Page 15 of Shaded Amethysts
“Well, took care of that problem,” I said to the empty room before tossing my cell on the bed.
As if she had some type of recording device in my room, my mother rapped on my door. I wasn’t ready to explain to her why I just dumped a perfectly eligible bachelor doctor because I wasn’t completely clear on the reasoning behind that myself.
After I called out for her to come in, my mother peeked her head through the crack she made in the door. Her mouth was pinched into a purse of distaste when she said, “You have a visitor.”
I looked around the room to see if Molly forgot any of Scout’s belongings. I didn’t see anything, but answered, “Tell Molly to come on back.”
“It’s not Molly,” my mother hinted in a prim tone.
I just got off the phone with Noah, so I was fairly certain that he hadn’t raced over here. As the thought that it might be Gage emerged in my brain, my hand went up involuntarily to smooth my hair.
My mother narrowed her eyes at me before hissing, “It’s that criminal.”
I almost couldn’t believe my ears as my eyes glanced around the childish bedroom trying to picture what Gage would see when he entered. After deciding it really didn’t matter, since there was no way I was going to send him away without finding out what he wanted, I said to my mom, “Great, send him back.”
She left in a snit, while I scurried around to pick up the few items of dirty clothing strewn on my floor. My heart raced as I wondered why Gage was here.
He tentatively peeked his head through the opening in the bedroom door, and I grinned down at the lovely flower pot he was holding.
When he remained frozen in the doorway, I prompted him, “Is that for me?”
“Yes.” He brightened as he held the purple potted flowers out toward me. “They are hydrangeas, which are generally given to express heartfelt emotions. I brought them to you to show my sincere gratitude for your help with the kitten the other night.”
Feeling delighted by the sweet gesture, I stepped forward to accept the lovely hand-painted pot. I tipped my face down to breathe in their scent.
Gage quickly said, “They aren’t the most aromatic flowers, but they have lovely blooms.”
I turned to set them on my desk, happy for some time to catch my breath. He seemed to take up all of the available air in my bedroom, even though he was still hovering in the doorway.
“She would do best over by the window where she can get some morning sunshine and afternoon shade,” he advised me.
I found it utterly charming that he referred to the plant as ‘she.’ I grinned down at the floor as I moved to place the flowers in the spot he suggested. After getting ‘her’ settled, I turned to Gage and said, “She’s truly lovely. Thank you.”
He nodded, then splayed his hands and said, “Nice room.”
My gaze traveled around, taking in the immature décor. “It hasn’t changed much in the last several years. That’s part of the problem with moving back in with your parents.”
“I wouldn’t know,” he commented quietly.
It made me even more curious about his family situation, but I sensed that it would be better to let him tell me things in his own time, rather than to push him for answers. Instead, I said, “My life is just like a romantic comedy movie, except there’s no romance and it’s mostly just me laughing at my own jokes.”
He chuckled, but then the silence began to stretch into awkward territory. I feared that he might try to leave, so I said, “I’m glad you’re here.”
His expression brightened before he asked, “Really?”
“Yes, I wanted to talk with you about the kitten. Noah––err, Dr. James––said that he’s doing well and should be ready to come home soon.”
I could have sworn Gage’s eyes darkened slightly when I mentioned his half-brother’s name, but it might have just been wishful thinking on my part.
“I’m glad to hear he’s recovering nicely,” Gage said noncommittally, still hovering near the doorway as if he was ready to make a run for it at a moment’s notice.
Since the bed was the only place to sit, other than my desk chair, I plopped down on the long side of the mattress and patted the spot beside me before offering, “Have a seat.”
Gage seemed especially awkward as he stalked across the room and sat down beside me. The too-small bed made him look like a giant as he pressed his palms together and stared at my shag carpet.
Seizing the moment, I launched into my pitch. “As you can see, I’m living with my parents at the moment. My dad is severely allergic to cats––or at least, he claims to be––so I was hoping that you could take the little guy.”
“Oh, I’m staying at the inn on the outskirts of town right now. I don’t think they allow pets, but I guess I could rent an apartment.”
