Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Gage
A dollar for your dreams?
She remembers.
When we lived together in California, I’d write messages to Katie on our bathroom mirror using the tube of red lipstick she always kept in the medicine cabinet.
Sometimes I’d scribble out a simple I love you or Let’s fuck.
The messages were reflective of my mood.
One of them was in the form of a question: A penny for your thoughts?
I’d leave that for her when she was quiet or pensive.
She never gave me a direct answer.
It was always a question to counter mine.
She did the same thing today via text.
The urge to call her and tell her that every single one of my dreams involves her is strong, but I drop my phone on the top of the bar and take a breath.
I’m at Tin Anchor early today to take care of some paperwork. The only patron we have is a brown-haired guy in a suit who looks like his world just exploded.
He’s on his second glass of whiskey.
He’s tight-lipped and moody, but I’m not complaining about the silence.
“I need another,” he calls out in a low voice. “Bring me the bottle.”
I know better than that. This guy doesn’t need another drink. He needs an ear to listen to him gripe about whatever is fucking up his life right now.
I pour him another two fingers of whiskey before I put the bottle back behind the bar.
He downs half the drink in a swallow.
I head back to my phone and type out a response to Katie.
Gage: My dream at the moment is to cook you dinner tonight. Keep the dollar.
I press send, trusting that the last three words will bring a smile to her lips.
They did when she was twenty-two and desperately in love with me.
“You’re happy.” The guy in the suit comments from his bar stool. “It’s got to be a woman who put that smile on your face.”
The third drink is the charm with this guy. He’s finally cracked open.
I walk back to where he’s sitting. “It’s a woman.”
“A woman put me here.” He pats the top of the bar. “I never thought I’d get this torn up about her.”
I’ve had this conversation enough times to know that he wants me to ask a follow-up question, so I do. “What’s her name?”
“Gina.” He exhales. “Gina Calvetti.”
I pick up a bar towel and start wiping down a row of wine glasses. “What’s Gina Calvetti like?”
“Like a perfect storm that blows in when all you think you need is calm.” He takes another sip from the glass. “She’s beautiful chaos.”
He’s as far gone for this woman as I am for Katie.
“Have you told Gina that?” I question with a raised brow. “Does she know how you feel?”
“No.” He finishes what’s left at the bottom of his glass.
“Why not?” I realize the irony in my question as soon as I ask it. I’m the coward who couldn’t tell Katie how I really felt before I broke her heart.
I wanted her and I wanted my daughter.
If I had spoken those words five years ago, I might not have lost all this time with her.
“She’s my best friend’s little sister.” He pushes the glass at me. “She’s forbidden fruit.”
Katie’s brother was never my best friend, but we had a bond, so I give this guy the best advice I can.
“Tell her how you feel.” I scrub a hand over the back of my neck. “You can’t know how the chips will fall until you’re dealt the hand. Her brother may surprise you.”
“He may kill me.” He tugs a wallet from the inner pocket of his suit jacket. Two hundred dollar bills hit the top of the bar. “Thanks for the advice, Gage.”
I pop a brow, surprised that he knows my name.
His offers his hand to me. “My dad used to own this place. I’m Daniel Lawton.”
The pieces fall together at the mention of his name. He’s Marlin Lawton’s son. Marlin owned Lawtons before I bought it from his estate and rebranded it as the Tin Anchor.
I take his hand for a hearty shake. “I’ve heard great things about your dad from his regulars.”
“Believe every word.” He stands and straightens his gray suit jacket. “One of the last things he said to me was to grab hold of Gina before she slips away for good.”
“He was a smart man,” I say as my phone chimes.
He smiles. “He’d be glad you’re running the ship now. Your advice is right on par with his.”
It’s a compliment I welcome.
“Get back to your girl.” He motions to my phone. “I’ve got a lot to think about.”
I take the few steps to my phone and glance down at the screen.
Kate: Dinner tomorrow?
I’ll take it.
Gage: Shrimp scampi works for you?
Her response is quick and expected.
Kate: It works.
Gage: I’ll see you at 7.
I punch out a text to Zeke telling him that he’s got tonight to himself because tomorrow I need him.
I don’t care if he can’t make the switch. I’ll close the bar down if I have to. I’m not missing a chance to cook Katie dinner.