- GAGE -
Pip’s arms wrapped around my middle and held tight as if to hold me up … or stop me from putting a fist in Jason’s face. “As in Lucy’s—”
“Ex-husband,” Odie said.
“Ex-husband? Since when?” I asked.
“Two years ago.”
“And you never told me?” I snapped.
“Would you have wanted to know?”
No, I wouldn’t have. I didn’t want to know now.
“Thought so,” Odie said when I didn’t respond.
“Why’s he here?” I asked.
“Why don’t you go ask him?”
“Who’s Lucy?” Blair asked.
“Wait, is she the ex?” Garrett said. “Like the ex? The one’s whose parents had you arrested?”
“Yup.”
“Why the fuck is her husband here?” Garrett’s voice was a little too loud, and Jason flinched.
If I didn’t already know how loyal Garrett was, all doubt about him would’ve disappeared at the sight of him marching over to Jason. The fact Garrett didn’t know the whole story and was defending me made me feel like a dick for pushing him away all these years. I only told him what I wanted to tell him, and there was so much he didn’t know.
“Should I go help him?” Blair asked.
“No, looks like Garrett is doing fine on his own,” I said.
“I meant the other dude,” Blair muttered.
“I’ll handle this.” I made my way towards them, my feet feeling like lead the whole way, and caught the end of Garrett telling Jason I’d call him if I wanted to talk and my dad’s funeral wasn’t the place to ambush me. “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Gage,” Jason said, “I’m sorry for your l—”
“Now’s not the time to pretend to be my friend,” I said.
“I know. I messed up, but I’ve been living with the consequences of that for eight years.”
“Don’t care. You need to leave.”
Jason stepped forward. “Don’t you get it? The only reason Lucy and I got married was because we owed it to Gemma to try.”
“Are you really doing this here?” I asked. “Did Lucy tell you Gemma was going to be the name of our daughter?” We’d had plans for the future, right down to the names of the pigeon-paired kids we were going to have. God, I was a sucker.
Garrett froze beside me.
“Yeah, and what does that tell you about our relationship?” Jason asked. “She never got over you. She didn’t give me a proper chance.”
Garrett stepped in front of me in a protective stance. “Boohoo, here’s the world’s smallest violin.” He rubbed his fingers together.
I tried not to laugh. “Leave, Jason. We’ve got nothing left to say. And turning up at my father’s funeral? I’ve been home for six months.”
“Yeah, and Joel kept telling me to stay away. I’d hoped to run into you in town, but you never showed.”
“Gee, can’t think of a reason why I wouldn’t want to show my face around here.”
“Gage.” Jason sighed. “I’m sorry, okay? For everything.”
“About eight years too late for that.”
“I’m here to say you should go see her. If there’s a chance for you two—”
I scoffed. “Unlike you, I’m not into sloppy seconds. Also, if you think I’d want anything to do with Lucy, her parents, your daughter, or the rest of this town, you must be more deluded than I thought. You’re the one who went for a taken girl, she’s the one who cheated on me, and now you both have to live with that. My conscience is clean.” And for the first time in years, I finally believed it. I spent so long asking myself what I’d done wrong to make her turn her back on me and the future we so desperately wanted. I blamed everyone from myself to the town to even my dads for a while. Yet, I kept trying to make excuses for the two people who truly deserved it.
Jason ran a hand through his hair. “I haven’t been able to get rid of your ghost—”
“Okay, fucker,” Garrett said, “you did not say that at a funeral. Time for you to go.” Garrett grabbed Jason by the arm, and Jason didn’t even try to fight it as Garrett escorted him away.
Small hands wrapped around me from behind. “You okay?” Pip’s gentle voice had me closing my eyes and bathing in her reassurance. She made everything better without even trying.
I grasped her hands. “I will be.”
Garrett reappeared, sans Jason. “Come on, man. Let’s go get you a beer.”
“Or ten,” I mumbled.
***
We’d organised—well, Pip organised—Dad’s wake to be held in the next county so I’d be more comfortable being out in public. It was only us. Odie, Tony, Blair, Garrett, Pip, and me. The fact she knew this was what I would’ve wanted cemented everything I’d ever thought about her.
She belonged with me.
For whatever reason, whenever I touched Pip today or held her by my side, she didn’t put the distance between us like she had since the night we were together. I hoped it was because she was moving closer to wanting to be with me, and not because my dad died.
Since Dad’s death, I’d wanted nothing more than to make Pip see how much I wanted her. Loved her. Needed her. But our relationship was backwards. We’d been one thing for so long, had one night, and then we were torn apart by something bigger than either of us. I wasn’t strong enough to let her in, but now I realised I couldn’t let her go. Perspective was everything, and my new outlook on life meant I would vow to never shut Pip out again. Or Garrett who sat on the other side of me. Pip was my forever, and I’d spend forever proving it.
It appeared Garrett and Blair had the same epiphany. Not about Pip, but about no longer holding back.
Garrett’s hand found Blair’s on top of the table. “We have an announcement. This probably isn’t the right time to do this, but given the circumstances …” Garrett cleared his throat. “In two days, we’re detouring to Vegas on the way to L.A.”
“And betting your entire life savings on red?” I asked.
“No, smartass. We’re going to get married.”
Pip squealed beside me and let go of my hand, practically climbing over me to get to Blair and Garrett. I was happy for them—no doubt—but the pang of longing that I’d had for the good part of a decade towards Pip intensified.
There were hugs all ’round, and when I got to Garrett, he pulled me away from the table and held me tighter and longer than the others. “I know it wasn’t a great time to bring it up—and your dad’s funeral definitely wasn’t a great time to propose to Blair—but if today has shown us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t wait.”
I shook my head. “You don’t need to explain. You shouldn’t put off your happiness. Blair and you have been through enough.”
Garrett’s whole body relaxed. “Man, I thought you were going to either rip my head off or punch me. The girl you’re in love with is pregnant with my kid, and your ex-best-friend had a kid with your ex-girlfriend. If we’d known—”
“Well, when you put it that way,” I said dryly.
He held up his hands. “Free shot. All yours.”
Instead, I threw my arm around his neck and got him in a playful headlock. “It’s not the same situation. I know that.”
He shook me off. “No, but I bet it dredged up a whole heap of shit you’ve never dealt with. Then being back here …” He gripped my shoulder in a reassuring gesture. “I’m here for you. For as long as you need me. Maybe when Blair goes to L.A., I can come back here, and—”
“We’re coming home. After Vegas, Pip and I will head back to Australia.”
Garrett smiled. “You’re coming to the wedding?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. Dad’s final message about shutting Pip out was also about you. I haven’t told you much about my life here. I’m going to do better.”
Garrett wipes a fake tear away from his eyes. “My little boy is all grown up.”
“Don’t make me take you up on that offer to punch you.”
“Be my best man?”
I cracked a smile. “Of course. But … Hunter won’t be mad? He’s your brother.”
Garrett waved me off. “I don’t expect him to make the trek to Vegas with the twins and Sara. Same with the other guys. This is about Blair and me. Maybe we’ll find a way for you and Pip to stream the ceremony live.”
“I’m happy for you guys.”
We hugged again and were broken up by Blair clearing his throat. “Should I be worried about you two?”
A laugh escaped this time. One thing was for sure, my friends were great at distraction. “Please, if I was going to swing that way, I’d have way more taste than to choose Garrett. No offence to either of you.”
“Saying no offence to an offensive comment doesn’t make it less offensive,” Blair said.
“That’s okay, because I didn’t mean it. You should both be offended.”
***
Our place was small so Tony, Garrett, and Blair stayed in the local motel, which left Pip to help me get my almost-passed-out father into bed, and I had the genius plan on following through with my new vow as soon as we entered my bedroom.
Seven years of friendship brought me to my knees, and the last six months apart made me realise exactly what I’d be losing if Pip ever left me. It was a world I didn’t want to contemplate living in.
Things were fucked up right now, and it probably wasn’t the best time for us to happen, but I couldn’t live another second without her knowing how much I loved her. Worshipped her. Refused to live without her.
Stepping behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist and buried my head into the side of her neck. “Thank you for everything you did today.”
“I’d do anything for you. You know that.”
“Be with me,” I whispered.
She turned in my arms and brought my forehead down to hers. “I am with you, Gage. It might not be how we both want, but right now it’s all we can give each other.”
“Not true. There’s so much more we can have.” My hand trailed down her back and cupped her ass.
“This is your grief talking.” She didn’t sound convinced.
“Nope. This is more than grief. You’re everything to me, and I want you to see it so desperately I don’t want to wait. We should be together. For real.”
“You need more time.”
“I’ve had six months. Dad getting sick was a … derailment. I want to get back on track.”
“You’re talking in train metaphors. There’s no coming back from that.”
“Pip …” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek. “I love you so much it hurts. The thing holding me back was my past, and you know everything now.”
She stepped away from me. “About that. I overheard what Jason said. Lucy still loves you.”
“Don’t care.”
“No, listen.” She pursed her lips. “Maybe you owe it to yourself and to her to go see her before we leave.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
“Closure? Reassurance? You haven’t moved on from Lucy—hell, you haven’t dated in over eight years. I’m not sure you’re ready for this step, because you haven’t let go of your past.”
“I’m free of my past,” I argued. “Odie pulled me aside at dinner. He’s decided he’s moving to Australia. Tony offered him a position at Parsons’. I never have to set foot in this town again. I never think about Lucy anymore. I hadn’t thought about her in years, because I’ve been too wrapped up in you. I kept telling myself not to trust you, that you were going to break my heart, and I had to stay away, but that doesn’t mean I’m still in love with Lucy. I knew I could fall in love with you the day I met you, but it took a lot longer for me to admit it. Be with me, Pip. Please.”