Page 66
“No.” The lie makes my cheeks even warmer. “Yes.”
Leaning down, Gage kisses me softly. “You’re pretty when you’re all pink.”
Oh shit. Here it comes again.
“Glad you’rehome.” I hear emphasis in the last word. And I know why. When I wrote that note, it felt weird to call Gage’s house home, so I crossed it off. I probably should have rewritten the note, but I was in a rush.
In an attempt to change the direction of this conversation, I smile up at him. “Me too.”
“Where’d you go?”
“I had some business to take care of.”
“Like?”
“I got a new phone for one. I’ll be sure you have my new number later.” I also did some more shopping, looked at a couple apartments, and bought a car. A used one, but it’s reliable-ish and should last me long enough for me to get the rest of my stuff in place. But I don’t want to tell him all of that, so I just give him the obvious one. The one that’s parked out on the street in front of his house. “Also some shopping. I bought a used car.”
“A used car?” He sounds surprised. “By yourself?”
I’m not sure why, but his comment bugs me. “Yeah. By myself.”
“Where’d you get it?” He sounds a tad judgmental.
Déjà vu is hitting me. My dad questions me like this. “From a student.” Who was desperate for cash. I feel like we helped each other.
Gage chuckles. “Daisy. Have you ever bought a car before?”
“No.” Duh.
“And you just decided to buy one today. By yourself?”
“Yep.” I could tell him I did my research, but why bother?
Turning, I step out of his bedroom into the spare room. I’m very close to packing up my stuff and leaving. I think I was right in my note earlier. This isn’t my home—just like my apartment wasn’t my home.
“Daisy?” He’s close. Probably standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry. I just thought about what I said to you and how I said it. I didn’t mean to sound like an asshole male.”
“Well, you did.” I reach for one of my bags from earlier, trying to decide if I should empty it or fill it with the rest of my stuff.
When his arms wrap around my waist, I flinch. “Gage. Not now.”
“Honey.” He kisses my neck. “I’m sorry.”
Sure he is.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
No shit.
I feel his hands on my waist, urging me to face him. I go ahead and do it. When he sits on my bed, he pulls me closer. “I mean it. I know I sounded like a macho jackass just now. I didn’t mean to suggest that you didn’t know what you were doing.”
“Uh-huh.” I still haven’t looked him in the eye.
“Please look at me, honey.”
I can’t.
“Please?” he repeats.
