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I’m not ready for that.
Gage must be on a similar wavelength because he stands and quickly turns the lights off, so we’re cast in firelight once more.
I reach for my phone to reject the call, until I see it’s from Tom. And he’s sent me thirteen texts.
I answer, immediately worried. “Tom? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m calling aboutyou,” Tom says. “The news said your neighborhood had a giant blackout. And neither you nor Gage were answering your phones.”
I glance guiltily at the spot of carpet in front of the fire. Gage and I definitely haven’t been paying attention to our phones, that’s for sure.
“Sorry,” I say. “It’s been an...unusual day. But we’re both fine. More than fine.” My eyes find Gage. He sits down on the floor across from me. I try to hold in a giggle as he tugs one of my feet into his lap. Then he starts giving me a foot massage, his gorgeous blue eyes closely watching my face.
I try to ignore the rush of pleasure and focus on what Tom is saying. “Sorry, what was that?”
“I didn’t say anything. Violet are you...giggling?”
“No,” I protest.
The silence on the other end of the line reeks of skepticism.
“Gage is just being...distracting,” I say, as Gage grabs my calves and yanks me closer. I hope Tom spits out whatever he needs to say quickly. Because I’m not sure I can keep up my half of the conversation when Gage is looking at me like that.
“Violet,” Tom starts, then stops. “Never mind.”
His voice is serious enough that it cuts through my fog of lust.
“What?” I say, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
Tom sighs. “Just, don’t fall for Gage, okay? I love him, but he’s not a relationship kind of guy.”
Gage stills.
I wonder if I’m close enough for him to hear Tom’s half of the conversation too.
I wonder if it hurts that one of his best friends doesn’t think he’s capable of a relationship.
Or maybe he’d just laugh. After all, if Gage wants something, he finds a way to get it. If he wanted a real relationship, he’d have it already, and I wouldn’t be here.
The thought is oddly depressing.
“Violet?” Tom presses.
“I heard you,” I say. I roll my eyes for Gage’s benefit. “I promise, nothing is going on between me and Gage.”
Gage’s hands tighten on my calves. There’s something on his face I can’t quite read.
“Hey, I need to go. But thanks for calling, Tom. Love you.” I hang up before he can say something else to fracture this magical, snow-globe day Gage and I have been having.
“Sorry about that,” I say. “Tom wanted to make sure we were okay because of the power outage.”
“Sure,” Gage says. Then he stands and holds out a hand to me, all smooth confidence. “Come on. Let’s take this to the bedroom. I promise, my mattress is even nicer than this carpet.”
I try to smile. But for some reason, I can’t.
I want to say yes. Desperately. I want to let Gage sweep me away and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist for a little bit longer.
But I keep hearing Tom’s voice in my head.He’s not a relationship kind of guy.
