Текст книги "Beautiful Misery"

Автор книги: Chandin Whitten

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

20

Annie

Gage: Do you have little man?

Me: No. He’s with Leigha. Why?

Gage: I have a surprise. Tell her 2 be at ur house in 15 min. I’ll pick u up

Me: Ummm k?

Me: Can u and Gabe be at my house in 15 min?

Leigha: Sure. Everything ok?

Me: Yeah. I think. Gage said he has a surprise.

Leigha: I don’t think u want ur son seeing that!

Me: Ew! No. He said he would pick us up.

Leigha: Hmm. K. be there in a few.

“Mommy, I’m home! Aunt Leigha said Gage had a surprise,” Gabe yelled, walking through the door.

Drying my hands from the dishes, I sat the towel on the counter. “Hey, baby. I missed you.”

Gabe gave me his watery smile. “I missed you too mommy. What’s my surprise?”

“I don’t know. Gage said he would be here in a few minutes to pick us up.”

“You two certainly have been spending a lot of time together since New Orleans.” Leigha winked. I stuck my tongue out.

Gabe took off into the living room to play. No interest in adult conversation. “We are just friends, Leigha.”

“Yeah, and the Pope is Catholic.”

Cocking my head at my gorgeous, but not too smart friend, I said, “Um, Leigha, the Pope is Catholic.”

She shook her hands in the air. “Oh. Huh. Well then the two of you are just friends like the Pope is Jewish.”

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. It’s been weeks since New Orleans. For all I know he could be screwing thirty different girls.” And, I would not admit how bad that stung saying that. We agreed. Just friends. Fuck buddies.

It was Leigha’s turn to roll her eyes. “Girl, you’re not an idiot. Every chance he gets he spends with you. You, Gabe, Gage, and Londyn look like the perfect little family.”

“Stop. I’m not getting ahead of myself. I don’t even know if I want that perfect little family. Gabe and I are our own perfect little bubble. I don’t want to bust that and him get hurt.”

Leigha pursed her lips, “Hate to burst your bubble, but, oh no wait, you already did. Do you not see how Gabe and Gage get along? It’s like the two of them were made for each other. Same with you and Londyn. I know the two of you agreed to be”– Leigha held her hands up, air quoting– “fuck buddies”– “But, it has turned into more than that.”

Leaning against the kitchen counter, I picked at my nails. Deep down I knew she was right. I just didn’t want to admit it. I knew the day Gage introduced me to his friend, Trent that my feelings were changing. Gage had told Trent who I was and Trent had a huge smile cover his face when he said, “Ah, so you’re the hottie he won’t stop talking about.” Hearing that Gage talked about me had my heart skipping a beat and my head spinning. My heart was telling me to jump, go all in. My head was telling me to tread lightly, nothing was this good.

“Knock, knock,” Gage said as he walked in.

“You know, normally a person stays on the other side of the door and actually does the verb of knock. They don’t just say the word as they walk into the person’s house, uninvited.”

Feigning hurt, Gage said, “I was invited. I told you I would be here in fifteen minutes. You said okay. I took that as my invitation.”

Gabe took off running towards Gage. “Gage! I missed you!”

Gage scooped my son into his arms, “I missed you, too, buddy.”

Jenna poked her head around my front door. I smiled and waved. “Come in.”

She walked in carrying Evie. Trent was behind her carrying a sleeping Londyn. He was followed by a guy carrying Knox and Nash. The little boys were struggling to get down. Jenna looked at Gage and Gabe who were already on the floor racing cars across the carpet. Her eyes got glossy. She sat Evie down and said, “Be nice to the boys, and don’t beat them too bad.” Evie took off in the direction of Gage and my little boy.

Turning her attention to me, she said, “Annie, this is my husband, Larkin. Sorry you haven’t got to meet sooner. We got lucky and his bye week is the same as the boys first birthday.”

Larkin looked me over. His eyes were intense. I felt like I was being scrutinized. After a moment a smile formed on his very handsome face and he held his hand out. “Annie, it’s nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you from these three.” He motioned to Jenna, Gage, and Trent.

“Thanks. Nice to meet you too.”

Gage looked up from his spot on the floor. “Are y’all ready?”

“Where are we going?” Gabe asked, excitedly.

Shaking his head, Gage said, “It’s a surprise. If everyone is ready we can go. Annie and Gabe can ride with Londyn and me. Leigha, I have my Mercedes, so you can squeeze in with the kids or you can ride with Trent.”

Looking at my best friend, I found her mouth open. She had been unusually quiet since Jenna had arrived. Her eyes were fixated on Trent. I couldn’t really blame her. He was nice to look at. “Ugh, Leigha? Who you riding with?”

Leigha blinked a few times, her cheeks turning red. “Um. I…I don’t care,” she stuttered.

Trent turned his head and let his eyes soak in my best friend. “I’ve got her, G. She’s with me.”

Leigha’s cheeks reddened even more. “Oh. Well, um, ok thanks.”

Pulling my brows together I stared at her. She slightly shook her head and took a few steps away from Trent. “Let’s go. I want to see what the hell is going on.” I grabbed my purse off the small table by the front door and walked out.

After getting all the tiny humans into their car seats, Gage and I buckled up. “Will you give me an idea as to where we are going?”

Gage raised an eyebrow and pulled his bottom lip into his mouth. “Nope.”

“How far away is it?”

“Ten minutes.”

“What can we do there?”

Gage glanced at me and a smirked covered his face. “Anything you want.”

“You’re really not going to tell me anything?”

Slowly he shook his head. “Nope.”

“You’re just mean.”

“Not what you were saying last night. I do believe last night you were calling me God and telling me just how good I was.”

My eyes were bulging out of my head. I snapped my head to the backseat to make sure Gabe hadn’t heard what Gage just said. “He’s not paying attention to us. He’s watching Despicable Me. Chill.”

“I don’t care. Don’t say that in front of him. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea.” I fiddled with my seat belt.

Gage shook his head and sighed. He didn’t say anything. After a few minutes he turned the radio up. Hail to the King by Avenged Sevenfold was playing. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove Gage sang along. Sitting at a stop light he turned to me and smiled. Synyster Gates was in the middle of a guitar riff when Gage joked, “Hail to the king, baby.”

Pointing to the light, I said, “Shut up and drive, ball boy.”

When the song ended Gage was pulling into a long brick driveway, guarded by a gate. Rolling his window down he typed in a passcode and the gate slowly rolled open. Lining the driveway was mature pine trees and a few weeping willows here and there. Gage grabbed my hand and kissed my knuckles. “For future reference the passcode is one-three-seven-eight.”

I flashed my eyes to the backseat. Gabe was wrapped up in his movie. I don’t know what Gage is getting at today. The stuff he’s saying and doing is a real mind fuck. Studying Gage, I asked, “Where are we?”

He kept his gaze fixed on something in front us, he said, “Home.”

“Huh?” I asked in confusion. I turned my head to look out the windshield. Ahead of us was a huge plantation style house. The trees lining the driveway ended and short, well-trimmed hedges lined the drive up to the oversized wrought iron steps leading to the wraparound porch. The house was a classic white with black shutters and deep burgundy door. There was a balcony above the welcoming front porch. The place looked like something straight out of Steel Magnolias.

Gage pulled to a stop just in front of the beautiful home and shut his car off. “Home. I figured it was time I get a house down here. I have my apartment in New Orleans but I want Londyn to grow up here.” Gage shrugged. “My mom and I walked through it two weeks ago and I knew it was the right place for Londyn and me.”

“Wow. Gage, it is, wow. Beautiful. Most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” I said, still taking in just how beautiful it was.

“I’ve seen something more beautiful.”

I glanced at Gage. He was watching me. Dammit. He was doing it again. My heart was skipping all over. “Um…can I see the inside?”

One side of his mouth lifted. “Of course. I didn’t bring you out here just to see the trees and front door. Let’s go.” Gage grabbed his keys and got out. He unfastened Londyn and carried her up the steps. “Daddy is going to have to put up a baby gate on these stairs, huh Londyn Lou?”

Londyn giggled. The rest of us following Gage and Londyn. When he opened the front door I was expecting butlers and maids to be waiting. Instead, there was a pretty, older lady in a paint stained shirt and jean shorts.

“Meme!” Londyn squealed and held her hands out.

“I didn’t know you were coming by today. Your brother and I wanted to get all the painting finished before you brought Londyn. She shouldn’t be around the fumes, honey.” The older lady wiped her hands on her shirt before taking Londyn and kissing her cheeks.

“Mom, its fine. Jenna and Larkin are leaving Sunday after the boys’ party. I wanted them to see my place before they left.”

Jenna hugged the lady that I now knew was Gage’s mom. Gabe was holding Evie’s hand. He was craning his neck around to take everything in. We were standing in the large, open foyer. “Mommy, this place is fuckin’ huge!”

“Shh! Gabriel, we don’t say that word,” I chastised.

Gabe looked at me innocently and said, “Fine. This place is freakin’ huge.”

Gage heard him that time and looked down at Gabe. I could see he was biting the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing. Too bad no one else followed his example. Everyone, including Gage’s mom was cracking up.

Was there was a gun from the civil war around here anywhere? Just shoot me now. My son and his mouth would be the death of me.

Gage wrapped one arm around my waist. “Mom this is Annie.Annie this is my mom, Tamra Tucker.”

The way he said my name had my toes tingling and the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. I had the feeling she knew a lot more about me than I knew about her.

Tamra held her hand out, smiling sweetly. “So nice to meet you, Annie”

Taking her hand, I replied, “Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Tucker.”

She dropped my hand and shook both hers in the air. “Oh, please call me Tamra. Mrs. Tucker is my mother in law. She is old and senile. I am much too young to be anything that proper.”

Gage looked at his mom for a moment before asking, “How did you get here? Your car isn’t out front.”

“Dylan. He ran into town to pick up a few more drop cloths and paint brushes. He should be back soon. Why don’t you show everyone around while I entertain the kids?”

It was like Evie took that moment to notice Gage’s mom standing a few feet away from her. She let go of Gabe’s hand and ran to Tamra. “Aunt Ra Ra! Dis my fweind, Gabe.” Evie smiled brightly at my little boy.

Tamra shifted Londyn to her hip and looked at my handsome little guy. Gabe actually looked a little shy. Hmm. I didn’t know my son, the loud mouth, dirty talking little boy had a shy bone in his body. Holding her hand out, Tamra said, “Hello, Gabe. It is so nice to meet you. Evie talks about you all the time.” Tamra looked to Jenna and Larkin and winked.

Little Evie had her first crush. And, it was my little man. How sweet.

Shaking Tamra’s hand, Gabe said, “Yeah, she likes me.” He sighed and lifted one shoulder. “All the ladies do.”

Tamra giggled. “I can see why. Would you like to help me unpack toys in the playroom while Gage shows your mommy his new house?”

Gabe smiled. “Yes! Mommy, I’m going with Tamra to play.”

She took all the kids and started down the hall. I have no idea how she did it. Gabe and Evie were holding hands again and she was carrying Londyn, Nash, and Knox. Brave woman.

Gage grabbed my hand and walked us into the sunken living room. “Obviously we all know what room this is. What I really want to show y’all is upstairs. But, to be the nice host, I’ll tell you everything that’s down here on our way upstairs. Everything down here is covered in boxes anyway.” Leading us up the ‘Gone with the Wind’ staircase, Gage said, “There is the obvious living room, kitchen, dining room, family room, office, two half bathrooms, and a theater room. There is also a sunroom off the kitchen that leads to the back deck and the pool. I also have a pool house and a bungalow style guest house out back.”

He walked to the double French doors at the end of the hall. Shoving them opened I could see into what I assumed was his master bedroom. There was a large four post bed in dark wood in the center of the room. Beside each side of the bed was a nightstand in matching wood. There was an armoire in the corner with a large dresser to the left. In the opposite corner was a black leather couch and chair facing the flat screen television hanging on the wall. Glancing around I noticed a large picture hanging above the couch. It was in black and white. It was the kids and I on the beach. I had Londyn and Gabe in my arms, my head was back and I was laughing, both kids smiling. We looked happy.

Not stopping, he walked through his room and into the bathroom. The five of us following him in.

“Wow, you have a toilet, you lucky bastard. Really wish I had one of those. Larkin said our next house we may just splurge and get a toilet.” Jenna said, laughing.

We all laughed and Gage said, “No, I wanted to show you the phone. How fuckin’ cool is that? I have a phone in the fuckin’ shitter.”

I craned my neck to see around Gage. There it was, right next to the toilet. A phone, really? In the bathroom?

Jenna wrinkled her nose and said, “Gage, make me a promise.”

“What’s that?”

Jenna pointed at the phone when she said, “Never, ever call me from that phone.”

Gage grabbed Jenna around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t worry, you will be my first call from this phone.”

Larkin joked, “As long as it doesn’t send pictures, I’m down with getting a shitter call. Just no shitter picture.”

Leigha giggled. “Well, I mean, I guess it’s practical. What if you run out of toilet paper? Now you don’t have to worry. One call and problem solved.”

“I’m glad some people can appreciate good craftsmanship. This is what won me over and sold me on the house. It had nothing to do with the marble or hardwood floors. Or even the six bedrooms, or the man cave, or the pool. It was the fuckin’ phone. Sweet as shit.” Gage dropped his arms from Jenna and wrapped them around my waist.

Jenna looked from Gage’s arms around my waist to my face then Gage’s. A slow, somewhat sad smile playing on her lips. Starting to get uncomfortable I tried pulling away. Gage tightened his grip and whispered in my ear, “No.” Sending shivers down my spine and right to my core.

“Gage? You up here?” A male voice came through the door.

“Bathroom, D.” Jenna yelled back.

Looking up from the gorgeous marble floor I saw a miniature version of Gage walking in. Well, not exactly miniature because he was damn near just as big, just younger. Wait, he looked familiar. Very familiar.

Smiling wide, the boy said, “Were you showing them your shitter phone?”

Gage nodded. “Sure was.”

Nudging Jenna, the boy said, “Ain’t that the shit? Literally.”

Jenna curled her lips. “I swear if one of you call me from that phone I will stick my foot so far up your ass you won’t shit for a year. Got it?” She grumbled, pointing at Dylan. She was smiling by the time she was finished talking.

He was the boy that delivered the flowers! “You’re Gage’s brother?” I asked out of the blue.

Turning his sky blue eyes to me, he said, “Yep. The name’s Dylan.” He winked at me like we were sharing some ‘I murdered the mailman and you hid the body’ kinda secret.

“You work for a florist?” I asked, somewhat confused.

Everyone, except for Leigha looked at Dylan. Gage and Dylan started laughing. Jenna accused, “Dylan couldn’t tell the difference between a rose and a daisy if he tried.”

Gage said, “Actually, not too long ago he had a one day stint as a florist delivery boy. There was a special girl that deserved flowers and I wanted to make sure she got them.” He kissed my temple.

Really? What was with all this public display of affection? It was really starting to screw with my head. My brain was starting to listen to my heart. That can’t happen. I won’t let that happen. We agreed this was just for fun. Now Gage is screwing that up with all these small things he’s doing. I was letting my guard down. Sure to get hurt in the end.

Leigha furrowed her brows. “He’s the one who delivered your flowers?”

I nodded. Jenna elbowed Larkin. “I don’t even get flowers. I want flowers,” She joked.

Larkin rolled his eyes, “I gave you three kids. Isn’t that enough?” He looked at his wife. Anyone could see how in love they were. Jenna leaned into him and kissed his chest. They really did look like the poster couple for perfect.

Once Gage was satisfied with himself and his potty phone he walked back into his bedroom. There that picture was again. Staring me in the face. I glanced at Gage who was saying something to Trent and laughing. His eyes caught mine and they instantly darkened. How could he go from zero to sixty within a split second?

He smirked. “Annie, I want to show you something.” He turned to look at Jenna and asked, “Jenna can you check on the kids and make sure they haven’t duct taped my mom to the wall?”

“I’m sure if anyone has the duct tape it would be Evil Evie.” Larkin laughed. Jenna nodded in agreement.

Leigha looked me over before saying, “I’ll check on little man.”

Trent placed his arm on the small of Leigha’s back and said, “I can help you with that. I like that little dude. He’s a chick magnet.”

Jenna, Leigha, and I all looked at each other, rolling our eyes. Leave it to Trent to use a child to get attention.

Watching the others walk out of Gage’s room he shut the door behind them. I turned to look out his window at the backyard and the in ground pool when I heard the lock click. “I have been waiting to get you all to myself since I walked into your house.”

“Why do you have the picture?” I tossed my hand in the air in the direction of giant picture on his wall.

“You don’t like it?” Gage asked. His voice laced with a hint of hurt.

“No. I mean, I do like it. Just confused as to why you have it so big and in your room.”

“I love how at peace and happy the three of you look. Don’t get mad, but in my man cave I may or may not have a few more pictures hanging up.”

I think my jaw was sitting on the floor. My eyes the size of saucers. He had more pictures…of me? He was really starting to blur the lines and play with my heart. “Why do you have pictures of me?”

Gage ran his hand along my back. “You’re gorgeous. Why wouldn’t I want pictures of you in my house?”

Oh he was good.

“When did you take the pictures?” I asked, still somewhat in shock.

“Different times. Most of them are on the beach. I have one though, my favorite. It’s from the hotel in New Orleans. When you woke up and were freaking out that Gabe would shit a brick if you weren’t with him. You jumped out of bed looking for your clothes. You stopped for just a second and looked out the window at the sun rise. The sun was casting a shadow over you, making it look like a silhouette. It’s simple and fuckin’ hot as hell.”

“Gage.” I tried to say with conviction but my voice was breathy. “You’re starting to mess with my head. We both said we weren’t ready for something like this. Then, you say and do shit like we are a couple. I don’t know what to think.”

Kissing me behind my ear, he whispered, “Don’t think. Just listen to your body.” He slipped one hand around my waist and pulled me back so my back was flush against his chest. His other hand was in my hair. He ran kisses along my neck and shoulder. “Annie, I can’t help how my body reacts to you. When you’re around I’m hard. I need to be inside you.”

My head was spinning. My knees were weak. I attempted to nod. I was too light headed to be sure if I nodded or looked like a drunk chicken with its head cut off. Gage spun me around and captured my mouth. I was lost. Somewhere along the way, not realizing, I had let Gage in. I was falling. Hard and fast. Not knowing if Gage was going to catch me.