“No.” The lie makes my cheeks even warmer. “Yes.”
Leaning down, Gage kisses me softly. “You’re pretty when you’re all pink.”
Oh shit. Here it comes again.
“Glad you’rehome.” I hear emphasis in the last word. And I know why. When I wrote that note, it felt weird to call Gage’s house home, so I crossed it off. I probably should have rewritten the note, but I was in a rush.
In an attempt to change the direction of this conversation, I smile up at him. “Me too.”
“Where’d you go?”
“I had some business to take care of.”
“Like?”
“I got a new phone for one. I’ll be sure you have my new number later.” I also did some more shopping, looked at a couple apartments, and bought a car. A used one, but it’s reliable-ish and should last me long enough for me to get the rest of my stuff in place. But I don’t want to tell him all of that, so I just give him the obvious one. The one that’s parked out on the street in front of his house. “Also some shopping. I bought a used car.”
“A used car?” He sounds surprised. “By yourself?”
I’m not sure why, but his comment bugs me. “Yeah. By myself.”
“Where’d you get it?” He sounds a tad judgmental.
Déjà vu is hitting me. My dad questions me like this. “From a student.” Who was desperate for cash. I feel like we helped each other.
Gage chuckles. “Daisy. Have you ever bought a car before?”
“No.” Duh.
“And you just decided to buy one today. By yourself?”
“Yep.” I could tell him I did my research, but why bother?
Turning, I step out of his bedroom into the spare room. I’m very close to packing up my stuff and leaving. I think I was right in my note earlier. This isn’t my home—just like my apartment wasn’t my home.
“Daisy?” He’s close. Probably standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry. I just thought about what I said to you and how I said it. I didn’t mean to sound like an asshole male.”
“Well, you did.” I reach for one of my bags from earlier, trying to decide if I should empty it or fill it with the rest of my stuff.
When his arms wrap around my waist, I flinch. “Gage. Not now.”
“Honey.” He kisses my neck. “I’m sorry.”
Sure he is.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.”
No shit.
I feel his hands on my waist, urging me to face him. I go ahead and do it. When he sits on my bed, he pulls me closer. “I mean it. I know I sounded like a macho jackass just now. I didn’t mean to suggest that you didn’t know what you were doing.”
“Uh-huh.” I still haven’t looked him in the eye.
“Please look at me, honey.”
I can’t.
“Please?” he repeats.
