Monica was fearless and beautiful, and I was so full of emotion, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. “I love you,” I blurted out.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Seriously? You’re gonna do that here? Now?”
“Wasn’t the plan, but I couldn’t help it. Watching you with that girl… You’re… you’re fuckin’ amazing, and I needed you to know that I love the hell out of you.”
Her eyes softened. “You think you’re so smooth.”
“Like butter, baby.”
Her lips pinched together as she fought a smile. Finally giving up, she chuckled and shook her head. “You’re something else, Stocks.”
“Gage,” I replied.
Her brows rose. “My real name. Gage Sinclaire. You should probably know it before you confess your undying love for me.”
“And you think that’s what I’m about to do? By the way, that has to be the whitest name ever.”
I nodded. “Are you thinking about taking over this place for that old woman?”
She stared at me. “Am I that transparent?”
“No. I just know you well.”
She let out a breath. “That would be crazy, right?”
I didn’t miss the fact she didn’t deny it. “No crazier than flying into combat zones to drop bombs on the enemy and give our troops some air support.”
Surprise flickered in her eyes, telling me that wasn’t the answer she’d been expecting.
“I’ll help you. We can do it together.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
I shook my head. “I wouldn’t joke about that, babe. But it makes sense. I wanna do something with my life, but I don’t need the paycheck. You don’t either. We could live here, and help out girls like Lily. I’ll learn how to fix shit around the shelter, and help with the cooking. You can lay into the girls and get them back in line whenever they step out, because that whole bossy aunt thing you had going on right there was pretty hot.”
She rolled her eyes.
“We already know we work well together, and it’s not like I’m gonna get sick of being around you. We wouldn’t even have to do it alone, because you know the club would step in and help whenever we need them to.” I shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe this is why I haven’t been able to find a job. Maybe I’m supposed to be here, helping you.”
Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded. “I love you, Gage Sinclaire.”
I’d suspected, but hearing her say it made my goddamn chest swell. Pulling her to me, I said, “Told you so.”
Laughing, she punched me in the shoulder.
I kissed her until we were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. When we separated, I looked around to find both girls sitting in the back of the police cruiser and an officer standing with his pen and pad, ready to take our statements.
Monica
Three Months Later
MY PARENTS WERE driving up to celebrate Labor Day weekend with us, and I didn’t know who was more nervous, me or Stocks. I hadn’t seen them since the day I’d left with Stocks and Naomi, and although I’d given them the basic rundown of my new life plan, I was still worried about what they’d think when they actually saw the place full of young adults.
“Downstairs bathrooms are clean,” Stocks said, kissing my cheek as he passed by and headed for the back door with his hands full of garbage bags.
I’d had my permanent prosthetic for two and a half months and was really getting the hang of it. Using an app on my phone, I could change the grip and customize its functionality. Currently, I was using it to keep a giant glass mixing bowl steady while I mixed the contents. Cooking got a little easier every time I did it, and I was determined to master this shit.
After all, that was my job now.
