Shit, I’m in big trouble. I shouldn’t have done that. This isn’t good. I kiss Paige and look at her, wondering what the fuck I’m going to do now. She’s smiling at me like she’s in love, looking so goddamn beautiful it hurts. But I’m not ready for this. Anybody in my family would tell her that. And if they meet her, they’ll warn her.

Which of course reminds me of Ben.

That fucking asshole tried to swoop in on my date. He spotted how special she is. He’s no dummy. But I could kill him right now. Just the idea that he tried has jealous possessiveness charging through my veins.

“Why do you look angry all of a sudden?” Paige asks, pulling up her panties and glancing to her broken dress. “Oh um…”

I scoop my blazer off the floor and hand it to her. “Wear this.”

“I need a tissue or something.”

Digging through the liquor cabinet I discover a supply of cocktail napkins. “Will these do?”

“Yes, thank you.” Shyly she smiles, folding them and tucking them in. “We should have used a condom.”

“Ya think?” I mutter before meeting her eyes and seeing the smile disappear from her face. “Sorry, it’s just…we should have.”

“Yeah, I know,” she chuckles, trying to act like she’s fine.

But this girl isn’t the type you fuck and don’t worry about afterward like you do those groupies who go from one singer-songwriter to the next, who even fuck whole bands. Those girls get off on the numbers. They’re almost like guys – no real feeling behind it. All they want to do is collect and compare star-level names.

What Paige and I just did wasn’t like that at all. It had a shitload of feeling to it. I gave her a part of me, I felt it. Now I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel like an open wound.

“I uh…guess I should take you home.”

Paige pauses and says, “Guess so.”

She’s staring at me and I can’t look at her. Forcing myself, I offer a smile that doesn’t last. She turns to the window and sighs, tugging my blazer tighter around her.

“I can’t let my brother see me like this.”

Frowning I ask, “Why would he?”

“We live together.”

Blinking as I picture her greeting him like this, I groan, “No fuckin’ way is that going to happen. Let me think a second.” We ride along in silence until I mutter, “I’ve got it. Hang on. I’m going to call my publicist.” Digging out my phone I call Maggie who answers immediately, the sound of the television in the background.

“How’d it go?” she asks, not sounding optimistic.

“I need you. We’re coming to your place.”

“We?”

“Paige is with me. I need your help.”

Alarmed she says, “Come over. Carrie and I are awake.”

Hanging up I push the button for the divider. As soon as he can hear me I tell him, “Larry, in three blocks, take a right at Defoor. I’ll tell you where to go from there. I don’t remember the number, but I can get there by sight.” He nods and I reach over to Paige who is pretty confused. “Trust me?”

She nods and takes my hand.

* * *

Running up to the Side-Gabled Cottage Maggie owns, I ring the bell and don’t have to wait long. Carrie stands behind Mags as she answers the door, both in pajama shorts and small tank tops. “Lookin’ good, ladies,” I smile.

“Cut the crap. What’s up?”

“I need to borrow you and an outfit. You’re welcome to join us, Carrie. Be better if you did.”

Maggie crosses her arms and glances to the parallel-parked limo. “Why do you need my clothes for fuck’s sake?”

“She asked me to tear her dress so I did.”

The women exchange glances.

Maggie mutters, “That’s hot.” Then asks her girlfriend, “Why don’t you do that?”

“I’ll go to the gym and bulk up so I have that kind of strength.” Carrie rolls her eyes. “Give me a break!”

Maggie sighs, “You and your overly gratuitous sex life, Gabriel. Why should I do this?”

“Paige lives with her brother. She doesn’t want to broadcast how this date went.”

“Deal with your personal shit on your own. The girls you use up and throw away are not in my job description because if they were I would have to quit from disgust and exhaustion long ago!”

Lowering my voice I hold her eyes. “Mags, I like this one. I don’t want her embarrassed or ashamed because of what we did. Please help me.”

She sharpens with surprise, blinks to her girlfriend and tries to form words.

Carrie takes over. “We’ll get changed and be right out with clothes for her. Is she skinny?”

“She teaches yoga.”

“That’s a yes. Well, shit. Okay, I’ve got a sundress that fits anyone. It’ll have to do.”

“Thank you, Carrie. I’ll wait in the car to make sure she doesn’t feel alone.”

This astounds Maggie even more, and her jaw drops open but still she can’t form words. Her tongue is normally razor sharp. This is a first.

Their door stays open as they head inside with Carrie whispering a mocking, “See, miracles do happen.”

I stroll back to the limo and climb in, taking Paige’s hand as soon as I get settled. Relieved she twines her fingers around mine and we squeeze at the same time. She gives me a small smile and my heart reacts immediately.

This is fucking strange. Never had this happen to me.

I glance over and try to figure her out. She meets my eyes. “Thank you.”

“I pay her so she has to help. It’s not a big deal.”

Paige sucks on her lips and stares out the window.

We watch Carrie stand by while Maggie locks up.

“Are they together?”

“Yep.”

The girls climb in and take the bench seat opposite ours. “Hi Paige, we talked on the phone. I’m Maggie. This is my girlfriend, Carrie.”

“Nice to meet you,” Paige says.

Carrie’s eyes are dancing and she runs a hand through her pink hair, biting her bottom lip as Maggie hands over the new dress. Paige looks around like she’s unsure if she should change right here.

She whispers like she feels whorish, “This is very awkward for me,” and releases my hand.

To give her the facade of privacy, the three of us avert our eyes.

“What’s the plan?” Carrie asks.

Mags is so smart she’s already figured my strategy out for the most part. As I stare out the window with my elbow on the armrest she explains, “We had a party at my place. You guys came over after you had dinner. My dog tore your dress.”

I interrupt, “I was going to say that I spilled red wine on her and ruined it.”

“How do you explain the rip?”

“Why would she keep it?”

Paige sighs, “You can look now. The red wine is perfect. I’ll use that. Bobby won’t like the other one.”

I grumble, “It makes it look like I didn’t protect her from the dog!”

Maggie throws her hands up, “Fine!”

“Because if a dog attacked her, I would do something about it.”

“Gabriel, there is no dog! Calm down.”

Mumbling a few cuss words I lean back on the armrest and stare out as the buildings blur up 14th Street. Mags lives on the outskirts of West Midtown near the apartment Hannah used to share with our cousin Emma. We’ve got fifteen minutes before we get to Inman Park.

Carrie asks, “Did you guys have fun?” trying to make conversation.

Paige and I share a look.

She smiles, “It’s…been interesting.”