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The dinner party was just as I expected. Everyone came out trying to up class all of the other attendees by who was driving the most expensive car, had the best designer clothes or the most jewels dripping lavishly off their bodies. Gage looked handsome in his charcoal suit and black dress shirt with the top two buttons undone. He was definitely in his element here, escorting me around the crowd and introducing to me an endless amount of people.
All of the alums were in attendance so I figured I would be meeting his dad tonight too. Gage had an arm wrapped around my waist as he introduced me to his father who was an older, grayer version of Gage and his step mother, Catherine, who looked young enough to be Gages slightly older sister with her sleek blonde bob and enough diamonds on to feed a small country for a year. “Hello Leah, so nice to meet you,” she says with an upturn of her clearly fake nose as she gives me two air kisses on each cheek. “So we’ve heard a little here and there about you from Gage. We’ll have to get together sometime soon for brunch at the club so we can chat, just us girls.” Wow that sounds like a ton of fun and definitely not something a friend would probably be doing with ones friends step-mother. I smile at her not wanting to embarrass Gage and politely answer back, “Oh of course that would be great. I’ll have to check my schedule though I’ve been super busy with work and school.”
Gages father who seemed to be studying me since we were introduced interrupted, “So Leah what do your parents do for a living?” Uhh…. I had been hoping to avoid this question tonight but it always seemed to come up in situations like these. “They’re both kind of out of the picture. I’ve been living with my Grandmother the past few years.” Mr. Mccroy nods his head, he’s eyes darting around the room like I’ve already lost his interest since I don’t come from an influential family. I hear his name being called by another guest that I had been introduced to earlier in the night. “Excuse me, it was very nice to meet you Leah, it’s not often that Gage brings any girls around.” Really, huh? That kind of surprises me, he seems like he’s such a ladies’ man and oozing with confidence whenever we’re out together, I know I’ve seen girls checking him out all over campus. I look over at Gage and he looks down sheepishly at a spot in the floor that all of a sudden looks rather interesting.
“C’mon,” he places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to my seat before dinner starts. “So I’m the first girl you’ve ever brought around, huh?” I raise an eyebrow at him. He flashes a tight smile at me before lightly running his fingers on over my bare shoulders. Yup, he definitely thinks were more than just friends.“Well I wouldn’t say the first but I don’t do it often. You see how some of these people can be a little….pretentious. Your special to me though and you kind of have the attitude where you don’t care what anyone thinks about you.”
I shrug my shoulders, “I just like to be myself. I’m not going to pretend to be someone I’m not just because they drive a nicer car than me.” Gage moves his long fingers to the base of my neck and rubs lightly, “Thanks for coming with me Leah you definitely make it more interesting.”
We finish our meals and Gage does his rounds saying goodbye to his father’s acquaintances as we make our way towards the exit. Gages father leans in and murmur something in his ear as we leave and I can see Gages body tense up, his jaw tighten as he gives a quick shake of his head. “Thanks for coming Leah, it was very nice to meet you,” Mr. Mccroy says stiffly. “Thanks for having me I had a great time,” I grab Gage’s hand as he pulls me hurriedly to the door.