“I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't like you. Who told you I don’t like you?”
I’m slightly taken aback. Okay, what is going on?
“No, uh, no one. I just… Well, you always seem to be in a grumpy mood around me. I just assumed.”
“You assumed because you are used to protecting yourself, thinking everyone dislikes you until proven otherwise. It’s how you justify your decision to remain a loner.”
“I—”
Jesus. Way tocall me out.
“I… Uh. Don't sugar coat it or anything."
"I don't sugar coat anything." He continues to flip the pages of his book, trying to find his spot.
"Yeah, I can see that. So, you do like me?”
“I don’t dislike you.”
“Cool. Yeah, that clears things up. Thanks.” I hope he can hear the sarcasm in my voice.
Gage and I have only ever been near each other when Ev is around, he is like our buffer. But without him, I’m not really sure how to talk to Gage. He has always been a bit of a mystery. Completely opposite to Everett in every way.
“I don’t like seeing Everett risk his heart on someone who is a flight risk.”
I want to be offended. But I’m not. I am a flight risk. But I wouldn’t go without Ev.
“You love him?” I ask, but I already know the answer.
“Like a brother.” He continues to look at his trigonometry book like he is actually able to hold a conversation and retain the information he is reading. Although Gage is incredibly smart, so maybe he is.
“I would never hurt Ev. I love him, Gage. You know this.” I reach out and lay my hand on Gage's arm. The action was meant to be comforting, but Gage’s eyes snap to mine and he jerks his arm away.
“Yes, and I know that love is the most effective way to hurt someone. The sharpest tool to extract the worst pain. You both speak of love like it’s some great thing. It’s fire. It’s warm and comforting until it’s not.”
His words resonate in the most familiar way. “You’re right, Gage. Loving someone is incredibly painful. I know that. I love someone who hurts me every day. I know what you’re fearful of. I won’t do that to Ev. I promise you. I want to protect him just as much as you do.”
“Do you promise, Leora?” The cold rumble of his voice is gone now, replaced with a vulnerability that I didn’t think and never thought I would hear from Gage.
“Pinky promise.” I hold out my pinky to him, but he just looks at it then back up at me with an unsure gaze. Deep in those hazel eyes, I see something shift. A spark of trust. He is giving me a piece of him that no one else gets.
“I don’t do the touching thing. And I don’t make childish pinky promises. Words mean shit.”
I pull my pinky back in and fold my hands into my lap, feeling like a scolded child. The old me would have stayed quiet, hidden away. But something in Gage pulls my darkness to the surface. He makes me want to fight.
“I agree. Words mean nothing, Gage. But do not sit there and try to use your scare tactics to keep me from Ev. What he and I have is real. It’s deep. It’s for life, and I’m sure you don’t believe any of that, thinking this is some temporary fling, but it’s not. And I don’t have to defend or prove shit to you. So, you might as well stop being a dick to me and just face the fact that I am going to be here, in his life, for a long fucking time—and yours, if you’ll let me.”
I take a deep breath. Jeez, that felt good. And did I swear? Man, he really does pull the fight out of me. I should tell people how I reallyfeel more often. That was liberating, and apparently it was for Gage, too, because he actually grins.
At me.
Then he chuckles. “Finally. There is your fire. You’re going to have to fight in Everett’s world. It's ruthless. Glad you have some in you.”
Did I just gain a little respect from Gage? I think I did. I smile, feeling very proud of myself.
“So. You never told me how you and Everett met.”
“Are you asking or making a statement?” Back to his cold, broody monotone.
