to be.

Joey and Gabriella were meeting Joey’s friends at Timber
Tavern at Ten. Joey was wearing his white shorts with blue stripes
with his matching blue shirt. And Gabriella was wearing her
purple tube top dress at Joey’s request, being Joey felt it was too
nice a dress to wear only around the house. When Gabriella did a
three-sixty, asking Joey if the dressed looked okay, he had second
thought about her wearing it. Gabriella’s hips, backside and butt
were all conforming, showing off her amazing figure. Joey wanted
to undress Gabriella right away, but Gabriella wouldn’t let him
because she didn’t want to be late on his friends.

A little while after they got to Timber Tavern, Gabriella was
left alone by Joey with the girls, as him, Gavin and Josh went to
play pool. Gabriella was the center of attention like she always
was, being the girls wanted the scoop on Joey, and how he was
behaving with her. Gabriella told them how romantic Joey was
and how much attention he gave her. The girls acted shocked, and
Gabriella got the sense she knew a different Joey then these girls
did. Gabriella soon changed the subject off of her and Joey and
onto just Joey, wanting the full scoop on him prior to meeting her.
The girls told her, Joey was the tough guy around his friends,
always barking orders, and he wasn’t too giving with his feelings,
expect when it came to Gavin.

Gabriella became to feel special that Joey was so open and
honest with her. Gabriella excused herself from the table to buy
herself another drink, with the money Joey had given her. Joey
wanted to make sure Gabriella had her own pocket money on her
just in case she needed it for herself. Gabriella thought to see if
Joey needed another drink, but figured he was more then capable
of getting his own drink, he had after all left her all alone with girls
she barley knew.

When Gabriella walked over to the bar, she had caught
Joey’s eye. The way her hips moved in her tight dress caused Joey
to bulge. When Joey got a look at Gabriella’s backside, he looked
around, and noticed she had caught the attention of most boys in
the bar. Joey grew territorial and walked to her side, leaving his
cue stick for Josh to shot for him
“What are you doing?” Joey asked Gabriella, implying she was
doing something wrong.
“Buying a drink?” Gabriella said, as a question.
“I meant what are you doing alone?”
“I’m not alone. You’re in the bar.” Gabriella pointed out, as
Joey’s possessive side was coming out again.
“Just get your drink.”

After Gabriella got her drink, Joey walked her with his
hand on her hip, and his body shielding her butt from the crowd,
back to the table. Gabriella sat down at the table, and Joey sat
down next to her.

Both Anna and Sadie were pleased to have Joey join them.
They hadn’t seen him much since he had gotten together with
Gabriella.
“Joey, so nice of you to join us.” Sadie gasped. “I haven’t seen
you around the house these last few weeks.”
“Yeah. I’ve been busy.” Joey said, brushing Gabriella’s hand to
show who he had been busily with.
“We can see that.” Anna said, shocked Joey was showing his care
for Gabriella in front of them.
“Well you can at least make it over at some point to visit Gavin.
You know he misses you terribly.” Sadie said.
“I’m with him now, aren’t I?”
“Yeah but he misses sitting on the couch with you.”
“Josh Misses’ you too.” Anna pointed out.
“Oh does he?”
“He sure does.” Anna said, though she was unsure if he really
missed him, but wanted to say so anyway.
“And what does he miss about me? Does he miss my yelling at
him to shut up all the time?” Joey said, laughing.
“Exactly.” Anna replied.