Chapter 14 | Gage
Fourteen
Gage
“I didn’t fuck Melanie,” I said, needing to get it off my chest as I swept the broken glass into a pile and grabbed the dustpan. “You know I would never do that to you.”
“Then why did she insist that you did?” He pushed the chairs out of the way so I could sweep under the table. I would still need to mop and vacuum to make sure we got all the glass cleaned up so Daisy wouldn’t step on it.
“Because I caught her fucking Anthony two months before your wedding. When she knew that I knew, she tried to manipulate me into not telling you. She said that she would give me whatever I wanted to keep quiet, and when I refused, she said that she would destroy our friendship before she allowed me to ruin her marriage.”
Patrick’s back was to me as he moved the chairs back under the table, holding onto one as he kept his head down.
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I was stupid and gave her the opportunity to tell you herself. But when she didn’t, I knew that I had missed my window and that you weren’t going to believe me, no matter what I said.”
Patrick turned around and faced me, his jaw clenched as he shook his head.
“She said that you forced yourself on her and that she was tipsy, so she didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late. Then, when I saw you, you were acting all weird and avoiding her.”
“Because I already knew what she had said. She threatened me with it beforehand and told me that if I said anything about her fucking Anthony, she would make my life a living hell. She wanted me out of your life so her secret would stay safe.”
Patrick inhaled deeply and scrubbed a hand down his face.
“Did anything actually happen between you two? And don’t fucking lie. Just tell me the truth, once and for all.”
“The fact that you even have to ask that shows what you think about me. About our friendship,” I said, feeling the hurt deep inside of my chest. “You should know that I would never do that to you. Drunk or not—I would never do that to someone I cared for, nor would I ever force myself onto anyone.”
Patrick arched an eyebrow. “Cared as in past tense?”
“You chose her over me. A girl you hadn’t known long enough to make that kind of judgment call.
You let her come between us and fill your head with lies.
You believed her over someone who had been there for you from the very start.
So yeah, Patrick cared. A lot has changed between us, and I don’t know that we can just sweep this under the rug and move on. ”
“Just like I don’t know that I can just look the other way and pretend that I don’t know you’re interested in my sister.”
I put the broom away and stood in front of him as I let out a heavy sigh.
“When it comes to Julie, I will always do everything I can to protect her and keep her safe. I will not let anything happen to her. But I’m also done sitting on the sidelines, pretending that I haven’t had feelings for her for over twenty years.
I don’t know what to tell you, but as far as your sister is concerned, I don’t give a fuck what you think. ”
“Careful,” he warned, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Or what? You’ll sucker punch me again?” I narrowed my eyes as I looked him up and down. “You still hit like a little bitch.”
Patrick’s nostrils flared, but before he could speak, Julie walked in.
“I really hate to break up whatever lovers’ quarrel this is that you guys are still having, but Daisy wants to say goodnight to her uncle,” Julie said with an exhausted sigh as she held the stuffed unicorn in her hands.
Patrick nodded, giving me a final glare before walking past and shoulder-checking me on the way.
“Man, he really doesn’t get over things, does he?” Julie said after he left the room. “I thought I held grudges, but Pat deserves like a medal or something for how long he can hold one.”
I chuckled, and my body began to relax.
“What’s up with Uni? Did she forget to take it to their room?”
“No, she wanted me to keep it so I wasn’t lonely tonight. So I’m officially on Uni duty for the night.”
“Are you heading to bed right away?” I asked, feeling my palms start to sweat as my nerves skyrocketed.
I’d been wanting some alone time with Julie for a while now, and since Daisy was having a sleepover with her grandparents, it seemed it was now or never.
“Probably not. I’m still a little wired from the day and need some time to decompress.”
“It’s probably those eight cups of coffee you had,” I teased, loving how she’d allowed me to make her fancy coffee when she got too frustrated to figure out how to use the coffee maker.
“Hey—that was good coffee,” she said, pointing a finger at me. “You should open a coffee shop. You would totally rock that and would have a line out the door.”
“I don’t think my coffee skills are that great.”
“Maybe not, but you’d still have a line out the door regardless because who wouldn’t want to watch a hot, tatted-up guy make their coffee?”
I was still processing her words when I noticed the faint blush that turned her cheeks red as her eyes widened when she realized what she said.
“Did you just call me hot?” I chewed the side of my lip as I watched her squirm.
“No? Yes? I don’t know...” She looked around the kitchen, but I kept my gaze on her. “I mean, come on, it’s not like you don’t know that you’re hot. It’s not like I’m not stating the obvious.”
I licked my lips, the grin stretching my cheeks as I watched her reaction to it. Fuck. Everything she did was a turn on for me, and I wasn’t going to be able to keep my attraction to her contained much longer.
“Why don’t you bring Uni and come watch a movie with me?” I offered, hoping she would take me up on it.
“Here on the couch?”
There was a nervousness in her tone as she looked past the couch and down the hall to where my room was.
The house was large, with rooms on both sides of the house. It just so happened that my room and the room she had been using with Daisy were on one side of the house, while all of the others were on the other side.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. Her heated gaze met mine, sending a jolt right through me. “I thought maybe we could watch one in my room if you want to. No pressure.”
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and smiled.
“I would love to.”
I didn’t bother hiding my grin as I placed my hand on her lower back and guided her toward my room. A door at the other end of the hallway opened, and Patrick stepped out, just as Julie walked into my room. I gave him a nod and then smirked as I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.