Just Exes

by Charity Ferrell

  I go check on my dad after I’m discharged. He’s okay. No stitches or broken bones. On the way home, he will be receiving an earful from me about not doing stupid shit.

  Five

  Lauren

  I need a drink.

  Multiple drinks. Stat.

  Sleep wasn’t my friend last night—for an array of reasons. The first being that I was sleeping in my childhood bedroom, the second because of all the thoughts of what I’d done with Gage in said bedroom after he snuck through my window in high school, and the third was worrying about when I’d see him next.

  In conclusion, the culprit of my insomnia was Gage Perry.

  The hostess weaves through white-clothed tables while leading me, gift bag in tow, to Jay and Alec. Clayton’s is an upscale restaurant complete with candlelit dinners, to-die-for shrimp cocktails, and expensive wine lists. The men set their drinks down when they spot me and wrap me into tight hugs before giving me cheek kisses.

  Jay pulls my chair out, and I take the seat next to Alec, who’s sporting a suit complete with a Birthday Boy pin clipped to it, his highlighted hair pulled back into a man bun. Either this wasn’t a surprise dinner or Jay spilled the beans. I’m guessing the latter. It isn’t easy to keep secrets from his husband.

  Jay straightens out his suit before settling back in his chair and throws me a brooding look, motioning my way with his glass of red wine. “You’re lucky the hospital was a madhouse yesterday. Otherwise, you would’ve received quite the interrogation.”

  “What are you talking about?” I ask, looking around for our waiter.

  “Is there a reason you told the man you stitched up yesterday that you were my mistress?”

  Oh shit.

  Of course Gage questioned Jay about my hinting at having an affair with him.

  “What?” Alec cuts in, glancing over at Jay with humor. “You switching teams again? I thought your experimenting days were over?”

  I sigh. “He was hitting on me. It was the first thought that came to mind. Sorry.”

  Alec squeezes my shoulder. “Oh, honey, you can use my husband as an excuse anytime that happens.”

  “Nuh-uh. Don’t you oh, honey her,” Jay says, causing Alec’s attention to flicker between his husband and me. “She’s lying.” His coffee-colored eyes level on me. “It’s him, isn’t it? He’s back.”

  I gulp, nodding. “Unfortunately.”

  “Is it unfortunate?” he counters. “You don’t think it could be fate? I watched him with you. I saw the lust, the love. He barely took his eyes off you, and I’m positive he wanted to murder me after you told him we were sleeping together. Why don’t you explain why you did what you did, and you two could reconnect? If nothing else, be friends.”

  “He hates my guts,” I answer. “There’s nothing I can say or do that will restore what we had.”

  “Whoa, whoa,” Alec draws out, holding his hands up. “I’mma need someone to catch me up. I’m out of the loop here, and you know it’s always critical I am in the center of the loop.”

  I met Alec during our residency at the hospital after graduating from nursing school. We instantly clicked. Jay was our attending doctor. He and Alec hooked up one night after a holiday party and have been inseparable since. When the news broke that they were dating, Alec was moved to geriatrics, and Jay received two weeks of my silent treatment for taking my hospital bestie from me.

  Spending time with them made me trust in love again. They ignore the snide comments and dirty looks and relentlessly love each other. Jay is the sensible one. Alec is the overdramatic. They balance each other out in a world where it’s necessary.

  “Gage,” I breathe out. “He’s back in town.”

  “Gage?” Alec shrieks, causing a few patrons to look at us. “The Gage?”

  “The one and only.”

  “Hot damn, sweetie. Things are about to turn complicated for you.” He squirms in his chair, and this gossip will mean more to him than the expensive birthday present I bought. “Now, you’d better tell me every detail.”

  He doesn’t get any details until the waitress comes and takes my lemon drop martini order.

  “Isn’t this quite the surprise?”

  The sharp, familiar, and masculine voice startles me.

  Chills shoot up my back as I jerk around to confront Gage. He’s only a few feet away from me in the dimly lit and narrow hallway that leads to the restrooms, yet it seems like he’s looming over me.

  I don’t respond right away. Instead, I give him the silent treatment while roaming my eyes down his six-foot-three frame of gorgeousness. Just because I hate the man doesn’t mean he doesn’t make my panties wet. Gage is and always will be the most attractive man I’ve ever seen.

  I grew up with him sporting basketball jerseys and athletic shorts. This dressed-up version might compete with the sight of him in his police uniform. I’ve been pleasuring myself at night with the memory of how desirable he looked in it. Gage sporting black jeans and a sleek, tight gray button-up will sponsor tonight’s self-given orgasm.

  “Keep eye-fucking me, babe. It’s satisfying, knowing I’m something you can no longer have.”

  His comment smacks me out of my eye-fucking trance, and I’m positive that this isn’t a surprise to him. Gage is back, and it seems he’s taken a new hobby of making my life miserable.

  “What are you doing here?” I snap.

  He smirks while strolling closer into my space. “Enjoying dinner. Word is, this place is the best for wining and dining. According to Yelp, the chance of getting laid after you leave makes it five-star worthy. What are you doing here?”

  My hands go to my hips in frustration. “Are you following me?”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, babe. I’m on a date.”

  This must mean war. He brought a date here, knowing I’d see them.

  I stay quiet while taking in calming breaths. His goal was to bring out the jealousy in me. That won’t be happening. I’ll easily drown out that jealousy with more martinis.

  “Funny, you never mentioned coming here when Jay and I talked about it yesterday.”

  “Jay? You mean, the man you’re ‘fucking’?” He uses his fingers to form air quotes around the last word. “I noticed him when I walked in. Your man seemed preoccupied with someone else. Unless you’re into some harem shit with mid-husbands, I say you’re lying. Is that a new trait of yours now, too? You a filthy liar?”

  “Uh-uh. I’m not doing this with you tonight.” I’ve only had one drink. A conversation like this calls for more. “Enjoy your date.”

  I go to walk around him but am stopped when he snags my elbow and pushes my back against the wall, out of the light.

  His cool, minty breath hits my lips when he presses into me. “What? You don’t like getting called out on your lies? Why’d you want me to think you were sleeping with another man?” His fingers run down my sides, and he stops at the base of my hips, grinning.

  I look down, shivering, and let out a light moan.

  He squeezes my hips and rocks into me. “Now, answer my question honestly. You fucking anyone? Giving someone else your sweet pussy now since you no longer want my dick?”

  I close my eyes, fighting myself not to move into his touch, not to thrust against his body to feel if he’s as turned on as I am. The rise and fall of his chest hits mine. His hand inches up, moving along the bottom curve of my breast, and I’m using all my power not to rock against him.

  “That’s …” I pause to catch my breath, my voice cracking. “That’s none of your business.”

  He torturously teases me, his finger feathering over my nipple, causing it to stand at full attention. “It’s a simple question, Dyson. Are you fucking someone, or did you say it to make me jealous?”

  Dyson.

  His old nickname for me.

  An inside joke he started my sophomore year as a result of me giving him a massive neck hickey. He blamed it on the vacuum when his mom questioned him.

  Hear
ing him call me that stills my breath as a rush of memories hits me.

  I don’t push him away even though I should. Instead, I’m aching for his touch while silently begging for more of him as my lips lightly brush against his.

  “Would you be jealous?” I ask.

  He smirks. “No fucking way, baby.”

  An embarrassing moan of desperation runs through me when his hand moves, and he pulls away.

  His smirk curves into a menacing smile. “You have your fun. I’ll have mine.”

  I straighten out my dress and work to control my breathing. “Don’t you worry, baby. I have plenty of fun. Just ask Derrick.”

  The hell? Why am I lying again?

  This is not a common trait of mine, and I have no idea where it’s coming from.

  “Wow.” He takes another step back, bringing him more into the light, and is now looking at me in disgust, his hands in the air, as if he’s pushing me away from a distance.

  All I see next is his back as he walks away, shaking his head. It takes me a minute to compose myself, and when I walk back to our table, I scan the room for him. Nothing.

  Did he leave?

  I mindlessly pick at my dinner when it arrives and listen to Alec ramble about the Caribbean cruise they’re taking to celebrate their anniversary.

  It’s not until dessert is dropped off that I spot him. Unlike me, he wasn’t lying about having a date. Even though all I see is her bare back and long strawberry-blonde locks, I know it’s Phoebe Jedson. The familiarity is a consequence of living in a small town.

  I tighten my fingers across the stem of my glass and stare at him until his eyes meet mine.

  I hate you, I mouth.

  I’m glad, is his reply.

  I throw him the dirtiest look I can when he tilts his glass my way.

  The remainder of dessert is spent with our never-ending contact. His attention isn’t on Phoebe, and I only nod, feeling like a shitty friend while mindlessly hearing Alec’s stories from geriatrics. I stop the waitress when she passes and order another drink.

  Ten minutes later, I order another as my second dessert.

  Drunken Lauren will numb all thoughts of how delicious Gage looks tonight.

  Alec grabs my arm and hooks his through it, keeping me stable from falling in my heels and meeting the ground while we walk out of the restaurant to the valet. “We’re driving you home.”

  My words leave my mouth in a slur as I shake my head. “It’s waaay out of your way, aaand it’s your birthday. I’ll call a cab, oookaaay?”

  “Then, we’ll wait with you until it arrives,” Jay tells me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

  God, what would I do without them?

  “I can take her home.”

  I cringe, and my back goes straight at the sound of Gage’s voice.

  “It’s on my way.”

  Jay’s attention darts between Gage and me until he finally settles his attention on the jerk from my past. “Whoa, dude, I don’t want to know why you’re here.” His face fills with protectiveness, giving Gage a warning not to mess with me in his and Alec’s presence.

  Alec steps in. “While we appreciate the offer, I won’t allow my best friend to catch a ride with some stranger. I’ve watched way too many murder mysteries, buddy.”

  Gage chuckles. “Trust me, we’re not strangers.”

  I lose Jay’s hold when he slaps Alec’s back and gestures to Gage.

  “Oh … boy,” Alec draws out. “I thought I wanted to be in the loop, but this loop seems pretty darn serious at the moment.” He grabs my shoulders and brings me to him. “Is this the ex?”

  “Sure is,” I mutter before straightening myself up. “I’m taking a cab home.” I stumble while attempting to pull my phone from my clutch.

  Gage comes to my side at the same time Alec helps me. “Let me take her home. I promise I’ll take care of her.”

  I snort. “Last time we went for a ride, I was handcuffed, and you tried to leave me stranded.”

  “Did I though?” he fires back.

  I open my mouth to continue our spat but slam it shut at the sight of Phoebe coming to his side.

  “Sorry, my makeup was in need of a serious touch-up,” she comments, sliding a compact back into her bag before running her hand over his arm. She stops midway when her eyes land on me. “Lauren … it’s, uh … nice to see you.”

  No, it isn’t.

  Don’t get me wrong. I have no ill will toward Phoebe. We were never close in high school. Still aren’t. Gage is a single man, who most likely asked her out. Slut-shaming isn’t my game.

  Gage ignores Phoebe and keeps his attention on me. “It’ll take a cab at least fifteen minutes to make it here and cost you a hundo in fare. As you’re someone who’s now homeless, I doubt you want to throw your money away like that.”

  “I’m not homeless,” I argue.

  “Oh, really? You move back into your charred apartment?”

  All eyes are on me, and I suddenly feel like a giant, drunken pain in the ass.

  “Fine,” I say around a groan. “But I still hate you.”

  “And the feeling is still mutual.” A few seconds of silence pass until Gage points to the valet jumping out of an oversized, four-door black truck. “This is me.”

  Gage opens the passenger door, gesturing for me to slide in, and Jay goes to help me before I stop him.

  “Shouldn’t your date take the front?” I ask, more dramatic than necessary. “I’m sure you showed her a terrible time.”

  “Doubt she’ll be saying that by the end of the night,” Gage answers, winking.

  I snarl while opening the back door and practically face-dive into the seat. Alec and Jay tell me good-bye at the same time Phoebe takes the passenger seat. Gage jumps in and tosses a water bottle back to me. I struggle to twist the lid off and gulp it down when I do.

  We’re five minutes into the ride when Phoebe clears her throat. “Before this becomes weird, is there something going on between you two? I’m not interested in some weird love-triangle shit.”

  “There is absolutely nothing going on between us,” I blurt out, gaining control of my voice and finishing without any slurs. “You two have your fun. Hell, go ahead and jack him off up there if you want.”

  But, really, don’t.

  I’ll jump into moving traffic if they even hold hands up there.

  Gage snorts and turns on the radio instead of answering her or entertaining me. I collapse onto my back across the expansive rear seat and rest my head, knowing damn well, in the morning, I’ll regret both drinking so much and taking this ride.

  “I’m guessing you’re dropping me off?” Phoebe asks when we make it into town.

  “Probably the right thing to do,” he answers.

  “Thank you for dinner.” She turns in her seat to look back at me when Gage parks in her driveway. “Have a good night, Lauren.”

  Since my thoughts are delayed at the moment, she’s already out of the truck by the time I start to reply. Gage, like the stupid fucking gentleman he is, walks her to the door. And me, like the fucking stalker I am, rise up onto my knees to watch their exchange.

  They hug.

  Eh.

  He kisses her cheek.

  Gag me.

  I wait for him to kiss her lips next, but no action takes place.

  Thank God.

  He doesn’t walk away until she shuts the door behind her.

  Meanwhile, I’m snooping around the truck before he comes back. It’s clean. No evidence of anything interesting. New tan leather seats, a flat screen in the dash filled with countless music options, and a backseat equipped with enough room to keep my drunk butt comfortable. Although awkward, the ride is cozier than what a cab would’ve been.

  Gage slams the door shut and turns down the radio before reversing out of the drive. “By the way, thanks for running my date off.”

  Is he serious?

  I sit up in the back seat. “Are you kidding me? In case you f
orgot, you’re the one who ruined my night off work and interrupted my friend’s birthday. If you hadn’t decided to be Creeper McCreeperson and show up where you knew I’d be, you would’ve gotten laid, and I wouldn’t have had to experience a massive hangover tomorrow.” I fold my arms over my chest. “And maybe I would’ve gotten laid.”

  “By who? The doctor married to your friend … or was there another fake boyfriend I didn’t see? Perhaps he was imaginary, like the fictional others you’ve tried to make me jealous of.”

  “Screw you,” I hiss.

  “Been there. Done that. Won’t do it again. Now, which homeless shelter would you like me to drop you off at?”

  Even though he can’t see me, I throw him a glare. “Take me to my parents’, please and thank you, or do you plan on dropping me off in the middle of nowhere again for shits and giggles?”

  “I’m not dropping you off at your parents’ while you’re drunk off your ass.”

  I pull out my phone to text my mom and ask her to keep the door unlocked. “I have nowhere else to go, so sure looks like you are. You know them. They’ll file a missing persons report if I don’t come home. The people at the restaurant will say I went home with you, and your coworkers will be arresting you this time.” I smile. “If I were to turn up dead, I’d love nothing more than for you to go prison for it.”

  He swerves over to the side of the road, causing me to fall back against the seat, and I throw my arms up.

  “Oh Jesus Christ, here we go again.”

  The door flies open. He jumps out and opens the back door. My phone is plucked from my hand before I open the text app. As if it’s not a big deal, he hops back into the truck and pulls back onto the road like he doesn’t realize what invasion of privacy means.

  “Excuse me? Rude much?” I mutter, making a grab for it, but he stops me.

  “What was your birthday friend’s name again? Your supposed mid-husband?”

  “Fuck off,” I snarl.

  “Interesting name. I wish my parents were that creative.” He snaps his fingers. “Alec, right?”