There was some shuffling coming from the room and a moment later the door swung open to reveal a smiling Gage, whose gaze raked over me before swinging to Madison, who was scooting by him to get inside to get to Will.
“Come on in,” Gage said with a chuckle.
Somewhere, my brain had short circuited, and I forgot how to talk or move my legs to walk.
Gage raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to do or say something.
But I couldn’t. Seeing Gage in the soft gray slacks and the deep red button-down shirt, which he had the top two buttons undone, had fried my brain. All I could think about was my mouth on that sliver of exposed skin.
“Like what you see?” Gage teased with a smirk.
My eyes shot up to his and I was relieved to see they looked just as lust filled as I was sure mine were.
“Shut up,” I said half-heartedly, knocking our shoulders together. “You ready?”
Gage nodded and we said goodbye to the kids.
Every silent step we took toward the elevators, shot my pulse up more and more. I wished he would say something because I didn’t know how to start whateverthiswas. I suddenly wished I was back up in the room pigging out on pizza and even watching horror movies. The nightmares might be worth eliminating the anxiety of dinner with Gage.
“I hope you don’t mind, I made reservations at one of the hotel’s restaurants?” Gage asked quietly, seeming almost shy.
“Why would I mind?” I wasn’t sure why he suddenly seemed nervous, unless itwasa date, and he was just as nervous as I was. Though I also wasn’t sure why he thought I’d care about where we went to eat. It could be fast food for all I cared, as long as it was with him.
Of course, I didn’t say any of that.
Gage shrugged as we entered the elevator but didn’t offer any other explanation. There were a few other people already inside, so our conversation was cut off before it ever really had a chance to start.
After what seemed like the tensest lifetime ever, the elevator finally stopped to let us out. Gage led me down through the corridors and ushered me in through a set of doors on our right.
My heart raced and my breathing hitched as I took in the scene before me. It wasfancyandromantic. I couldn’t help the hopeful grin that spread across my face. Especially as he fumbled over his words with the hostess, explaining he had a reservation.
When she stepped aside to lead us to our table, Gage threw me the most dazzling smile. I was so screwed. Somehow this man had wormed his way into my heart without even really trying. And I didn’t know what I was going to do if this didn’t go anywhere or mean what I hoped it meant.
Play it cool, Trent. Let him take the lead and just sit back and see where this goes. The last thing you need to do, is make a fool of yourself.
When we sit at the table, menus in hand, I was thrown back to how we had been at breakfast that morning. Doing whatever we could to not look at each other, sneaking glances when we thought the other wouldn’t notice while hoping theywouldnotice. It was all very ninth grade and so were the butterflies in my stomach.
“Did you see the ratings? Much better than projected, so that’s a relief,” I said, breaking the ice with a safe subject—work.
“I did!” Gage’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Honestly, I would have been excited even if they’d been lower than the projected ratings. It was exciting to just know thatanybodywas interested in watching the show.”
His excitement had a smile toying with my lips. I had to duck down into my menu to tear my eyes away from him and keep myself in check.
There was a tense lull in conversation after that. And I wished I could go back in time because it was so much worse than before I had even said anything. I squirmed in my seat, trying to figure out what my next move should be, or if I should leave that up to Gage.
I was more conflicted than ever. It felt like a date, but it was also awkward, which I suppose could also be more proof that it was a date. But as time passed and the silence stretched on, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had read too much into the situation.
It was going to be a long night, especially if it continued on like this.
Gage
“The kids seem to be getting along really well. And I think they had a good time sightseeing today.” I had to say something, anything at this point, just to break the silence that had been killing me since I opened my hotel door. I had almost expected him to do hand gestures to the waiter when he came over to take our order.
“Yeah, I’m glad. Makes things easier, you know?” Trent grabbed his water and took a long sip, and I couldn’t help but admire the way the muscles in his throat and neck worked as he swallowed.
A look of relief washed over his face as the waiter returned with our meals and my heart sank.
Is he looking for the night to be over already? Did I fuck this up so bad before we even got our food? That has to be a new record.
