Page 93 of Wicked Player

“You’re not just making light of this for my sake, are you? Because right now, you seem okay, but you didn’t when I stepped into your brother’s house.” He sliced my sandwich in two and slid the plate in my direction. “Drink?”

“Water please.” I took a bite, moaning over the taste of it. Apparently I was starving because as soon as food hit my mouth, I couldn’t get enough of it. “This is good. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now answer my question.”

“It’s life, Gage. I made a bad decision. One I knew was reckless and I can’t fault you or my boss or the higher-ups at the station if that has consequences I don’t like. From what Hayley said, the gossip isn’tthatbad—”

“Except for the fact thousands of fans thought I was gay.”

“Well, okay, but still, that’s not all that bad, either. And if I lose my job, it’s my fault. I’m a big girl. That’s life. Sometimes it sucks, sometimes you do stupid shit, and you have to fight through it.”

I wasn’t one hundred percent behind my pulling up my big girl panties and facing my consequences plan, but it was all true. Maybe after a weekend of wallowing, I’d get there. But I’d made my decision in the car ride there and that I wasn’t going back on.

“You’re impressively mature,” Gage said and took a large chomp out of his sandwich. When he was done chewing, his eyes gleamed. “I love that about you.”

I loved everything about him.

“Thanks,” I said, blushing at the word love. It wasn’t the time to talk or make declarations and I wasn’t jumping the gun to admit I’d realized I’d totally fallen for him. Instead, I chewed my sandwich, we ate lunch, avoided all talk about work or the hospital and focused mostly on me telling him how crazy Blake was and about his parents coming in on Saturday.

“Speaking of,” he said, dumping our plates into the sink. “I’d like them to meet you. Any chance we can see you Sunday?”

“Well, my day is free,” I quipped. It wasn’t funny and the reminder I wouldn’t be at the opening stung. “But yeah. Sunday night. But oh…I might have to be at my family’s.”

Once my parents heard what happened, they’d insist. And Blake and Tanner would follow. They’d want to interrogate me to the high heavens and while I was an adult and didn’t have to do what they said, being around family while I couldn’t be doing my job would help.

Gage licked his lip over his top teeth. “We could come there later?”

“Meet my parents? My whole family?” Was he nuts? Combining the parents when we hadn’t even finalized what we were to each other.

My breathing went erratic.

“I mean, I figure they’ll have to meet and get to know each other sooner or later. Might as well be sooner.”

Later? Families? Get to know each other?

My hand slid through my hair. Wow. I’d hoped…but this was fast. And weird. It was weird, right? I couldn’t even think straight. I gulped down the rest of my water, pausing only when Gage started laughing.

“What?”

“You’re freaking out. Am I off base here?” He walked around his island until he was in front of me. He cupped my cheek and tilted my head up. “Tell me I’m not off the mark in what’s happening between us, Elizabeth.”

“No. No. You’re pretty spot on. At least with where I’m at.”

“Good.” He grinned and it was so beautiful he took my breath away. He leaned down, ran his nose over mine and pressed his lips to mine. His fingers pressed into the flesh at my neck, as he kissed me slowly, effortlessly….so damn sweetly my heart wanted to leap right out of my chest and into his hands. “Then I’ll talk to my parents and we can come after the opening. Be there for dinner and watch the game with your brothers. Have them see I’m not the asshole Blake’s most likely telling them I am right now.”

My hand went to his wrist. “Blake loves me.”

His lips were still brushing against mine as he replied, “He’s not the only one.” He gave me a quick kiss and pulled out, leaving me dizzy and spinning on my stool. “Now, let’s call Connor and get this shit out of the way so I can report in to Jaxon.”

Well, that was a bucket of ice on a suddenly good turn of events.

Thirty-One

Gage

High on the top of my priority list was finding the right time to tell her I loved her in a much better, and clear way. Still, I think I got my point across, and that meant talking to Connor was the last thing I wanted to do.

But it was important and as she slid her phone out of her purse and sat on the couch, I sat next to her.

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