Page 54 of Collide

“Speaking of the band.” Tommy clears his throat. I sit on the edge of the loveseat, holding Gage’s hand, and look up at my uncle. “I don’t want to rain on my girl’s special day, but when I consider what I could give you for a wedding present, I struggled.” I reach for an earring, knowing he’s given me enough and so much more than I ever deserved.

“The thing I want most for you is security, Ivy. That’s all I’ve ever tried to do. Make sure you felt loved and treasured and safe.” He lowers his eyes, dangling the champagne glass in his hand. “So I figure the one way to assure your security is to be the band’s manager.”

The words hang in the air, and Gage shifts forward next to me.

“What did you say?” Gage asks slowly.

“Mind you, I’m doing this with Ivy at the heart of my decision. This isn’t a gentleman’s deal with a handshake or because we are now family. She is my family first, and I want everything on paper. I’ll manage you guys and be your agent. I’ll have your best interest in mind because what benefits the band, benefits my girl and her child. Your success will be her success.”

“What if we fail?” Jared asks, and I realize this gift involves more than me.

“Then I’ve failed, and that’s what you’re hiring me for…to make certain you don’t fail.”

We remain silent a moment, all of us with thoughts rambling through our heads.

“Uncle Tommy, are you sure about this?” I ask. This is big. This is so big for Gage and the boys.

“No.” He chuckles, tucking his hand in his pocket and lifting his champagne for a sip. “But this way, I’m still around you, watching over you and him.” He nods to Gage. “And I thought about what you said. What you both said. Maybe I do need something to keep me busy. And Gage, this way I can make sure you love that girl like your own.” I turn to Gage, not knowing what Tommy means, but Gage slowly smiles and dips his head.

“Yes, sir.” Gage leans over and kisses my shoulder while slipping a hand around my stomach.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Tommy threatens without conviction. “We start on Monday.” It’s a Tuesday.

Tommy downs the rest of his champagne, and then everything happens in fast-forward motion. Petty jumps up to hug Tommy, wrapping his legs around the older man to which we all laugh because Tommy catches him under the ass. He holds him a second and then pushes him off.

“Don’t ever do that again,” Tommy snaps, but he’s fighting a smile behind his irritation.

At the same time, Gage stands to hug Jared. They pat each other on the back in rapid succession before pulling apart. Gage cups the side of Jared’s head and kisses him on the cheek. I remain sitting, watching them all celebrate this announcement, feeling relief in Tommy’s decision and excitement for the band.

Tommy looks down at me. “Make no mistake, darlin’. This is for you. You’ll see.”

Gage surprises me and tugs me up by both hands. Pulling me into an embrace, he holds me to him and whispers in my ear, “I won’t disappoint him. I won’t disappoint you.” He gives me an extra squeeze and then pulls back to hold my hand while more champagne is poured.

24

GAGE

This is the night we’ve been waiting for, and I’m suddenly nervous like a teenage boy. Ivy is so beautiful under the dimming daylight. We only have the condo for as long as the sunset cruise lasts for the current renters, but we have enough time for the wedding, a champagne toast, and a catered dinner without feeling rushed. As dinner finishes and we cut into a small cake, we share our final gratitude to Tommy for his announcement and thank the guys for coming. I don’t want to be rude and whisk my wife away from them, but I want to whisk my wife away from them.

Only, as we stand in the elevator going down to our room, it all hits me while I hold Ivy’s hand.

She’s my wife.

I’m married.

To Ivy Carrigan.

Correction. Ivy Everly. I turn to her and notice her head lowered, her eyes on her rose bouquet.

“Hey,” I whisper. She slowly lifts and looks at me.

“Hey.” When a smile crosses her lips, my insides warm, but I’m just as anxious. I want tonight to be special for her although we don’t have the concerns of her being a virgin. We don’t even have the issue of a first time because we already had one—two years ago. So tonight, I just want it to be all that we’ve waited for.

We enter the hotel, but it’s nothing like the night at the Ritz when we couldn’t keep our hands off one another. We’re both shy, which isn’t like us. We normally can’t be in a room without touching. It’s one thing I love so much about Ivy. She grounds me when we touch, and I like to think I ground her. She stops in front of the dresser and begins to remove her earrings. I come up behind her and wrap my arms around her swollen waist.

“You’re so gorgeous,” I tell her, and she smiles back at me in the mirror. She slips a hand over my forearm, and says, “So are you.”

We stare at one another for a moment. Her light features contrast with mine, but we make the perfect pair. We collide.