He walked to the double French doors at the end of the hall. Shoving them opened I could see into what I assumed was his master bedroom. There was a large four post bed in dark wood in the center of the room. Beside each side of the bed was a nightstand in matching wood. There was an armoire in the corner with a large dresser to the left. In the opposite corner was a black leather couch and chair facing the flat screen television hanging on the wall. Glancing around I noticed a large picture hanging above the couch. It was in black and white. It was the kids and I on the beach. I had Londyn and Gabe in my arms, my head was back and I was laughing, both kids smiling. We looked happy.

Not stopping, he walked through his room and into the bathroom. The five of us following him in.

“Wow, you have a toilet, you lucky bastard. Really wish I had one of those. Larkin said our next house we may just splurge and get a toilet.” Jenna said, laughing.

We all laughed and Gage said, “No, I wanted to show you the phone. How fuckin’ cool is that? I have a phone in the fuckin’ shitter.”

I craned my neck to see around Gage. There it was, right next to the toilet. A phone, really? In the bathroom?

Jenna wrinkled her nose and said, “Gage, make me a promise.”

“What’s that?”

Jenna pointed at the phone when she said, “Never, ever call me from that phone.”

Gage grabbed Jenna around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t worry, you will be my first call from this phone.”

Larkin joked, “As long as it doesn’t send pictures, I’m down with getting a shitter call. Just no shitter picture.”

Leigha giggled. “Well, I mean, I guess it’s practical. What if you run out of toilet paper? Now you don’t have to worry. One call and problem solved.”

“I’m glad some people can appreciate good craftsmanship. This is what won me over and sold me on the house. It had nothing to do with the marble or hardwood floors. Or even the six bedrooms, or the man cave, or the pool. It was the fuckin’ phone. Sweet as shit.” Gage dropped his arms from Jenna and wrapped them around my waist.

Jenna looked from Gage’s arms around my waist to my face then Gage’s. A slow, somewhat sad smile playing on her lips. Starting to get uncomfortable I tried pulling away. Gage tightened his grip and whispered in my ear, “No.” Sending shivers down my spine and right to my core.

“Gage? You up here?” A male voice came through the door.

“Bathroom, D.” Jenna yelled back.

Looking up from the gorgeous marble floor I saw a miniature version of Gage walking in. Well, not exactly miniature because he was damn near just as big, just younger. Wait, he looked familiar. Very familiar.

Smiling wide, the boy said, “Were you showing them your shitter phone?”

Gage nodded. “Sure was.”

Nudging Jenna, the boy said, “Ain’t that the shit? Literally.”

Jenna curled her lips. “I swear if one of you call me from that phone I will stick my foot so far up your ass you won’t shit for a year. Got it?” She grumbled, pointing at Dylan. She was smiling by the time she was finished talking.

He was the boy that delivered the flowers! “You’re Gage’s brother?” I asked out of the blue.

Turning his sky blue eyes to me, he said, “Yep. The name’s Dylan.” He winked at me like we were sharing some ‘I murdered the mailman and you hid the body’ kinda secret.

“You work for a florist?” I asked, somewhat confused.

Everyone, except for Leigha looked at Dylan. Gage and Dylan started laughing. Jenna accused, “Dylan couldn’t tell the difference between a rose and a daisy if he tried.”

Gage said, “Actually, not too long ago he had a one day stint as a florist delivery boy. There was a special girl that deserved flowers and I wanted to make sure she got them.” He kissed my temple.

Really? What was with all this public display of affection? It was really starting to screw with my head. My brain was starting to listen to my heart. That can’t happen. I won’t let that happen. We agreed this was just for fun. Now Gage is screwing that up with all these small things he’s doing. I was letting my guard down. Sure to get hurt in the end.

Leigha furrowed her brows. “He’s the one who delivered your flowers?”

I nodded. Jenna elbowed Larkin. “I don’t even get flowers. I want flowers,” She joked.

Larkin rolled his eyes, “I gave you three kids. Isn’t that enough?” He looked at his wife. Anyone could see how in love they were. Jenna leaned into him and kissed his chest. They really did look like the poster couple for perfect.

Once Gage was satisfied with himself and his potty phone he walked back into his bedroom. There that picture was again. Staring me in the face. I glanced at Gage who was saying something to Trent and laughing. His eyes caught mine and they instantly darkened. How could he go from zero to sixty within a split second?

He smirked. “Annie, I want to show you something.” He turned to look at Jenna and asked, “Jenna can you check on the kids and make sure they haven’t duct taped my mom to the wall?”

“I’m sure if anyone has the duct tape it would be Evil Evie.” Larkin laughed. Jenna nodded in agreement.

Leigha looked me over before saying, “I’ll check on little man.”

Trent placed his arm on the small of Leigha’s back and said, “I can help you with that. I like that little dude. He’s a chick magnet.”

Jenna, Leigha, and I all looked at each other, rolling our eyes. Leave it to Trent to use a child to get attention.

Watching the others walk out of Gage’s room he shut the door behind them. I turned to look out his window at the backyard and the in ground pool when I heard the lock click. “I have been waiting to get you all to myself since I walked into your house.”

“Why do you have the picture?” I tossed my hand in the air in the direction of giant picture on his wall.

“You don’t like it?” Gage asked. His voice laced with a hint of hurt.

“No. I mean, I do like it. Just confused as to why you have it so big and in your room.”

“I love how at peace and happy the three of you look. Don’t get mad, but in my man cave I may or may not have a few more pictures hanging up.”

I think my jaw was sitting on the floor. My eyes the size of saucers. He had more pictures…of me? He was really starting to blur the lines and play with my heart. “Why do you have pictures of me?”

Gage ran his hand along my back. “You’re gorgeous. Why wouldn’t I want pictures of you in my house?”

Oh he was good.

“When did you take the pictures?” I asked, still somewhat in shock.

“Different times. Most of them are on the beach. I have one though, my favorite. It’s from the hotel in New Orleans. When you woke up and were freaking out that Gabe would shit a brick if you weren’t with him. You jumped out of bed looking for your clothes. You stopped for just a second and looked out the window at the sun rise. The sun was casting a shadow over you, making it look like a silhouette. It’s simple and fuckin’ hot as hell.”

“Gage.” I tried to say with conviction but my voice was breathy. “You’re starting to mess with my head. We both said we weren’t ready for something like this. Then, you say and do shit like we are a couple. I don’t know what to think.”

Kissing me behind my ear, he whispered, “Don’t think. Just listen to your body.” He slipped one hand around my waist and pulled me back so my back was flush against his chest. His other hand was in my hair. He ran kisses along my neck and shoulder. “Annie, I can’t help how my body reacts to you. When you’re around I’m hard. I need to be inside you.”

My head was spinning. My knees were weak. I attempted to nod. I was too light headed to be sure if I nodded or looked like a drunk chicken with its head cut off. Gage spun me around and captured my mouth. I was lost. Somewhere along the way, not realizing, I had let Gage in. I was falling. Hard and fast. Not knowing if Gage was going to catch me. 

21

Gage

     Three months. That’s how long it had been since our hotel hook up. Every chance I got I made the drive from the apartment I was renting in New Orleans to Fairhope. I loved spending time with Annie. What I loved even more was how well Annie and Gabe fit with Londyn and myself. I’m sure to an outside eye we looked like a family. We felt like a family and that scared me.

Annie loved Londyn. Watching them together made me realize how easily I could fall for her. Or was I already falling for her?

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jenna. Do you have a minute?”

“Gage, you sound nervous. Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hold on one second. Evalyn Grace, get over her and pick up your toys like mommy said or I will throw them away.” I heard Evie crying. Jenna turned her attention back to me. “Gage, you still there?”

“Yeah. You sound busy though, I will let you go.”

“What? No, Gage. Tell me what’s going on.”

I rubbed my eyes. Holding my phone between my head and shoulder I picked Londyn up. “I don’t know what to do.”

“About…” Jenna asked slowly.

“Annie. We have been doing this friendly fuck thing for three months. I like her, Jenna. Like, a lot. We agreed though that neither of us wants anything more. But, just thinking about another guy touching her or flirting with her has me worked up. When I’m away from her I miss her. Everything. The way she smells like vanilla. The way her dark hair falls into her face. Her blue eyes twinkling when she plays with our kids. The way her face wrinkles up when she gets aggravated. The way my heart picks up by just seeing her…all of it.”