“I’d like that.” I kind of want to hug her, but that would be inappropriate.
“Just remember… I’m always the boss,” she says sternly, but I also see the twinkle in her eye.
Still, it’s something I’ll never need reminded of. “I’ll be respectful of that line,” I assure her.
“I admire you, Jenna,” she says as we walk to the door. She opens it and stands back for me to walk through. “And I don’t admire a lot of people.”
“Thank you,” I say softly as I glance back. “My sister says that, Gage said it… now you. I might start to believe it.”
“You better,” she says fiercely. “Now, I expect to hear all the details about your second date with Gage.”
Laughing, I nod. “Deal.”
CHAPTER 11
Jenna
“Are you okay?” Sophie asks as she twirls the straw in her drink. She ordered a screwdriver, and I’ve already finished half my wine.
I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans. “I’m fine.”
“Are you nervous about seeing Gage?” she asks, and boy, she has no clue how spot-on she is.
Sophie knows Gage and I went on a date night before last, and of course, she sort of knows this is our second date, so to speak, since Gage invited Baden and Sophie to join us for drinks at Mario’s after the game. Sophie and I are waiting for the guys, but she said it could be a bit since they had postgame talks and showers to handle before heading over.
What Sophie doesn’t know is that we kissed, because when I told her about my first “date” with Gage, I downplayed it. Told her we went out and grabbed a bite, making it seem far more friendly than flirtatious.
However, she does know it was Gage’s idea for the four of us to hang out tonight, so maybe she’s assuming there might be more.
I guess it’s time to fill her in completely. “We kissed.”
She blinks. “Excuse me?”
“Gage and me. We kissed. Or rather, he kissed me at the end of our first date. More than once. And it was really, really good. And then he sent me flowers yesterday, and he texts me just out of the blue to see how I’m doing, and even sends me funny GIFs. But he called me last night, because he says he likes the sound of my voice. Who says that to a woman? I mean, who really means that? But he does. Gosh, Sophie… he’s so genuine and kind. The real deal, and yes… to answer your damn question, I’m nervous.”
When I finally shut up, Sophie’s mouth is hanging open. Only one word comes out. “Wow.”
I groan and pick up my wineglass to take a fortifying sip. “I’m going to get drunk tonight.”
Sophie places a hand on my forearm and pushes it down. “Lie low on the sauce, or you might end up sleeping with Gage tonight.”
I look at her in horror. “No way. Uh-uh.”
She frowns at me. “You don’t want to have sex with him? I mean… because you have seen him, right?”
“Yes, I want to have sex with him.” Then I close my eyes, shake my head. “I mean, no… I don’t… not while drunk. Or anytime soon. Maybe soon. I don’t know, Sophie. I’m not used to this type of attention. I’ve never had someone like Gage interested in me, and well, let’s just say my prior experiences weren’t great. I really like him, but I’m still having a hard time believing he’s real. Know what I mean?”
A dreamy look comes over her face. “I know exactly what you mean. It’s how I felt about Baden for the longest time. I thought we’d never be anything beyond friends, and I wanted more, but I was afraid to believe it could happen.”
“How did you get past that?” I ask, curious that she might have a legit answer.
“Time,” she says simply. “Communication. You need to be honest with your fears. Baden had insecurities because of his injuries. I had insecurities because of my PTSD. We were open about it. If you’re nervous, you tell Gage. Simple as that.”
I snort, laughing at the image. “I can see me telling him I’m nervous about being intimate and then him telling me that was never on his agenda.”
“Oh, it’s on his agenda,” Sophie says with a resounding nod. “A man doesn’t send flowers or call to hear your voice if he’s not interested in that way.”
I can’t help but smile, the same smile that’s been plastered on my face since Gage kissed me. “He’s really a great guy. Like, so great, it doesn’t seem real. When he sees me getting insecure with my scars, he tells me not to doubt him. He’s so sincere, I have to believe him.”
“You should,” Sophie says solemnly. “Baden says they don’t get better than Gage. He’s the real deal… not just as a man, or a friend… but as a human being.”