Minnie makes a face of distaste. “He’s that awful Ghoul. Red is a creep. And his scratchy voice! Like nails on a chalkboard. Of course, he would jump up on a table and scream about sluts and money, that uncouth degenerate.” Her words bring a delighted laugh from Gage’s lips, amused by her summarization.
“Your nightmares were about me when they could have been about him,” Gage drawls. “Explain how that works.”
“You’ve heard his screechy voice, haven’t you? I don’t want to dream about that…” Not that she wanted to dream about a bullet plowing her skull, but that’s a different matter entirely.
“I adore you,” Gage tells her, staring into her eyes like a dying man seeing redemption. “No, that’s not…that’s not it.I love you. And I don’t deserve you, but I do love everythin’ about you. From your silly plants, to your crazy plots, your big heart, maybe even to spite that awful father of yours-”
Despite their shared, dark history, Minnie finds herself ducking down to find his mouth, whispering, “Kiss me, you dangerous man.”
He does.Passionately.
Chapter 16
They say forgiveness is the key to a happy life, that carrying resentment and bitterness around like old handbags is bad for the soul. Minnie believes it. The only problem with that is the fact that she’s not always good at practicing what she preaches. Who is?
It’s hard, thinking back on that week spent alone, wallowing in her own pain, hating Gage, and hating herself.Miserable. All that energy she spent trying to convince herself that her love for the man she had come to know was a waste could have been spentdifferently.
Gage offered his regret on a silver platter. His shame. His own self-loathing and his desire to be someone else. He also offered the one thing that truly gave credence to all of the above; his unwavering love for her, despite their past.
The week after their earth-shattering reunion feels like falling in love all over again. Having him near, in her bed, nodding along with all her unreasonable ticks and quirks, fixing the sticky latch on her kitchen closet, blowing the dirt and dust out of her garage-
Everything is as it should be now.
She’s been looking forward to today; she’s been invited over to Gage’s for another day of good food and whatever else the guys have come up with. It’s the first time she’ll see them as a group since her revelation, knowing who they all truly are. Her phone rings as she juggles her tray of baked goods. Placing them in the driver's seat, Minnie answers.
Ariel chirps brightly on the other end. “Hey! Can you chat?”
“Just a sec.” Settling into the driver's seat, Minnie transfers her sister to the Bluetooth speaker. “I just walked out the door.I’m headed over to Gage’s; we can chat while I drive. The guys are playing cards, and Marlin plans to grill some pub burgers for lunch.” She’s really looking forward to those pub burgers. Marlin truly is the undisputed grill master.
“Did you lock your front door? Twice?”
The urge to get out of her car and go check the front door pulls at her like a cord. “Don’t you play that game with me, Ariel. I locked it. Twice!”But, did she…?
“Maybe a third time?” Ariel teases playfully, knowing Minnie’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies. “Just to be safe?”
Growling, Minnie throws herself out of the car and marches up to her front door, jingling the doorknob. When she gets back in her driver's seat, she hisses, “It’s not kind to play with the mentally unwell.”
“Oh, Mouse. You’re not mentally unwell; you’re neurotic.”
“It’s called OCD, you uncultured goon.”
Ariel makes an unladylike noise, echoing in the car as Minnie pulls away and begins to drive. “I was calling to tell you about this new job I’m looking at, but I’m more interested in this development you’ve mentioned. Off to Gage’s place, hmmm? All’s well in Pound Town again? Color me surprised-”
“You don’t need to be so crude about it,” Minnie replies with exasperation oozing from her tone. “But if you need simple terms and words, then yes. All is well again. We’ve worked out what we have between us. I’ve conquered my fears. I’ve made my peace with who he once was.”
“That doesn’t sound simple.”
“It wasn’t. It was freaking hard, Ariel.” Minnie itches one of her eyes while sitting at a stop sign, moving her glasses aside briefly. “You don’t just forgive a man overnight. I’m atacceptance, but forgiveness is still brewing. That simply takes time, but the intent is there from my end.”
“Yeah, imagine that. Especially if he held you hostage-”
“…Ariel...maybe you should just talk to me about your prospective new job. Let’s talk about that. Tell me of your exotic ambitions! Father will be pleased.”
“Ha.Exotic ambitions? You make me sound like I took a job as a stripper. I won’t let you off easy! Your drama is spicier. Anyway, I’m torn,” Ariel is saying through the Bluetooth speaker of Minnie’s car. “On one hand, I’m glad you’ve found the strength to move beyond the past. That’s such a powerful step for you. The flipside is, Gage is stillthat guy. Are you really sure about this?”
“He’s not stillthat guy, you naysayer,” Minnie shoots back as she turns the wheel, heading towards the dreary Harrow’s Row. “Haven’t you been paying attention?”
“Urgh, yesss, but-”
