Chapter 9 #2
“Everyone, this is Dylan and Lex Morgan. They own Jedidiah’s Tavern and its subsidiary business, Legacy Malt, the newest investment for Heart Assets.
” I think I’m smiling with too much teeth, and Caleb is just blatantly staring.
“Let’s get you two something to drink and then we can get your contracts signed,” I say to Dylan and Lex, because I, for one, need a drink.
I introduce the Morgan siblings around, sticking like glue to Lex.
Thankfully, Beth also wants to capture all of Lex’s attention outside of the business formalities, so it’s not too hard to keep her away from Caleb.
Beth keeps giving me wide eyes every time Lex turns away to survey the crowd.
Perhaps she’s pieced the same thing together as I did.
She told me the other week that she ran into Caleb with a redhead at The Wayside, so she must recognise her.
After a few hours, everyone starts to head home.
The Morgan siblings signed their contract, and we each toasted with a glass of the new whiskey Dylan brought along with him.
When I finish packing up everything we brought for tonight, I look around, spotting Caleb and Gage whispering to each other on the other side of the bar, so I head over to say goodbye.
They have their backs to me, speaking in hushed voices.
I’m thinking whatever they’re discussing might not be for me to hear, so I’m about to turn away when I hear Gage’s words.
“You can’t possibly still want to pursue her. She’s your client,” he whispers.
“She’s had me in knots, brother. I’ve never felt like this before,” Caleb argues.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Gage shakes his head. “How will you work together if it all goes wrong?”
Caleb groans and runs a palm down his face while my stomach twists at Gage’s words. “I know what you’re saying. But I can’t just forget about her. Forget about everything that’s happened between us. What would you do?”
Gage turns his head away, his voice growing cold and rigid. “You know how I feel about relationships.”
What? How does he feel about relationships?
Is this why Beth said he doesn’t like people?
Something’s happened to him that has shattered his faith in love.
In building a connection with someone. With everything I’ve heard about Gage, with what I’ve been told, it doesn’t make sense for all the other moments that he’s shown me himself.
If I think about my parents’ relationship, even my sisters’ ones, there’s one thing they all had in common—they all wanted it.
Even before they understood why they wanted the other person, or what they wanted from life, there seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them that they’d met someone they were meant to hold space for.
I’m a big believer in letting what’s meant to be find you. You can’t force fate. You can be open to the journey life wants to take you on, and you have to be willing to pivot and change, but in the end, what’s truly meant for your heart will be unstoppable when it’s ready for you.
For some reason, my mind had been picking up signals that Gage was someone I was meant to make room for.
Something about him was drawing me in, unlike anything I’d ever felt before.
Maybe he’s been put in my path for a different reason.
Maybe he’s just meant to be another person I meet in life and think, Wow, the world is lucky to have you.
I pull my phone out of the hidden pocket of my dress, bringing up the group chat with my sisters.
ME:
Did you guys know straight away that your husbands were someone special?
MADELINE:
Yes. I thought for sure, this was the guy that was finally going to get me fired because he’s such a pain in the arse.
Madeline works for the football team Jacob plays for, Heart City Hurricanes, as a partnership manager. She oversees sponsorship deals and media campaigns, which often saw her interacting with the players.
ME:
So how did you go from that to marrying the guy?
I stare down at my phone waiting for more information to appear, but nothing comes through.
ME:
…??
MADELINE:
Sorry, Jacob just got home from training with take-out, wearing a backwards cap. I may let him put another baby in me.
CHELSEA:
That is too much information, Maddie.
ME:
And you still didn’t answer my question! What changed?
MADELINE:
He pursued me from day one. Always flirting, leaving little gifts and notes on my desk at work.
I thought it was typical player behaviour until one day I could see in his eyes how closely he was watching my reactions to everything he did.
He really cared. When I let myself see the actions instead of the words, that’s when I realised it was different.
My pulse thrums in my ears, my skin prickling as I consider the similarities. What I’ve seen of Gage, versus what I’ve been told to expect. I chew my lip as I type another message.
ME:
Chels, what’s your take?
CHELSEA:
Evan kept showing up when I didn’t expect it.
It was hard to date as a woman in my field.
Most men don’t understand the demands of my hours, as well as the fact that I never wanted children.
I was never going to be a woman who stopped working to raise a family - as much as I love my niece, and I sincerely hope for many more.
Evan clicked from the start. It always felt like we were on the same page.
I don’t know if I knew he was the one from the start, but I definitely knew he was someone who was going to be different. Significant.
CHELSEA:
What sparked this line of questioning? Have you met someone?
MADELINE:
OMG HAVE YOU MET SOMEONE?!?!
I don’t know how to answer that. My heart feels like it’s pointing in the right direction, but my head is spinning.
ME:
I don’t know. Maybe I’m just ready for something more. Maybe I’m spending too much time waiting for the lightning strike that I’m missing the rain.
CHELSEA:
Okay, so get out there! I can’t remember the last time you mentioned a date. Do you want me to see if Evan has any single doctor friends?
I grimace.
ME:
No offence, Chels, but doctors just don’t do it for me.
MADELINE:
I can ask Jacob if anyone on the team is single. They’re all pretty good-looking. Athletic, muscular, tattooed *winky-tongue emoji*
ME:
Don’t think athletes do it for me, either.
The tattoos, though? Who would have thought, but those have me under a spell. It’s probably just the skin they’re inked upon. They’re etched on his flesh like a promise, and sealed in my mind like a kiss.