Page 52 of Hard To Stay

Lily licked the salt off her lips then smiled. “That would be great. I would love that.”

I walked over to the kitchen island and slid onto a stool, Lily followed my lead. Sunlight poured into the kitchen making the gold and brown flecks on the counter shimmer. I leaned back in my chair and played with my Michael Kors watch when an idea popped into my head. “I know this is last minute, but if you don’t have plans later, we’re all going out tonight. It’s just going to be us, and a few of Brad’s friends from work.”

Lily brought her glass to her lips hiding them behind the rim. “What about Gage?”

Her question nearly caused me to spit my drink out. I whipped my head to hers in surprise. “You know Gage?”

She looked up at the ceiling, playing with the hoop earring dangling from her ear. “I know Gage very well.” A look passed across her face that I couldn’t figure out.

“Do you happen to know why they hate each other so much?” I asked, hoping she could explain the animosity between the two men.

“I know exactly why.” She replied, looking past my shoulder through the kitchen window. “Gage and I hooked up a few times and Brad found out. As you can imagine things didn’t end well.”

“Shut the front door. Gage Garrison?” I was so not expecting that. Things were finally starting to make sense.

She leaned into the counter and pushed her hair to the side. “That’s correct!”

“So what happened between the two of you?” I paused, still trying to wrap my head around what she’d just told me. “I mean if you don’t mind my asking?” Holy shit. Brad’s sister and Gage Garrison? How did we even get here?

She was more than pretty enough to catch his eye that was for sure. And Gage, well… he was Gage. I just couldn’t picture the two of them together.

Lily sighed, then nervously glanced around the room again to make sure no one was listening. “We dated secretly for a couple months before Brad found out.”

“Wow. What happened?”

My eyes searched for the blender on the kitchen counter. I wanted to make sure it was close by; something told me I was going to need a refill.

“Brad thinks we only hooked up a couple times. He doesn’t know we kept it a secret from him for two months.” My eyes widened. Gage was such a tool. I kept my opinion to myself though, so she could continue. “As you probably know, Gage has a bit of a ‘reputation’. He’s really not the bad guy that everyone thinks he is. He just doesn’t let people get close enough to see his good qualities.” I simply nodded my head at the massive understatement, trying to imagine what Gage’s good qualities could have been. “He knew my brother would never approve. We were just waiting for the right time to tell him. But one night we were all out drinking. Gage and I snuck into the bathroom…” She stopped, letting me fill in the blanks.

“Oh shit!”

“Oh shit is right.” She chuckled dryly. “Brad walked in the middle of... well, something a brother wasn’t meant to see.”

My hand flew to my heart in an ineffective attempt to regulate my breathing. The thought of Brad walking in on them made my chest tighten. I knew how much he loved his sister and I can only imagine how hurt and betrayed he must have felt. I only wish he would have told me instead of leaving me to draw my own conclusions.

I cleared my throat and kept my voice low. “I can understand why you would be hesitant on telling him, but you couldn’t honestly think that he wouldn’t find out, eventually.”

“That’s just it. We weren’t exclusive. Even though I wasn’t with anyone else, Gage pretty much did whatever he wanted. Brad would never have been okay with that, even if I was.”

I cocked my head to the side. Did I just hear her right? Gage was fucking her behind Brad’s back for two months and still whoring around on the side? What a piece of shit.

Lily held her hand up in defense as if she could read my mind. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re probably right. Just remember, before you go and judge him, it was my decision to stay in the relationship.”

“What?” I asked, dumbfounded. Where the hell was that blender? Maybe another drink would help that comment make more sense. Even though we had just met, I knew enough to know that she deserved better than that. She was sweet and funny. Not to mention gorgeous. She could have her pick of anybody she wanted. Why the hell would she settle for that loser?

“Love can make you do stupid things.” She said, as her face twisted in sadness, answering my question.

Shit. She was in love with him. “The decision to keep it a secret was mine. Gage wanted to approach Brad but I wouldn’t let him. He thought I was ashamed of him.”

“Lily, why would you do that?”

She looked to the floor before lifting her head back up. “Because this all happened around the same time he and Emily broke up. I didn’t want to complicate his life any further.”

“Lily,” I said softly. “As much as I love your brother, he has no right telling you who you can and can’t date.”

She smiled warmly at me. “I knew I was going to like you.”

I could see the pain and regret written all over her face. All I wanted to do was make it better for her. “You know what.” I said reaching in and refilling her glass. “Why don’t you come out with us tonight. I’ll make sure Gage is there and I’ll deal with your brother.”

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