Page 73 of Unexpected Love

He might be a little more attentive than he was before Brian and my parents showed up, but I know it comes from a place of fear that something might happen to me or that I’ll be hurt by their actions. Gage is still just as present, if not more so, and just as supportive and caring as he's been from that first night at Murphy's.

There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that I made the right decision in giving this thing with Gage a real shot. I’ve loved spending my time with him.

So when I wake up a few mornings after my parents showed up outside Scott’s with Gage’s arms around me and snow on the ground outside, I couldn’t be happier.

They’ve been teasing the amount of snow we would be getting with the storm that rolled through overnight, but the fact that the snow is still falling means it’s a good one—at least, if you enjoy snow the way I do.

It’s realistically not that far into the winter season yet—almost three weeks—but today’s snowfall seems pretty significant.

“Time to get up already?” Gage asks as his arms around me tighten.

“Almost,” I whisper, rolling over to face him.

He hasn’t opened his eyes yet, and I take the time to study him. I knew he was attractive the first moment I saw him. With his aqua eyes, tousled hair, high cheekbones, and chiseled jaw, he was hard to miss. Honestly, the man could have gone into acting and would be a massive hit with how attractive he is. But getting to know him on a deeper level over the last seven weeks means I get to see how beautiful he is down to his bones.

Outside of his family and the occasional person around town, most people see Gage as the comedic relief, like he’s not to be taken seriously. But this man is so smart and caring that those people are doing themselves a disservice by not seeing him for who he is.

Yes, Gage is great at lightening the mood and lifting people’s spirits, but it’s because he’s so observant that he can do that. It’s because he pays attention and listens. He knows exactly what kind of humor to infuse into a conversation to bring levity to someone when needed. Someone only trying to make people laugh and be funny wouldn’t care the way Gage does.

He proves it with all the little things he does. Asking Walt about his conversations with his son, running to his mom’severy Monday morning before work to spend time with Olivia, his weekly hikes with Leo, and his daily texts with Asher. There are very few decisions Gage makes solely about what he wants for himself. Almost everything he does is with someone else in mind.

“What are you thinking about so hard over there?”

“How do you know I’m thinking about something?” I ask when he still doesn’t open his eyes.

“You released a heavy sigh.” His eyes finally open, squinting at the light pouring through his open curtains. Something he prefers to close before going to sleep but left open for me to see the snow first thing this morning when we woke up.

“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life,” I tell him honestly.

“That’s quite deep for seven o’clock in the morning,” he mumbles as he buries his head in the crook of my neck.

“No, just true.” I run my fingers through his hair, relaxing into the warmth of his embrace for a few more minutes. “I need to get ready for work. Go back to sleep. It’s your day off,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to his cheek before moving to get out of bed.

“No. I'll clean off your car while you get ready.” He squeezes me one more time before letting me go and sitting up on the edge of his bed. He takes a second to stretch, a wince playing across his features before slipping on sweatpants and an “ARMY” sweatshirt.

“You don’t have to. I can take care of it.”

“I know you can, but I don’t mind. There’s no way I’m going back to sleep anyway.” He smiles as he skims his hand up my thigh to rest under the hem of his shirt at my hip. “I only sleep as well as I do when you’re in the bed next to me.”

“You slept just fine before I came along,” I tease, a smile on my face.

“Fine being the optimal word. I sleep peacefully now that you’re in my bed.”

“You’re spending way too much time with my brother if you’re being that cheesy.” I laugh, pushing at his chest.

“Are you saying you would rather your brother and I didn’t get along?”

“Of course not.”

He shrugs. “Well, it’s your fault I’ve spent so much time with him. You’re the one who keeps planning dinners over there with Quinn.”

“I like her. She’s perfect for my brother.”

“Yeah, she is.” Gage laughs softly, pulling me in tight and pressing a kiss to my lips.

I pull away before either of us can get too carried away. “Morning breath.”

“I don’t care,” he says against the skin of my cheek.

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