24. Overshared
twenty-four
Overshared
G age crosses the driveway between the two houses. I meet him at the door, and we walk out to my car. He runs his hand over the hood. “Sixty-five Mustang, very cool.”
“It's a sixty-eight and it would still be a lawn ornament if it weren’t for Jacob.” My heart swells with pride for my car and the chance to talk about Jacob.
Gage leaves his hand on my car. “He’s always been a motorhead. Good way to pick up girls though. Offer to fix their car.”
I try not to let it bother me that Jacob has fixed other girls’ cars.
“I'll drive.” Gage holds his hand out for my keys.
I look at him suspiciously. “Didn’t you just wreck a car?”
“That totally wasn’t my fault.”
I hesitate for a minute and then hand them over. “Be careful.”
“I’m always careful." He opens the door for me, climbs in, and starts the car. When he puts it in reverse, he gets serious. “Before we get too far into this. I need to tell you, no fooling around tonight.”
I'm so shocked by what he just said that I take a second to answer. “What?”
“I have orders from Jacob to treat you with respect. I’m supposed to be a gentleman.” He puts air quotes around the word “gentleman.”
“You’re kidding, right?” The idea of Jacob having this conversation with Gage makes me blush. He sounds like my dad.
“I know I thought it was pretty strict, but he sounded serious. Sorry if you were counting on a sloppy make-out session or, you know, whatever.”
I sigh dramatically. “I guess I have to change my plans.”
“Really?” Gage’s eyebrows shoot up. I can’t decide if he’s being serious about any of this.
“We'll have to go with Plan B.”
“What is Plan B?”
“Ever heard of bowling?” I say.
“Heavy ball, white pins?”
“That’s the one.”
“Sounds like a world of boring to me.”
I look at Gage, wondering if I should feel insulted.
I decide to play along with him. “Sorry, that’s it.
” I put my hand on his knee and look up at him through my eyelashes.
“Well, now that the whole making-out thing is out of the question.” I move my hand and sit back.
“We’re meeting some of my friends at a bowling alley in town. ”
“Are those friends girls?” He sounds way too eager for a guy who’s supposed to be with me.
“ I’m a girl, remember.”
“Oh, yeah. But will there be other girls there?”
So much for first-date etiquette. “Some of my friends will be there, but they’ll all be with guys.”
“Any better looking than me?”
“None more conceited.” I turn my face to the window. Let him think that over for a few minutes.
“Did I piss you off?” He reaches over to take my hand.
“Of course not.” I move it just out of his reach.
He puts both hands on the steering wheel. “I have a big mouth, I know. It's always getting me into trouble. I don’t know when to shut up.”
“That’s obvious.”
“Thanks for hanging out with me. Having you around makes the whole being stuck in Washington thing a lot more bearable.”
“Glad I could help.” I’m still facing the window, but I watch him out of the corner of my eye.
“Did I mention you look amazing?” He can’t possibly be watching the road. He’s looking at me too intently. Like he’s trying to get forgiveness.
“Thanks,” I let my voice drip with enough sarcasm that he can't possibly miss it.
“No seriously, Jess. Before you were like, well, kind of fat, and your hair was crazy, and those glasses. Not to mention you were weird and quiet and now...” I gave him my darkest look, but he doesn’t stop talking.
“You seem normal. And you’re a total babe.
If I hadn’t promised Jake I was gonna be good, I would be all over you tonight.
” He puts his hand on my thigh. I guess he thinks that’s some kind of compliment.
I turn to face him. “Gage?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
“Okay, sorry.” He turns his attention back to the road, but he doesn’t move his hand. He’s trying to look repentant, but he’s smiling like he’s already won me over.
He’s good at this game. He’s like a little boy who’s too cute to get into trouble, too cute to be punished. After being alone with him for ten minutes, I can’t decide whether I want to kiss him or kick him out of the car. Maybe it’s just the family resemblance.
I was wrong about my friends having dates. Taryn is with one of her band friends, but Jasmine is by herself. She’s dressed for bowling in her all-sports outfit: a low-cut t-shirt and short shorts. It serves her best in her favorite sport—picking up guys.
As soon as I introduce my friends to Gage, he takes a special interest in Jasmine. “Where’s your boyfriend?” he asks.
“I’m by myself.” She’s trying to look pitiful. I wonder if either of them remembers Gage came with me.
He takes Jasmine’s hand. “Someone who is as pretty as you shouldn’t be here alone.” I swear he looks like he’s going to kiss her hand. “I’m sure Jess doesn’t mind sharing.”
I’m hit by a stab of jealousy. I stand up. “Sure, no problem. In fact, you guys can just be together. I’ll go find a guy who doesn’t have to listen to everything his big brother says.” I walk away.
Gage catches me around the waist and pulls me down onto his lap. “You don’t have to be like that, Jess. Jasmine is all alone. There’s enough of me to go around.”
This is the point where I should leave him here. It would show Gage what a jerk he’s being. He won’t let me go. I turn around to face him.
He has that crazy grin on his face—too cute to get in trouble again. “We can just hang out and have fun, Jess. It doesn’t matter who’s with who.”
“Whatever,” I shake my head. “But Jasmine has to pay for you.”
Jasmine and I take turns flirting with Gage.
It’s not a big deal. He makes it hard to take myself or anything else too seriously.
He's as crazy as he was when we were little kids.
Being with him makes me feel like I'm younger, or maybe just more free.
I'm not analyzing his every move. I'm not overthinking everything I'm doing.
I'm not even worried about who might show up at the bowling alley, how I look, or who’s talking behind my back.
It feels good to just have fun without all that pressure.
By the time we get home, Gage remembers who he’s supposed to be out with. He continues playing up his act, opening the door for me and bowing deeply, like some Southern gentleman. He helps me out of the car and then offers his arm. "Allow me to escort you to your door."
I bat my eyes at him and put my hand on his impressive bicep, and imitate his accent, "Why thank you, Sir.”
He continues the gentleman act until we reach my front door. “Thank you for a lovely evening. I hope we can do it again soon. Now, as is customary in these situations, I believe you owe me a kiss.”
I drop the act. “ I owe you a kiss?”
“Yep, one kiss per evening. That’s the charge.” He grins at me. “Actually, my fee is usually higher than that, but I’m giving you the ‘family friend’ discount. I don’t want to get in trouble with my mom or my brother.”
“I don’t owe you anything. We took my car. I paid—”
“I told you I–”
“And you spent the entire night flirting with my friend.”
“Not the entire night. I gave you plenty of attention too. Plus, I let you win.”
“ You let me win.” I look at him in disbelief. Gage has to be the worst bowler I’ve ever seen.
“I did.” He tries to look hurt. “Usually I’m very good at bowling.”
“Maybe you would have done better if you were watching the pins instead of checking out Jasmine’s butt all night.”
A grin spreads across his face. “She has a fantastic butt.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“You have a great butt too. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
I roll my eyes and reach for the door.
He moves between me and the handle. “You’re right.” He put his hands on my waist. “I’ve been a jerk. I owe you a kiss.”
I wait until he’s leaning in, his lips almost to mine, before I smash my hand over his face and push him away.
“Good night, Gage.”