“Aww, does Babs miss me?”
Gage insisted on calling her mom Babs, instead of Barbara, when they weren’t in front of her. Otherwise, he called her Mrs. Williams. He really knew how to charm parents. Luckily, Hailey’s dad was a bit more difficult, but once they started talking about golf, Gage won himover, too. It helped that Gage’s family had an in at a fancy country club nearby.
“Apparently. So, you up for it?”
“Yeah, let me look at my schedule at work tomorrow and I’ll let you know what night I can definitely get home a little earlier.”
“Thanks, sounds good,” she said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. Hailey knew dinner would be a bit of a drag. Likely, her mom would say some passive-aggressive comment about her figure. She always gave Hailey shit for being too silly, too outgoing, somehow too chubby despite being completely healthy and having a flat stomach. Some things just didn’t flatter her figure because of her curves and muscle, but it’s not her fault she was more comfortable in boxy T-shirts and soccer shorts. It’s like “Babs” and Gage were on the same page about everything.
“Speaking of socializing, we’re going to PJ’s with the guys on Wednesday. Isaac is bringing some new chick he met last weekend so it’s fine if you come.”
What every girl wanted to hear: their presence was fine.
“You sure you don’t want to stay in? Have a movie night? I’m so busy this week, it would be nice to just chill one night with you.”
“No way, we can’t skip Wednesday night with the guys. It’s a tradition!”
Hailey decided not to bring up the fact that heconstantly made her skip events when her friends were involved, but she had a zero percent chance of ever being able to skip when it came to his friends.
She reluctantly caved and said she’d go, but she was not looking forward to it. Gage acted like a douche around his friends and she didn’t quite care for it. He paid little attention to her and focused on his friends he literally saw at least three times a week. He even worked all day with two of them.
By the end of the meal, Hailey was ready to get out of there. At least she had exchanging gifts to look forward to. She was pretty excited about the present she got Gage for their one-year anniversary.
Hailey hoped he didn’t spend too much. He certainly didn’t skimp when it came to gifts for her, but she wasn’t really crazy about fancy things so most of the time she didn’t actually love the gifts. They usually weren’ther.
For her birthday earlier this year, he got her this fancy watch, despite her never wearing anything on her wrists besides hair ties. It was super bulky, too. She wore it around him because she didn’t want him to think she didn’t appreciate the gift.
After paying the bill and sneaking Eli an extra tip under her water glass, Hailey and Gage headed back to his place. They finally settled on his couch in his condo. One of the things she liked about him was that he had his own place. Before him, she had a pretty long dry spell,but before that she had never been with a guy that didn’t live with his parents. It was so annoying visiting past boyfriends and worrying about their mom barging in. She definitely liked her privacy.
Gage’s condo was in a high rise that came with a view of the Philadelphia skyline and when she was feeling down she sometimes got lost in that view, imagining all the people wandering through that city, living their own lives. It made her feel a little less alone. Apart from the comfy couch, Gage’s place was a typical bachelor pad. He used his second bedroom as a game room and the third bedroom as his office. His entertainment system was probably his most prized possession. She sometimes thought he loved it more than her. Only sometimes.
Something that always put Hailey in a good mood was giving people she loved presents. The anticipation of them unwrapping it and seeing the look on their face when they opened it was something she lived for and always made her feel good.
“Here! I’m so excited for you to open it!” She passed the large rectangular gift toward him and waited patiently for him to rip it open.
“Thanks, babe,” he said with a smile. “Where on earth did you find wrapping paper with stock symbols all over it?
“A gift master never reveals their secrets,” she said with a giggle.
He smirked, then carefully tore through the wrapping that was obviously a large picture frame.
“Holy shit. How did you … where did you … how?”
“I commissioned it through one of my artist friends in Seattle. Do you like it? I figured it could go in your office!”
Gage looked in amazement at the piece of art he was holding, not believing what he was looking at. The gift master reigns supreme!
It was a beautifully painted image worthy of the Renaissance of Gage literally taking a bull by the horns, an ode to his job and one of his favorite movies, “Dodgeball.”
He started laughing in disbelief and she was elated. This was what she lived for, the happiness she gave to others.
“Babe, this is amazing. I can’t stop looking at it.”
“I’m so glad you like it! You're always talking about taking the bull market by the horns!" Whatever the fuck that meant.
She leaned toward him on the couch to give him a kiss on his cheek. It would have been on his lips but he was still distracted by the art, which was totally fine by her.
“Happy anniversary!”
