Page 29 of Collide

“Gage was here looking for you.”

Ignoring the statement, I jump to another. “Social media saw me today with him. Nothing happened, but they’re going to make a thing of it.”

“You remember what your mother always said about social media, girl?”

“Negative things are more about the other person than you.”

I haven’t risked a peek at the photo myself. I’m too afraid of what I’ll see. We’re silent a second, and I look up at the stars, considering Gage. Two stars collide and they collapse. Gage will collapse me.

“He wants me to be their band manager.”

I roll my head to look up at Tommy. “He does?” I pause. “Will you do it?”

“Nope. I’ve already been in a band. I don’t need to be outside one.”

“Could be fun?” I tease. “The other side of a coin.”

Tommy laughs. “Except I don’t need more money.”

I settle back against him. My brain hurts from the roller coaster of Gage.

“What do I know about managing a band?”

“I bet you’d know a lot about it. You kept Chrome Teardrops together for almost two decades, which was no small feat,” I tease, knowing the volatile history with their cousin, as siblings, and the love-hate relationship with Hank.

He huffs and sits forward to pour another half-glass. “I know you miss it,” I remind him. “And you see in them what they can be.”

“I think he’s trouble for you.”

“We aren’t talking about me, and I can take care of myself.” I’m going to have no other choice. I’m all I have left next to Tommy, and I think he needs something like this. Managing a band will give him new purpose.

Tommy harrumphs, and I sit forward, intending to stand. He grips my wrist, stopping me. “Problem is, it’s more than you now, darlin’.”

He leans over and kisses my temple. “I think I need some sleep.” He hefts himself upward, grabs the bottle off the table, and walks around the sofa. I remind myself that losing my mother was hard on him, too. They were siblings, best friends who fought like cats and dogs, but they loved each other hard. I rub my belly, wondering if this baby will ever have sibling love like that. I know I didn’t although I love my brother.

I stand and move to the railing, looking out at the black ocean. The moon shines down in a funnel-like ripple reflection. It’s beautiful and dangerous and reminds me of Gage. He’ll break me if I give in to my attraction to him. My heart has no more room for aches.

“Ivy.” I turn to find my thoughts materialized into the man himself. He’s moonlight in a dark moment of my life. Twice actually. His eyes meet mine across the patio, and the pull I feel to him raises the wispy hairs on my neck. In less than a second, he crosses the rooftop. A hand delves into my hair while the other covers my cheek, and his mouth collides with mine.

It’s the same kiss as the time in the closet yet so much more. Hungry. Desperate. Needy. He takes my lips with his, sucking at the bottom before covering both again and tilting my head for better access. My body falls against his. My arms wrap around his neck, and my fingers fumble in his hair. I can’t get close enough to him, and then his tongue invades my mouth. Instantly, we tangle, twirl, taste. Beautiful and dangerous.

“Where did you go?” he mutters against my mouth but returns to devouring my lips before I can answer. The kiss consumes me, and I can’t even remember walking away from him. He slowly pulls back, taking my lower lip with his for a final taste. “Why did you leave?”

“I needed to clear my head. I took a walk.” He stares at me, still holding me close to him. He’s waiting for more of an explanation. “It just doesn’t make sense. You and me. I’m not going to deny I’m attracted to you. I’m wickedly attracted, but there’s no point. I’m…” I glance down at my belly and rub a hand over the bump. He tips up my chin and returns to kissing me.

“You’re attracted to me.” A slow smile on his lips curves against mine as he speaks. He pulls back and tips his forehead to mine. “You’re the only girl I see, Ivy. The only one in my head.” He leans back to face me. His eyes search mine, which tear with his words.

“You’re all I think about, too,” I whisper, and his mouth falls on mine again. Fingers comb into my hair, holding me against him. His hips sway, rubbing his abs against my belly, leading me slowly in a circle. I pull back.

“Are we dancing?” I giggle as his hand remains in my hair, and he guides me with his pelvis to rock with him.

“You ran off before I could dance with you.”

“You were dancing with that other girl.”

“Ivy,” he groans, still leading me in a tempting circle. He lowers his head to my level. “Were you jealous?”

I close my eyes to avoid his, but his mouth finds mine again. We sway a little longer until my knees hit the back of the loveseat. Gage’s hands lower to my hips, and he guides me downward. I sit and lie back as Gage follows me. His mouth never leaves mine. We lie on our sides as best we can on the small cushions, hands roaming only on our upper bodies. Shoulders. Neck. Jaw. His leg comes between mine, and I curl mine around his.