I slide into the passenger seat as Gage climbs in and slams his door, hitting his fist on the steering wheel. I can see the anger flash through his eyes as he guides us out of the parking lot. “Gage what’s wrong? I thought we had a nice time. Did your father say something to upset you?” He sniffs before giving me quick sideways glance. “No nothing that I haven’t heard before Leah. It’s just….you’re so…different than anyone I’ve ever brought around before.” I rub my hands on my skirt trying to wipe away the sweatiness. “So I take it your father didn’t approve of me?”
He dryly laughs before replying. “He doesn’t approve of anyone Leah unless their parents our in his ‘class’. I’m sorry I shouldn’t have taken you there.” I chew on my lip and look down at my hands. “I don’t mean it like that,” he says, “I just don’t want you treated poorly because you didn’t have a privileged childhood like I did.” I grab one of his hands in mine.“Trust me Gage I know how people can judge you based on your parents. You’re a good guy, you’re not like your father at all.” I see his shoulders relax as I rub my hand on his thigh reassuringly. Okay now maybe I’m going over the friends line a little bit, but he is a good guy and his father is an asshole.
Gage pulls up to drop me off and runs around to open my door for me. “Thanks Gage, I had a nice time tonight.” And before I know it Gages lips are planted squarely against mine and I instantly tense up from the abruptness. He seems likes he’s trying to devour my mouth, probing with his tongue trying to inch my mouth open that’s clamped tightly shut.
“Gage,” I push lightly on his chest and he abruptly pulls away rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m really not looking for a relationship right now. Seriously. I have way too much going on that you just wouldn’t understand. Can we be just friends or do we need to end this now?”
“Yeah sorry Leah. I just got a little carried away.” He shoves his hands into his suit coat and shuffles his feet on the parking lot, kicking stray rocks around.
“Gage you’re a great guy, any girl would be lucky to have you ya know?”
“Yeah but the one girl I want is the only one I can’t get.”
I feel badly that I’ve hurt his feelings but a friend is all I can be right now. And not that I’m some kind of hopeless romantic or something but I didn’t feel any kind of sparks or fireworks when he kissed me. Like at all.
“Kay well thanks again well get together soon Gage.”
“Bye Leah,” he says in a defeated voice and jumps back into his car.
I step into the apartment and Allys sprawled out on the couch with Skylar watching movies.
“Hey guys, how was Caleb tonight?”
“Great as usual, we even got him to try some of our tofu.”
I groan and plop down in the recliner, kicking off my heels. “Really Al? You are not allowed to turn him into a vegetarian.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that,” Skylar replies. “He spit it back out in my hand and demanded something good.” Sounds just like Caleb. He can be a sweetheart but he can also be a demanding little man.
“How was your ‘date’?” Ally asks with the little bunny ears. “Well it wasn’t a ‘date’,” I answer back. “But you were right, Gage clearly thought differently about our whole relationship. Maybe I just can’t be friends with a guy.”
“Well you’re pretty hard to resist,” she replies back with a wink. “Me and Skylar are going to head back to his place. Are you free tomorrow? I was thinking we could do a girls day, well plus our little man, maybe a little shopping and some lunch.” Tomorrow being Sunday I have a day off and am free of school so that sounds perfect. “Yeah Al, I’ll see you tomorrow around noonish. You two have a good night.”
Chapter 7
Leah We head out early the next day and grab some lunch at a little deli near an outdoor shopping plaza. I found a few cute shirts and shoes that I splurged on with a little of the spending money I set aside from the tips I had been raking in at Ginos. I rarely bought new clothes for myself, most of that extra money went towards stuff for Caleb but I figured I was due for a few new things. Kids were expensive and while I loved him and all I wouldn’t be having one of my own for a long long time, if ever.
“So,” Ally says as she pulls out of the parking lot of the outlets to head back to our apartment. Caleb has already conked out in his car seat after running from store to store with us and he has arms wrapped around the new stuffed giraffe that Ally bought for him. “You sure you don’t want to date Gage? I know it’s hard with Caleb but I don’t mind helping and you deserve to have some fun every once in awhile.”
“Ally,” I give her a warning tone. “Please don’t start, you know how it is for me.”
“Nope, not gonna accept that Leah. You just don’t want to put yourself out there so you can’t get hurt. It’s going to happen but someday you’ll find your Mr. Perfect. Now I don’t think that’s Gage, he’s kinda stalker-ish the way he always just happens to pop up wherever you are, but sometimes you have to kiss a lotta toads to get your prince charming. I mean are you planning on staying a virgin till Caleb turns 18 or something?”