Chapter 16
Logan
I think one of Gage’s concerns was that we’d be great in bed together but otherwise the relationship wouldn’t gel.
My playing DnD with his group had gone over very well.
In fact, Riggs had invited me to join the main campaign and keep playing with them, which I’d promptly accepted.
I wanted to prove to Gage we’d make excellent friends as well as lovers.
I also sensed that his really shitty dating history made him slow to open up and trust. Which, understandable.
I didn’t take it as a personal insult because he was still getting to know me.
Once I proved he could absolutely trust me, I figured our relationship would naturally go to the next level.
I could be the man he counted on. I wanted to prove that to both of us.
At the core of the matter, we both wanted a companionable relationship.
It was why we were taking the time to build a foundation.
So let’s build that foundation a little more.
I invited him to have dinner with me at Lulu’s Diner and then have a home date with me.
Our plan was to watch something together and chill for the evening.
Nothing complicated, but we could determine how well we hung out together.
I thought we’d be great—dates had never dragged with him—but today was about proving the point. One way or another.
Gage leaned against his truck, waiting on me, when I arrived on the bike.
I loved the way he automatically smiled when he saw me.
There he stood, looking like a goddamn model, despite him just being in dark wash jeans and a regular white T-shirt, and smiling like I was the one the moon was hung for.
All the while, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
He could drive me crazy doing nothing at all.
I was quick to hop off my bike, let me tell you, because I had to taste his smile. I set my helmet down without looking and went right up to him, kissing him hello.
Gage kissed back but kept it light. Probably because we were in a busy parking lot. “Hi yourself. Hungry?”
For you. “Sure am.”
“Let’s eat, then.”
Gage slid his hand into mine as we walked inside.
I loved the feel of his hand against mine, its warmth and casual strength.
It felt great to hold hands so openly, too.
I’d dated many a man who’d thought holding hands was beneath him.
I liked this kind of skinship very much and was happy Gage did it.
Sandi eyed our joined hands, blinking in surprise. “When the hell did that happen?”
“Recently,” I admitted with a shrug. I didn’t care to elaborate.
“If I’d known, I’d have made a bet,” she said in dismay. “I never win the bets.”
“I’d say something like ‘I’ll give you a hint next time’”—Gage’s expression was pure sarcasm—“but I’m hoping there’s not a next time.”
Same, hon, same.
“Well, yeah.” Sandi surprised me with a ready agreement. “I wouldn’t either in your shoes. Bah, it’s fine, I guess. What’ll you have?”
Gage rattled off his order, which gave me precious seconds to figure mine out. I placed mine, then dragged him off to the back-corner booth, well out of most people’s line of sight.
He slid into the same side of the booth as me, our thighs pressed together. I was seriously going to get high from all of this skinship. Might end up on cloud nine.
“All right, so you said chill on the couch and watch something fun. Do you have any ideas?” Gage asked. “I only have two requests: not something horror, and not Queer Eye. I love Queer Eye, don’t get me wrong, but every episode makes me cry.”
“Saaaame. Don’t worry, not on my agenda. I mentioned a movie a few dates back, Knives Out, remember?”
“Oh, the mystery movie?”
“That’s the one. I think you’d like it, and they’re releasing a sequel this December.”
“Perfect. I love a good mystery.”
That was something else I wanted to test today—our entertainment compatibility. You didn’t think of tastes in movies or music as deal-breakers until you lived with someone who had the opposite tastes to you.
I got a text, checked my phone, then said, “Huh?”
“Bad, good?”
I showed him my screen. “Confusing. I don’t know any of these numbers. I’m randomly in a group chat? Somehow?”
Gage snagged my phone to read the initial message. It was obvious I legit didn’t know the others as they were a string of five phone numbers, no names.
The message was, Where r u let’s go
Which clarified absolutely nothing.
“I could be a good person,” Gage mused, “but evil’s going to win today.”
He typed a response while cackling.
Me: Am I late?
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Gage! Do you normally mess with people when it’s a wrong number?”
“It’s about fifty-fifty,” he admitted, smile impervious to chastisement. “Depends on how stressed I am or if I’m in the mood to prank someone.”
I’d seen hints of this behavior, heard Asher relay a story at DnD of how Gage pranked people, but I’d not seen it. Was it a matter of comfort, that he trusted me enough now to relax and be naughty, or was it timing that had given him the right opportunity?
Either way, I felt delighted to see him in action. In fact, I was going to get in on this!
Bubbles from four different people typing popped up before someone’s message beat the rest: YES MOVE
Gage hesitated for a second.
“Type: What was today again?” I suggested.
The cackle was back as he typed.
Bubbles fiercely popped up before several responses filtered through.
1: You planned this!
2: And paid for half of it!
3: Why u like this u drunk bro
“Oooh, plot thickens.” Gage typed quickly.
Me: I thought that was next week?
I hung off his shoulder at this point, trying to keep my snickering down. This man was such a troll. I loved it.
More bubbles, and I could practically feel the frustration building from the texters.
4: we can’t get in without you!
I took phone to type In? In where?
4: THE FUCKING AIRPORT WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHERE
Me: Not there getting dinner
4: I told you we’d meet you at the doors at 6 sharp!!!!
Gage took the phone back to type: U did?
4: DON’T FUCK WITH ME DAMMIT
Me: It’s fine, right now I have two drugs in my system, so I’m happy to ride in the trunk. Let’s just drive
I busted up laughing, trying to muffle the sound against Gage’s shoulder, but then he started chortling and we set each other off again. My stomach was going to cramp if I kept laughing like this, but messing with them was too much fun and I didn’t want to stop.
Sandi stopped by with a tray full of our food. She set it down, but she looked at Gage with suspicion. “I know that face. That’s your prankster face. What the hell are you doing?”
“Logan accidentally got added to a group chat.” He didn’t even look up from my phone.
Strangely, Sandi didn’t need any more information to put the pieces together. “You rotten bastard. Tell those poor people they have the wrong number!”
“Wait, wait, it’s just gotten juicy.”
I read the reply and snorted. “Too wide a swing, boo. It was a miss.”
3: Who is this
4: Christy I swear to god if you’re messing with us
1: Omg I just realized I typed the number in wrong who is this?
“Aww, they figured it out.” With a shrug, Gage came clean.
Me: Sorry wrong number do play again
Someone sent a whole string of middle-finger emojis. Others were angry faces.
My number was abruptly removed from the chat, and the only thing left was the convo we’d just had.
Sandi shook her head at both of us. “At your ages, you’re still like this, huh? Gage, I knew better than to hope, but Logan, you won’t even stop him, huh? Just going along with it.”
“My dear friend,” I said, “you seem to have mistaken me for a responsible adult. This is not the case.”
“Clearly.” With a roll of her eyes, she asked, “Anything else I can get you?”
I looked, but I had utensils, drink, and food, so I was set. “I’m good, thanks.”
She didn’t even bother to wait for Gage’s response before walking off.
Gage screenshotted the conversation, looking pleased with himself, and then texted the images to his phone.
I looked at his mischievous smile and had a feeling we’d be just fine. If we had a similar sense of humor, he’d be easy to live with.
Gage squirted ketchup on to his plate, next to his fries. “Oh, speaking of texts, I got one from Asher this morning. He wants me to invite you to his birthday bash on Saturday.”
Pleasure and relief ran through me. I’d not gotten to engage with Asher much during the game, as we’d been too busy playing, but apparently I’d made a good impression. “Sounds great. I’d love to go.”
“I’ll text you the details. Don’t worry about a gift or anything. I normally throw fifty bucks into a card and let him go buy books.”
“Now that I can do.”
“I don’t know if you realized just how much fun everyone had with you last night. Today I received a lot of questions asking if you were going to join the campaign. They’re hoping you will.”
Oof, right in the feels. “So they’re not inviting me just because I’m dating you?”
“Nope,” he said, popping the P. “Well, in part, but it’s mostly because you’re fun.”
“I’m happy to join.” Those words were an understatement. I’d missed playing with a group like Gage’s, and being able to do it again was a fervent wish of mine. Plus, I could hopefully become close with his friends.
“Good! I’ll add you to the DnD group chat.” He picked his phone up again. “We coordinate times and snacks through it. I promise not to add some random person instead.”
I snickered. “Now, Gage, let’s not limit ourselves.”
He snickered along with me.
Yeah, I had the feeling we were two peas in a pod.