* * *
Leah
The next day, Dmitri and I return to San Esteban.The reporters have left Gage’s building.Huge relief.My shoulders relax as we pull into the garage.I text Gage that we’ve arrived.He invites Dmitri up to the penthouse, but Dmitri declines.
“I need to head home and unpack.”He braces one hand on the wall while I punch in the code for the elevator.“I’ll see you soon though, won’t I?”
I turn around to face him.The fluorescent lights of the garage make everything starkly bright, including the gray of his eyes.“Absolutely.I don’t know exactly how to balance things with you and Gage, but I’ll do my best.”
“Maybe he and I need a custody agreement.”
“Ha.”
He slides his hand down to my waist.Heat blooms through the fabric of my T-shirt.Intoxicating.“Don’t forget me, when you’re with him.”
“Never.”I tilt my face up, wordlessly asking for a kiss.
He doesn’t disappoint—his lips capture mine.He swipes his tongue along them, urging me to open.I do, meeting his tongue with mine.We curl around each other like two horny teenagers sneaking away between classes.
Bing!The elevator doors open.
He pushes his hips against me, letting me feel how hard he is.“I won’t forget you either, baby.”
As I ride up to Gage’s penthouse, I imagine how things would go if Dmitri came up with me.We’d walk in.Gage would hold out his arms and I’d run to him and give him the biggest hug possible.Because the shit Nicola has been doing?It doesn’t hurt only me—it hurts him, too.He’s been alone, without comfort, the past few days.So I would kiss him and hug him.
Dmitri would stand off to the side until I wave him over.And then somehow—the how-and-why details are unclear in my fantasy—clothes come off.All three of us are naked.I drop to my knees and open wide for Dmitri and Gage.The two take turns fucking my mouth?—
Bing!The elevator doors open again.This elevator is a killjoy.
I shake off the fantasy, ignoring the growing dampness between my thighs.
Quick steps take me to Gage’s door.I stand in front of it, wondering if I should knock.Stupid impulse, but when I left, I didn’t do it in a good way.Even though he invited me back, I still hesitate.
Before I can make a decision—whether to knock or let myself in—the door swings open.
Gage stands in front of me.The panic in his brown eyes fades to relief.“You took so long getting up, I wasn’t sure if reporters found you?—”
I drop my bag and fling myself into his arms.
He chuckles into my neck.“It’s good to see you, too.”
“I’m sorry for leaving like I did.I’m sorry for not communicating.I’m the biggest asshole, and I won’t do that again.”
“It’s okay, Leah.I get it.We never could’ve anticipated Nicola’s lies.”Pulling back, he gives me a small smile.“I was hurt, though.So I’m glad to hear you won’t run away again.”
“I won’t.We’ll talk first next time.”
“Good.Let’s get your things inside.I have a gift for you.”
The gift, it turns out, is a new phone with a new number.
He gestures to my old phone.“You can transfer your contacts and apps over.I have a PA who will do that for you.The PA will monitor your old phone and forward anything important.New contacts for your tutoring work, for example.We’ll leave the old number up on your website.”
His thoughtfulness shouldn’t surprise me.He’s always thoughtful, considerate.I’m not used to that in my relationships.Maybe I should start getting used to it.Maybe I should demand it, in the future.
I tap around on my new phone.There are already two messages waiting.I hold the phone up so Gage can see.“Who’s Olivia?”
“Olivia Santiago.I hope you don’t mind, but I gave her your new number.Remember when you talked to me about offering test prep to disadvantaged students?”
