Chapter 29
twenty-nine
AVA
The feel of Gage’s arms around me in the morning might easily become one of my favorite things if I let it. And if I’m being honest, I want it to.
Gage and I might have an official title, but that hasn’t changed anything about how we interact with each other. He’s definitely more open with touching me out in public, but then again, I quite enjoy that it’s no secret we belong to each other. I like belonging to someone.
He might be a little more attentive than he was before Brian and my parents showed up, but I know it comes from a place of fear that something might happen to me or that I’ll be hurt by their actions. Gage is still just as present, if not more so, and just as supportive and caring as he's been from that first night at Murphy's.
There isn’t a single doubt in my mind that I made the right decision in giving this thing with Gage a real shot. I’ve loved spending my time with him.
So when I wake up a few mornings after my parents showed up outside Scott’s with Gage’s arms around me and snow on the ground outside, I couldn’t be happier.
They’ve been teasing the amount of snow we would be getting with the storm that rolled through overnight, but the fact that the snow is still falling means it’s a good one—at least, if you enjoy snow the way I do.
It’s realistically not that far into the winter season yet—almost three weeks—but today’s snowfall seems pretty significant.
“Time to get up already?” Gage asks as his arms around me tighten.
“Almost,” I whisper, rolling over to face him.
He hasn’t opened his eyes yet, and I take the time to study him. I knew he was attractive the first moment I saw him. With his aqua eyes, tousled hair, high cheekbones, and chiseled jaw, he was hard to miss. Honestly, the man could have gone into acting and would be a massive hit with how attractive he is. But getting to know him on a deeper level over the last seven weeks means I get to see how beautiful he is down to his bones.
Outside of his family and the occasional person around town, most people see Gage as the comedic relief, like he’s not to be taken seriously. But this man is so smart and caring that those people are doing themselves a disservice by not seeing him for who he is.
Yes, Gage is great at lightening the mood and lifting people’s spirits, but it’s because he’s so observant that he can do that. It’s because he pays attention and listens. He knows exactly what kind of humor to infuse into a conversation to bring levity to someone when needed. Someone only trying to make people laugh and be funny wouldn’t care the way Gage does.
He proves it with all the little things he does. Asking Walt about his conversations with his son, running to his mom’s every Monday morning before work to spend time with Olivia, his weekly hikes with Leo, and his daily texts with Asher. There are very few decisions Gage makes solely about what he wants for himself. Almost everything he does is with someone else in mind.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?”
“How do you know I’m thinking about something?” I ask when he still doesn’t open his eyes.
“You released a heavy sigh.” His eyes finally open, squinting at the light pouring through his open curtains. Something he prefers to close before going to sleep but left open for me to see the snow first thing this morning when we woke up.
“I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life,” I tell him honestly.
“That’s quite deep for seven o’clock in the morning,” he mumbles as he buries his head in the crook of my neck.
“No, just true.” I run my fingers through his hair, relaxing into the warmth of his embrace for a few more minutes. “I need to get ready for work. Go back to sleep. It’s your day off,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to his cheek before moving to get out of bed.
“No. I'll clean off your car while you get ready.” He squeezes me one more time before letting me go and sitting up on the edge of his bed. He takes a second to stretch, a wince playing across his features before slipping on sweatpants and an “ARMY” sweatshirt.
“You don’t have to. I can take care of it.”
“I know you can, but I don’t mind. There’s no way I’m going back to sleep anyway.” He smiles as he skims his hand up my thigh to rest under the hem of his shirt at my hip. “I only sleep as well as I do when you’re in the bed next to me.”
“You slept just fine before I came along,” I tease, a smile on my face.
“Fine being the optimal word. I sleep peacefully now that you’re in my bed.”
“You’re spending way too much time with my brother if you’re being that cheesy.” I laugh, pushing at his chest.
“Are you saying you would rather your brother and I didn’t get along?”
“Of course not.”
He shrugs. “Well, it’s your fault I’ve spent so much time with him. You’re the one who keeps planning dinners over there with Quinn.”
“I like her. She’s perfect for my brother.”
“Yeah, she is.” Gage laughs softly, pulling me in tight and pressing a kiss to my lips.
I pull away before either of us can get too carried away. “Morning breath.”
“I don’t care,” he says against the skin of my cheek.
“I know, but I do. Plus, I need to get ready for work.” This time when I push at his chest, there’s a bit more force behind it.
“All right.” He sighs, releasing his hold on me. “My parents are hosting a family dinner at the farm this evening. Last one before Asher heads back to school for the semester,” Gage tells me as he sits at the foot of the bed, pulling on a pair of socks.
“Okay, I'm sure Quinn and Declan wouldn't mind hanging out, or I can go to Murphy's anyway and keep Walt company,” I tell him while digging through my bag for the outfit I packed for today.
“Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to join us.”
I freeze, jeans in one hand and my sweater in the other. My back is turned to Gage, but I feel his heat come up behind me.
“You don’t have to. I know it’s kind of fast, but you’ve already met my parents, and I’d like you to meet my siblings.”
I place my things on top of my bag and slowly turn to face him. There’s nothing but sincerity in his eyes. I know how much he wants me to be there, but I also know he’ll respect it if I tell him I’m not ready. The thing that shocks me is that I am ready. He’s right. I’ve already met his parents, and I absolutely love them.
I can see why Gage is the way he is. His mother is caring and attentive while being so incredibly strong and independent. But she doesn’t let that independence stop her from leaning on Nick. And Nick is funny and genuine and so freaking warm and observant. I could see his love for Laura clear as day every time he looked at her that night at Murphy’s.
There wasn’t a single second I felt uncomfortable with them. They made me feel like I was part of them from the moment they sat at the bar.
I reach up to cup his cheeks in my hands, pulling him down to me. “I’d love to go to dinner with you,” I tell him before placing a chaste kiss to his lips.
“You sure?” His eyes search mine, looking for a hint of hesitation.
“I’m positive. Plus, after all this snow? I just know the farm will be beautiful.”
He laughs and pulls me in for a tight hug. One hand cupping the back of my head and the other against my back while he buries his head in the crook of my neck, placing a kiss where my neck and shoulder meet.
This feeling right here—the happiness and contentment—is something I never thought I could feel in the abundance I do at this moment. I don’t want to give it up or let anything or anyone ruin it—even my parents and Brian. I want to hold onto this feeling—to protect it.
“So you just left?” Abbey laughs as she wipes down the counter.
“Well, yeah.” I laugh along with her. “Why sit through a date you know isn’t going anywhere?”
The bell above the door sounds, cutting off Abbey’s response. When I turn to greet the newcomer, the smile on my face falls instantly.
I spin back to Abbey, whispering, “Call Gage.”
I’m honestly surprised it took him so long to find me. I thought he and my parents would show up the day after they checked in to The Ashford Lodge, but it’s been three days since I saw his face.
I want to say I was able to forget about him over those three days, but unfortunately, that would be a lie. No matter how much Gage or I try, my parents and Brian are constantly on my mind. I can’t stop trying to figure out why they’re still here or what they could possibly want from me.
“What?” Abbey asks in confusion.
Grabbing her wrist from across the counter, I say more firmly, “Call Gage.” I wish I had time to explain, but I don’t.
“Ava,” Brian says as he stops in front of me.
There’s a charming smile on his face as he leans forward, trying to kiss my cheek. I don’t step away from him—I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower—but I turn my head so he kisses air instead.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I tell him. I’m surprised my voice is as even as it is, but I’m grateful. I refuse to let him see the fear I feel coursing through me.
“Darling, that’s no way to speak to your fiancé.” The smile is still plastered to his lips, but I see the anger in his eyes.
I hear Abbey shift behind me and can only hope she’s doing what I asked. I should have told her about my parents and Brian. It’s not safe for me to keep this secret—not with the three of them in town.
“You’re not my fiancé. Why won’t you recognize that?” I seethe.
“Ava,” he grits, trying to keep his cool in front of Abbey. “Maybe we could go somewhere else to talk?”
“No, I want you to leave. I have nothing to say to you.”
“Ava.” His voice turns more forceful, the smile officially slipping from his face as he steps closer to me.
This time, I do take a step away, but it’s only a couple of inches before I feel the counter at my back.
“Abbey’s calling the police. You should go before they get here.”
Another step forward. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I can still press charges for everything that happened back in Boston,” I warn.
His hand wraps around my wrist, out of sight from Abbey, but the tightness in his grip causes me to wince. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nothing happened in Boston.”
I steel my spine and lean forward, my voice deathly quiet. “We both know what you did in Boston, Brian. Leave me the hell alone, or I’ll press charges.”
Brian’s eyes bounce between mine, and the rage I see there makes me nervous. So far, Brian hasn’t done anything with witnesses around, but at some point, he’ll be pushed to a breaking point. I just don’t know what that point will be.
“I’ve called the police. You need to leave,” Abbey says from behind me. I can’t see her, but her voice is strong. “I have no idea what happened in Boston, but you’ve been asked to leave, so at this point, you’re trespassing, and I definitely don’t have a problem pressing charges.”
Brian’s glare moves to Abbey. “This is public property.”
“Wrong. This is a privately-owned business, and I have the right to refuse service to whomever I want. This is now the fourth time you’ve been asked to leave.” Her voice is so eerily calm.
I know I’ve only just started to get to know Abbey, but she’s always come across as the quiet one. I don’t think she would have a problem standing up for herself, but I would never have expected her to be so straightforward.
Brian’s eyes move back to mine, and his grip on my wrist tightens even more. “This isn’t over,” he snarls before he storms out the door.
I watch out the window until he’s long gone. I don’t hear or see anything. It’s not until I feel Abbey’s hand on my arm that everything comes back to focus.
“Are you all right?”
“I-I…yeah.” I swallow, giving myself a second. “I’m okay.”
The bell rings again.
“What happened?” Gage asks before either of us has even turned to see him there. “Are you okay?” he asks, pulling me into his arms.
I sink against him, wrapping my arms around his waist and holding tight. I don’t say anything but simply nod my head against his chest.
“Tell me what happened,” he says softly as he pulls away just enough to look me in the eye.
“Brian showed up. He didn’t do anything,” I rush to say. “Just tried to get me to talk to him.”
Gage studies me for a second before his eyes move over my head to Abbey. “Thanks for calling me.”
“The second he walked through the door, Ava told me to. I didn’t understand. But the look in that man’s eyes…” Her voice trails off, and I don’t need to see her to know a shiver runs up her spine.
She’s right. The rage and hatred in his eyes made me nervous.
Gage takes a step back, his eyes moving over my body, looking to make sure nothing happened.
“He grabbed my wrist, but other than that, he didn’t do anything. I swear.” My voice cracks and I swallow, trying to calm myself down. Brian is gone, and Gage is here; he won’t let anything happen.
“I know. I just need to see it for myself.” He cups the side of my face, his thumb gently grazing my cheek.
“Why don’t you get out of here?” Abbey offers. “The morning rush is over. It’ll be quiet the rest of the day.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, turning to look at Abbey. “I don’t really want to go home and stew over this. I’d rather stay busy.”
“Well, go find something to do somewhere else. Go play in the snow. You’ve been staring at it all dreamy-eyed since you walked through the door.”
I know she’s trying to lighten the mood, to pull me out of my thoughts before they can fester. And before I can argue further, Abbey pulls me into a hug, holding me a little tighter and longer than she usually does.
“We could head over to the farm early. I’m sure Mom would love some help with the afternoon chores. Or it’s early enough, we could go for a short hike.”
“See.” Abbey gestures to Gage as she pulls away from the hug. “You’ve got plenty of options. Get out of here.”
“Thank you, Abbey.”
“Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah.” I give her another quick hug before turning back to Gage. “I just need to grab my stuff from the back. I’ll meet you at the cottage?”
“I’ll wait and walk you to your car.”
I don’t bother arguing with him. Number one, it’s not worth it because I won’t win. And number two, I’d feel better having him walk me to my car.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He leans forward, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Of course, Rebel.”