that round will take on Zoe and Ryder.”
“I want to play on my brothers’ team. Whoever doesn’t win this.”
Sammy glances to the slighted Ryder. “Oh…okay…um, well I’ll play with Ry!”
Zoe sips her beer. “Sounds good.”
Her oblivious brothers resume their game. But Sammy and I exchange a look. Seems Zoe is getting impatient, and over it. Over him. Is that’s even possible?
A problem for another time.
I change the subject to one Gage and I discussed at length just two nights ago: “Guys, what do you think is the best color to paint a house?”
Opinions fly with conditions added. The debate carries on for a long time, becoming heated and fun. So entertaining that we’re still discussing it when finally Ryder says, “I’ve gotta call it a night.”
Everyone pulls out their phones to check the time, except for me since I can look at Gage’s with him. As we stare at his dimmed screen, with me leaning against his beautiful body, he mutters, “We’ve been here three-and-a-half hours.”
“Wow!” I gasp, and feel him kissing my hair. Our eyes meet and we let the room disappear for an exciting moment.
He gives me a quick kiss, “I’ll be right back.” and heads to the bathroom with me watching him go. I love his shoulders. The confidence in his walk. How damn tall he is. Yummy.
Turning around I catch everyone staring at me.
“What?”
Wyatt smiles, “I like him.”
“Me too.” Nathan jerks his chin in the direction Gage left. “Good guy.”
I toss back a sarcastic, “Great. And?”
Wyatt cocks an eyebrow, pulling out his wallet.
Ryder grabs his keys like it’s a statement.
Sam crosses her arms.
Zoe smiles, “They’re giving their approval.”
“So?!”
Wyatt balls up a beer-soaked napkin, throws it, and I duck out of the way as he barks, “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Zero!”
“We’re saying we like your boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend. I’ve never had a boyfriend, and I don’t have one now!”
Wyatt shakes his head, forehead scrunching. “And I thought I didn’t wanna get attached.”
Zoe looks up at him. “You will, Wyatt. One day you’ll meet someone you love.”
Like he doesn’t believe in fairy tales, he laughs, “Yeah right,” and picks up the bill.
Gage returns and pitches in, covering my share, too.
I kiss him, “Thank you.”
He smiles, and hooks his arm around me as we mingle with the group’s exit.
Few stragglers remain at the bar.
Gage calls over, “Night Ralphie!”
“See ya, buddy!”
I wave, “You’re awesome, Ralphie!”
“Coming from you, Lex, that’s high praise!”
The gang all says goodbye to the bartender, too, as the seven of us stroll out The Local’s back entrance into night air cooled by at least ten degrees since we arrived.
Wyatt shouts, “Look at this truck!” throwing out muscular arms, thick palms up in praise. “Can’t miss this baby, can ya?”
Nathan asks his cop brother, “Do red cars really get more tickets, Wy?”
“Yep! Easier to spot.”
I smirk, “Or people who like red are more dangerous.”
Gage laces our fingers together. “Big fan of red.”
Wyatt looks over his shoulder. “Pretty obvious, man.”
“I almost painted it blue.”
“I was talking about Lexi.”
Gage shrugs, tightening his grip as he offers a casual, “Cherry’s alright.”
Nate, Wyatt, and Ryder exclaim in unison, “Cherry?!”
Sam grins like she knows things. “That’s what he calls her.”
As they turn for their three vehicles, waving farewell, the guys all look amused, too.
How irritating!
“Um…Gage?”
He locks eyes with me, “Yeah?”
“I think I’m gonna go home tonight. Get a good night’s sleep.”
Gage’s eyebrows twitch, facial muscles taking a moment to lose their surprise. Regaining his cool, he releases my hand, “Okay. I’ll give you a call…sometime.”
“Night.” We share a brief kiss before I head away to where Sammy and Zoe, having heard me, wait just a few steps away.
We head for Zoe’s car together, and I glance over my shoulder to see if he’s watching me. He isn’t. With a frown, I breathe deeply in. Then out. In again. Out.
In.
Out.
Sam starts to climb into the backseat, giving me shotgun — since I’m older and Wyatt was right about seniority — but she pauses and calls over, “Gage!”
My spine straightens as I hear him call back, “Yeah, Sam?”
She hastily scans the parking lot before whisper-shouting, “They liked you!”
My chest caves in.
Why is she saying that???!!
Is she nuts??!!!!
I look over to find him staring at her for a good three seconds — the longest of my life.
Grabbing the black bar he rises up, calls out to her, “So?!” and slides into his seat, engine firing up.
I exhale.
Grin.
And smack her arm.
“Get inside the damn car, Samantha!”
She sighs and disappears, muttering to Zoe, “They’re