Page 27 of Keeper of Hearts
"Are you okay?" she asks, chewing on her bottom lip.
"Perfect," I promise, gently removing it from between her teeth.
"What did he say?"
"Just the usual."
"Gage."
I sigh. "He reminded me that getting you pregnant could be life-threatening, butterfly, that's all."
"Oh." She fidgets from foot to foot. "I guess I didn't think about that."
"Well, I have." I tip her face up, brushing my lips across hers. "I'll buy stock in condoms if that's what I have to do to keep you safe."
"Do you…want kids? Someday, I mean?"
"Look at me, Troian."
She hesitates for a moment before meeting my gaze.
"One day, you'll be the most incredible mom to our babies. Just because you can't carry them yourself won't make them anyless ours." I brush my thumb along her bottom lip. "But that day isn't for a long time."
"You said our babies," she whispers.
"Well, yeah. Obviously, they're going to be my kids, too. There's no way I'm letting anyone else put a ring on your finger or have a baby with you. I don't even want anyone else taking you to Prom." I grin, brushing my lips against hers. "I love you, beautiful girl."
She gasps softly, her wide eyes meeting mine. "Gage."
"I love you," I say again, just because I can, just because I want her to hear it.
"I love you, too." She throws her arms around me, and it's the best goddamn feeling in the world. Actually, it's better than that.
This is heaven.
Chapter Twelve
Troian
"Hey." Corey grabs my hand as I pass by his table at lunch on Friday, pulling me to a halt.
I look up from my stack of books to find him smiling at me.
"Sit with me today," he says, sliding over to make room for me at the end of the table.
I glance at the empty seat and then at the other football players sitting at his table. They're all looking between the two of us like they think this is some sort of joke. But no one laughs. No one says anything. Not even when I reluctantly slide into the empty spot beside Corey.
It's been a weird day. Actually, the last two days have been weird. Gage is acting strange. Stranger than normal, anyway. He's driven me to school and home every day. Last night, he stayed for dinner. I expected it to be awkward after his conversation with my dad the day before, but it was…nice.
This morning, I woke up to find him in my kitchen, making pancakes for me. They weren't great, but he was so proud of himself. I ate every bite.
During first period, a bouquet of roses arrived for me, complete with another Yeats poem attached. I found a rose in my locker after third period. There was no note, but I know Gage put it there because it was an Osiria rose, and he's the only one who knows how much I love them. My dad buys them for my mom every single year to commemorate the day she told him that she loves him.
When I asked Gage about the one in my locker, he just smiled and told me that he'd see me later. And then he demanded that I go straight to class, just like he does every day.
He's so bossy sometimes!
It doesn't really bother me. I kind of love it.
