I groaned, shaking my head. This was tough. Really tough. “You’re right, Kelsey. I’ll talk to her tomorrow about it. Hopefully we can get him to understand, too.”
It wasn’t easy to convince Kristina, but in the end, I got her to really think about it. I asked her to put herself in his shoes. I made her look at it this way: “If Gage was sick, on the verge of dying, and you thought he had years to live when in reality he only had months, you would want to know that, right?”
She was quiet for a few minutes. She’d even gotten up from the sofa to pace in front of the balcony window with her hand on her chin. Her eyes were watering, her face paler. She was thinking and I knew she was thinking hard, but she knew I was right. As she turned to look at me, the waterworks broke out and I hopped up, grabbing her. I held on to her as she held on to me, sniffling over my shoulder, weeping. This girl was hurting. She was damaged, and the last thing she wanted to do was damage Gage even more. I knew that’s what she was thinking. She didn’t want to add any more weight on his shoulders. She wanted him happy and carefree.
After I helped Kristina to the bathroom and cleaned her face with a cool washcloth, she smiled up at me from her perch on the edge of the tub, and I sat on the floor in front of her.
“Eliza, I’ve been thinking about something cool for Gage. His birthday is next weekend and as a kid, he always used to ask me to take him to one of these expensive lake houses in Virginia. There were commercials for it, families would be there and they’d have a blast on the TV ads and in the magazines. There’s this big-ass lake and they give you jet skis and floaters. There’s a tire swing and a dock… It has everything. Mom promised she’d take Gage when he was younger—before she died—and a few years after, he asked me if I could take him and I told him I would one day. I know he’s older now, but I think he’d still like to go. Just to get away. You get where I’m going with this, don’t you?” she asked, smiling.
“You want to take Gage to one of those lake houses for his birthday? Got it.”
“Right. But I’m thinking we should take the whole band. We should all just get away for a while and be a… family, you know? We all need some fun… together.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean. I think the boys deserve a little break from reality. Especially Gage. With that snake lurking around, we never know when she’ll actually attack. I’m surprised she hasn’t already.”
Kristina waved her hand in the air, rolling her eyes. “Screw her. She isn’t worth it and we won’t be thinking about her when we go to the lake. You can tell the boys what the plan is and I’ll rent the house. Gage forced me into keeping some money of his, but I just can’t use it on myself like he wants me to. I guess using it on him will make me feel better. We’ll leave next Friday.”
We both stood up and stepped out the bathroom. “Next Friday it is.”
I dropped by the studio to tell the boys the plan and they all agreed it was a good one. They all needed the break, so they cleared their schedules for the next weekend and had their hearts and minds set on fun. I think Gage was the most excited. He was really looking forward to it and I was as well, but what I wasn’t looking forward to was talking to him about Kristina and her last three months. She thought it would be best to tell him together so he could have some sort of support. Gage wasn’t stable. Not yet. He had a whole lot of baggage and I could see it all over his face. He was stressed, worried, bothered. He was trying to forget everything, but with a sick sister and a snake of an ex-girlfriend, it was obviously hard to do.
There was a magazine article floating around about the wedding being cancelled and how the paparazzi saw Penelope crying at a coffee shop. We all knew she did it for publicity. She didn’t care about the wedding or Gage. She was just upset that she lost and Gage was finally manning up. There was also a rumor about Penelope being pregnant and that was one of the last straws. Gage flipped shit when he heard it. He took Penelope to a hospital and made her prove it. Test results came back negative and the tabloids had a lot of fun making a joke out of the troll. I laughed a little, too.
Of course we were all wondering why Penelope hadn’t ratted out his sister yet, but we knew it was coming. We didn’t know what kind of plan she was hatching, what lies she was telling, or when this event was going to blow up, but we did know to watch our backs, to keep Kristina with us at all times, and to make sure no one knew who she was until Penelope spread the news. We were doing a hell of a job with it, too. Sometimes Kelsey and Roy would walk with Kristina through Central Park, and whenever Gage was free, we’d take her out to eat or to small ethnic festivals. Our favorite festival was the Arabian one—only because they knew how to give a really good henna tattoo.
Gage and I thought it was best for him to talk to Penelope one on one. She’d been blowing up his phone and he didn’t know what to say, so he would never answer. He thought ignoring her was the best way out, but I told him that would just make things worse.
We met her at a restaurant on Broadway where a few people were performing for all the customers. Unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy the show because Gage was too worried about losing his career.
“Ellie.” Gage swung his head to look at me. “I can’t do this shit. I know she’s gonna flip. I just know it.”
I grabbed his hand, looking him in the eyes. “You can. Don’t worry. I’m here.”
“Exactly. You’re here. Seeing you with me is definitely going to piss her off.”
Shrugging, I released his hand and grabbed my glass of water. Just as I placed it back down, Penelope stepped into the restaurant. Of course she tried to wear something revealing. A white dress cut in a deep V at her cleavage with an unbuttoned black blazer over it. She wore black heels, tons of jewelry, and her makeup… it was nice, but a bit too much for a simple lunch.
She took a look around and as soon as she spotted us, she scowled. Rushing through the tables, she approached us, giving a demonic, fake smile. “I see you brought company,” she said, stripping out of her blazer. And when I say “stripping,” I mean stripping. She was taking the blazer off in a seductive manner, catching the eyes of a few men sitting at the bar. Placing her jacket on the back of her chair, she sat in the seat across from Gage and he lowered his head to stare at his menu.
“He did,” I said, returning the devilish smirk.
“If I’m not mistaken, I think I was talking to Gage. Not Eliza.” She pressed her lips and picked up her menu.
“Let’s just get to the point,” Gage mumbled, looking up at Penelope. “Eliza, I’m actually going to need to you give us some privacy.”
What? I wanted to flip out so bad. I turned to look at him and he forced a smile. He brought his hand down to run his palm across my thigh, giving me a sincere look. “You can trust me. I swear.”
I looked at Penelope and she was grinning at me. Bitch. “I’ll be at the bar,” I whispered, kissing his cheek. I stood from my seat, refusing to look at the troll sitting across from Gage. I knew she was trying to get under my skin. I admit I wasn’t comfortable with them having any time alone, but this was Gage’s time to speak, and I knew he would make things right once and for all. Little did Penelope know her time was up. I was sure she thought she had another chance.
I made sure to sit in the seat closest to their table. I wanted to be able to hear what they were saying. After ordering an apple martini, I turned my head a little and listened in. I was nosey, but I didn’t care.
“Why did you bring her here?” Penelope hissed.
“Because she’s who I want to be with, Penelope. It should be obvious to you by now.”
“I don’t fucking care. You asked me to meet you here so it should’ve just been you. Not her. This isn’t any of her business—”
“Look, I’m just going to cut to the chase. We’re done, Penelope. Whatever was between us is over with.”
Penelope laughed and I shook my head. The bitch really laughed! “You’re joking, right, Gage? Are you really this stupid? You do know what damag
e I can do to you, right? I can make you look like shit and wish you were never famous.”
“I’ve realized you would go to shit that low, but I’m over it. I don’t care. Go ahead and tell. And if Mr. Binds is willing to fire the band, he can go right ahead, but it won’t be us missing out on the money. It’ll be him. The fans will follow the band… not some man they’ve never seen before.”
“Not if I make you look like shit, jackass!” she spat.
Gage laughed a little. “Penelope… I’m sorry. I’m sorry you feel as if you have to demolish me and my rep for not being with you, but I can’t have you in my life anymore. You claimed you loved me, that you would do anything for me, but right now you’re proving that you don’t love me, that you don’t care, and that you’re a selfish bitch. Go ahead and do what you want. I thought by coming here we could make amends, but you’re too immature and too much of a brat to back down. And I’m prepared for whatever you try to throw at me… with Eliza.”
My heart sped up a notch and I grinned over my martini.
I heard the chair scratch across the floor and his footsteps start up, but Penelope called his name and the footsteps stopped. “Gage, please,” she whispered.
I didn’t dare look. I knew she was touching him in some sort of way and I would’ve flipped shit and ruined it if I were to look… so I kept perfectly still.
“Gage… I’m sorry. Okay? But you know me. I get jealous. I get crazy… but it’s ‘cause I love you. I feel something for you I’ve never felt before. I knew you were the guy who was going to make me into a real woman, and you have. I want you in my life, is all. I can do so much for you and the band. We can look so good together to the public. Every couple will want to be like us. They’ll want what we have.”
Gage blew out a breath. “What do we have, Penelope?”
She hesitated for a moment. And then another.
“That’s what I thought,” he muttered. “Nothing. We have nothing.” Gage sighed and his footsteps started my way again. “Bye, Penelope.”
Penelope called after him, but in moments Gage had a hold of my arm and turned me to face him. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” I breathed out. I hopped off my stool and entwined my fingers with his. I took a glance over my shoulder at Penelope who had just snatched her blazer off the back of her chair and was now marching for us.
“Oh boy,” I muttered, rolling my eyes.
“You’re gonna regret this shit, Gage. I swear you are. I’ll be sure you don’t have shit by the time I’m done with you.”
“Yeah,” Gage scoffed, leaning his elbows on the counter. “Okay.”
“Ugh!” She stormed off, ripping at her purse and pulling out her cell phone. She was out the door before she could put the phone to her ear. And I knew at this exact moment that we’d just started a war. And I’d be damned if we came out as losers.
“You okay?” I asked as we made our way to the exit. Our fingers were still linked.
He smiled a little, revealing the boyish chink around his eyes. “Yeah… I’m good. To be honest… that felt good.”
“I bet,” I said, giggling. “Just don’t worry. Okay?”
“As long as I have you, there’ll be no need for me to worry. It’s always been that way with you around.” We were halfway to his BMW before he turned around and spun me into his arms. “I love you, Ellie. Thanks for coming… and thanks for not beating her ass.”
I broke out in a laugh. “Oh my gosh! Kristina told you?!”
“Yeah!” He chuckled, and I draped my arms around his neck. “Also, Roy told me about your mom and stepdad showing up at your place. He’s lucky I wasn’t there, but I heard you stayed strong. We’ve gotta talk more about that.” A smile graced his lips and I shrugged. “Even though you hated it, I guess all that cage fighting paid off, huh?” He kissed the tip of my nose and I returned the kiss.
“They’re in my past now. They’re the least of my worries. And I fought for you. I love you.”
“I love you too, Sweet Ellie.”
The weekend to go to the lake finally came, and before we all met up at Gage’s condo, I ran to the market to pick up something Gage deserved. I knew he hadn’t had one in years, so seeing the final product brought tears to my eyes. He was going to love it.
As I stepped into the condo with the brown paper bag in my hands, everyone turned my way. Roy and Kelsey were sitting on the sofa. Kelsey was on his lap and I could tell they’d been kissing by their swollen lips and flushed faces. Montana and Deed were sitting on the sofa in front of the sixty-two-inch flat screen TV, playing some zombie game, but a girl was sitting on Deed’s lap. She was flawless. Golden-brown hair, high, red cheekbones smothered with freckles, and a sweet smile. She was adorable, and I knew she wasn’t just a girl Deed came across and wanted to bone. She was someone he had respect for, which was rare.
“What is that?” Montana asked, pausing the game and hopping from the sofa. He hurried to my side as I met at the table and placed the bag down flat.
“It’s a cake,” I whispered. “For Gage.”
“Ohh.” Montana winked. “Gotcha.”
“Where is he anyway?” I asked. “And Kristina?”
“They ran to the pharmacy, but they should be back soon.” Montana ran a hand over his face and sat on one of the stools at the table. He dropped his gaze to the brown paper bag and folded his fingers on top of the table.
I sat with him, titling my head. Something was obviously bothering him. I could see it all over his face. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?” he asked, perking up a bit.
“You look sort of… down.”
He pressed his lips and leaned against the back of his seat. He then took a glance over his shoulder. Deed was now playing the video game with the girl, and Roy and Kelsey were being all lovey-dovey again. “Okay. Don’t laugh at me, Eliza, but seeing them with chicks really pisses me off.”
I laughed a little anyway. “Why? You aren’t happy for them?”
“Yeah, I am! I’m more than happy for them. Those are my brothers. I’ve been waiting for shit like this to happen for a long time. Especially for Roy’s ol’ grumpy ass,” he muttered. “I’m just… well, I met this girl. Hot as fuck. Nice ass. Perfect tits. Lips that could suck me for days… She has it all, Eliza. And I want her… bad. Like, real bad. Can’t seem to think of shit outside of her lately. No girl has made me think about her the way I think about this chick. I literally can’t. Stop. Thinking. About. Her.”
“Well, why don’t you just ask her out?”
He rolled his eyes, giving me a sarcastic look. “You don’t think I have? You know me. But the thing is I usually don’t have to ask. They just come… but not her. I asked and she blew me off like I was nothing. Said she didn’t have time for games or a ‘boy,’ as she put it,” he said, making air quotations with his fingers. I snickered and he shook his head. “See, you’re laughing. I sound stupid talking about a girl like this.”
“Not stupid. You just really like her. It happens.”
He shrugged. “I know, but what the hell am I doing wrong?”
“How did you ask her out?”
“Uh… okay. Let me demonstrate.” He ran the palms of his hands along his jeans and then stood from his chair. “All right. She was backstage when I saw her. I walked up to her and said, ‘I saw you eyeing me earlier. You’re hotter than hell. How about you come out with me so we can get shit blazin’?’”
I burst out laughing and everyone turned in our direction. I cupped my hand over my mouth as Montana slumped down in his chair with a frown. He was fighting a smile and soon gave up and laughed with me. “Seriously, Montana?” I said, giggling. “That’s what you said?”
“Well, yeah. That shit usually works.”
I laughed again. “Wow. That—that has to be the corniest line I’ve ever heard. I see why she told you no.”
“And that was the first time I asked,” he muttered. “I saw her again and asked her out th
e nice way—you know, when you just flirt, smile and ask—and she said no. The third time, she just laughed at me and walked off. Made my balls shrink a little bit. Not even gonna lie.”
“I bet,” I said, giggling. “Okay, look,” I sighed out, sitting up. “If you really like a girl, just be yourself, Montana. Don’t try and act like someone you’re not. See the way you are with me, how you’re so calm and relaxed? This is the real you. Don’t showboat. Don’t grab your package… Don’t do any of that. Just. Be. You. It’s probably what she wants to see.”
“Being me doesn’t work. It’s lame as shit. I’m lame as shit.”
“You aren’t lame. I love hanging with you. You have this personality that everyone loves. You make us laugh, smile… forget. You’re a positive person with a good heart and that’s probably who she wants to see… not the show Montana, but the real Montana. It’s sad that I have to say this, but Gage was the same way. All that showing off with other girls was a turn-off. His arrogance, a turn-off. His cockiness… turn-off. I didn’t like any of it because I knew it was fake. It wasn’t him. I could see right through him, just like I can see through you. I don’t understand why you two love to flaunt your dicks so much. It’s so unattractive. Save it for the bedroom.”
“Hey…” He shrugged. “The bitches like it. That’s all that matters.”
“Well, if you want her, and just her, there can be no more showing off with or for the ‘bitches,’ okay?”
He drew in a deep breath, planting his elbows on the table. His sky-blue eyes looked deep into mine and then he nodded. “All right. Fine. When I get back, I’ll be… me. However that shit goes.” He pushed from the table and stepped into the kitchen. “I need a beer,” he mumbled under his breath.
I shook my head with a small smile, and as Montana stepped into the kitchen, Gage and Kristina came in the front door. Gage’s whole face lit up as he saw me. He hurried to the table, dropped his keys, and picked me up by the waist. He kissed my cheek, my forehead, and I giggled before returning the kisses and pulling away.
Who We Are (FireNine #2) Page 20