“Asking,” I say a little hesitantly.
He turns to me, fully now, eyes narrowed. His presence is commanding. Unlike Everett, who is my big goofy golden retriever, Gage is like an intimidating Doberman. He is fierce and beautiful, and I respect the hell out of him, but I don’t want to snuggle him.
I swallow, roll my shoulders back, sit a little taller. I see what he is doing here. He wants me to be more direct, more confident. I need to, to survive in Ev’s world. Okay. Challenge accepted.
“How did you and Everett meet?” I try to put as much confidence into my question as I can, but it still holds a level of fear. I’ve never been the bold type. I’ve never been the one to defend myself, always afraid of what others would think or how they would react, but I need to conquer that fear.
“Better. We will work on it.” He turns away now, giving me his side profile again, and goes back to reading his trigonometrybook.
“It was in sixth grade. My dad liked my hair on the longer side but I hated it. So while I was at school, I took some scissors and cut it off. When my dad picked me up, he got out of the car and was… a little rough with me."
I gasp and hold my hand up to my mouth. “In front of everyone?”
My shock doesn’t stem from the abuse—that’s a normal part of my own life. What shocks me is that his dad would be so public with it.
Gage continues, his voice numb. “Everett was walking to his own car. He ran over kicked my dad in his leg. Demanding he let me go. It was the first time anyone had ever defended me."
It seems Ev has saved more than one person from people who should have but never could love their own children.
“That sounds like something he would do. He is incredibly brave.”
“Or incredibly stupid.” Gage tries but fails to hide his grin.
"Did your dad… does he…" I don't even finish my sentence.
Gage pierces me with his hazel eyes and narrows them on me. As if he is deciding if I am asking out of genuine care for him or out of an obligation to pretend to care because he is Everett's best friend.
He must see that I genuinely do care because he gives me an honest answer. "He doesn't anymore. I grew up."
An understanding passes between us. Two people cut from the same cloth. Given a life we don't deserve but must survive.
“You know what I think? I think you and I are going to become best buds, Gage.”
He rolls his eyes and throws his head back. “God help me.”
Ihum Christmas carols as I make Mill’s Coffee House’s specialty drinks. Christmas is two weeks away, and this year's Christmas menu is a hit, so the shop has been pretty busy all month. We kept the Melted Snowman from last year and also added Santa’s Cookies, which is an iced mocha with cookie dough cold foam and a chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out of it on top.
Ev and Gage are sitting at their corner table working on homework, or really just goofing off. Blowing straw wrappers and flicking paper footballs at each other. I laugh at how easily entertained teenage boys are.
After our little bonding moment, Gage has been opening up more with me. Not as cold, but still kind of a dick. At least now there is a hint of sarcasm in his tone and eyes. He has been helping me with my confidence. And I appreciate it more than I could ever express to him. Through him, I have someone who understands my pain and is helping me overcome my fears. Unlike Ev, he doesn't respect my boundaries, he pushes me to talk about things I don't want to. It irritated me at first, but I am growing to appreciate it. I needed to bepushed. Needed to be challenged in a way only Gage can do because he understands.
When the bell rings out signaling a new customer, I yell out a quick, “Be right with you,” before finishing the latte I’m working on.
When I turn, I drop the latte and the cup shatters at my feet, drawing the eyes of everyone in the shop. Ski comes out from the back.
“Is everyth—”
He must follow my gaze.
“There you are, you little bitch! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. You think you can just run away, like I wouldn’t find you?”
“Mom.”
She storms up to the counter, stumbling on her heels as she comes.
She has never come into the shop—hell, she has never been to any store in this town. I always do the shopping. I never told her this is where I work. How did she find me?
Ski stands behind me, as Ev and Gage make their way toward me.
