"Shut up," Summer breathes.
"No way," Gemma adds.
Kayla just grins."Way.I ran into him at Club Red the last time I was there."
"Oh!I wonder if it's someone we know," Gemma says.
"His name is Hunter Crespin," she says, making our jaws drop.
"Yep, Carter and he are good friends," Gemma says.
"Gage is good friends with him too," I say.
"Swear you won't say anything," Kayla says.
"We swear.Girl Code and all," Summer says, and we all agree.
The rest of lunch, Kayla fits in like she has been in our group for ages.
And suddenly, I don't feel quite so alone anymore.
Chapter 36
Gage
We'retenminutesfromher father's house, and I swear I can feel the tension radiating off Skye like heat.Her arms are crossed tightly over her chest, and she hasn't said more than a few words since we got in the car.
"You don't have to do this," I say, keeping my eyes on the road.
She lets out a slow breath."Yes, I do.He's trying, and as shitty as his timing is, he's still trying.This is what my mom wanted."
I nod, not entirely convinced."Trying doesn't give him the right to make you feel like shit."
Her lips twitch, a faint smile."That's why I'm bringing you.You're the buffer, my distraction."
I glance over."So, I'm just arm candy?"
That gets me a genuine smile."Very expensive-looking arm candy."
"I aim to impress."
She snorts but falls quiet again as we pull up to the house, and I kill the engine.She sits still for a beat.
"We can leave at any time.If he starts in on you or makes you uncomfortable, then I will step in," I say, taking her hand in mine.
"Okay, let's get this over with," she smiles nervously.
Dinner is tense from the second we walk through the front door.The kind of anxiety that sticks to your skin, thick and heavy.The table is set like something out of a lifestyle magazine, but the air?It's sharp.Brittle.Like one wrong move and the whole damn thing is going to shatter.
Her dad gives me a once-over like I tracked dirt onto his Persian rug.He hasn't written her off completely, not judging by the way he made this dinner happen, but he's definitely not happy.
"Gage," he says as we sit down, nodding like it pains him."You still work at the University?"
"I resigned," I answer evenly, unfolding my napkin."Took a role in creating a curriculum between a local business and the college.Better pay and more freedom."
He hums, unimpressed."And my daughter?She's still in school, correct?"
Skye stiffens beside me."Yes, Dad.I am.I also manage to work and have a job set up for when I graduate."
