Gage (Pittsburgh Titans 3)

Well, damn. That’s actually hard because Jenna and I have shared so much. All our conversations are long and deep.

My brain whirls as I try to think of something… anything.

Then it comes to me. I smile at Jenna before giving my attention to her sister. “When I was thirteen, I got arrested for shoplifting at a gas station.”

Emory laughs, and Jenna’s jaw drops. “No way,” she exclaims. “What did you take?”

“A pack of gum and a candy bar.”

“A real hooligan.” Emory quips, leveling a smirk at her sister. “Not so perfect now, is he?”

Jenna’s eyes are round as saucers. “You were arrested?”

“Well, I wasn’t actually arrested. But I was caught and the owner called the cops. The responding deputy knew my parents well, talked the shop owner into letting me off with a warning, and then drove me down to the station. My dad had to come pick me up, and I was so scared, I thought he was going to kill me.”

“Clearly, you survived,” Emory says, enjoying the story.

Chuckling, I nod. “I was grounded for a month and had to go every weekend to the gas station and clean up around the area, including the bathrooms. I’d have rather gone to jail.”

“Just wow,” Jenna says, shaking her head. “I did think you were perfect until now.”

“Come on,” I tease, giving a tiny push with my foot against hers under the table. “You appreciate the bad boy in me, don’t you?”

Jenna snorts, and Emory cackles.

“Did I miss something funny?” We all turn to see Jett approaching. Felicity flies out of the booth, flinging herself at him. He catches her, lifts her high in the air, and then gives her a hug before settling her on his hip.

“You were great, Jett,” she babbles. “Best player on the ice. I told Gage that.”

Jett kisses her cheek, and I can see their bond is strong. He moves over to me, balancing Felicity on his hip and extending a hand to me. “Good to meet you. Tough game.”

“I’ll agree with the little girl,” I say as we grasp hands. “You played great. Congrats.”

Jett lowers Felicity to the ground and says, “Scoot in close to Aunt Jenna, and I’ll sit with you.”

“I actually have to pee,” Felicity announces, and Jenna starts to slide out.

“No,” Emory says, holding up her hand and nudging me out of the way. “I’ll take her.”

I slide from the bench so Emory can take her daughter to the bathroom, and Jenna moves out so she can hug Jett. I note he holds the hug for a few seconds as he murmurs, “Man, have we missed you.”

“Missed you too,” she says as they pull apart and smile at each other.

“Here,” Jett says, indicating the seat Jenna just vacated. “You two sit together.”

I like that indeed, and I follow Jenna back into the booth, sliding in close so our legs press against each other. As Jett settles in, I pick up her hand and squeeze it, pulling it over to rest on my thigh. She squeezes me back.

Jett looks toward the bathrooms where Emory and Felicity disappeared and then quickly back to Jenna. “Not a lot of time, but I need to run something by you.”

“Shoot,” Jenna says, leaning forward.

“I bought a ring to propose to Emory,” he says. “And—”

“And you wanted my blessing,” Jenna says with a dreamy sigh.

Jett frowns. “No. I already know I have your blessing.”

“You can’t know that,” she insists.

“Do too,” he retorts, and it sounds like me and my siblings when we squabble.

“Whatever,” she mutters.

“Anyway… I’m going to ask your dad’s blessing officially, although we both know he’ll give it because he adores me—”

“Whatever,” she mutters again, and I snicker.

Jett ignores her. “But what I really want to know is how do I incorporate Felicity into the proposal? I obviously want to talk to her first, but this is going to be a big fucking deal because I’ll become her stepdad and…”

He frowns again and tips his head, a look of panic on his face as he regards Jenna. “Oh no you don’t. Don’t you start crying.”

My head whips to the left to see her eyes brimming. My arm goes around her as she dashes at the tears. “Why do you have to be so sweet?” she asks Jett.

He glances with worry toward the bathroom. “Dry those tears, damn you, and give me advice?”

Jenna laughs as she takes a cocktail napkin and dabs at her eyes. “Okay… just take Felicity aside and tell her your intentions.”

“But what if she doesn’t want me to be her dad?” Jett whispers, glancing again at the bathrooms.

“You’re already a dad to her,” Jenna points out. “And trust me… she’ll be thrilled. Especially if you bring her in and make her part of the surprise.”

“That’s what I want to do,” he says quickly. “I was thinking of us all taking a trip—you, too, of course—maybe Colorado or something. Emory loves it there. We’ll have a special dinner and—”