I turn in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck. “I want you to be as happy with him as I am.”
“I’m happy as hell, Pretty girl,” he says, kissing my forehead. “I have you in my life, and I’m hopefully building something with Leo. It couldn’t be better.”
I already know I love Gage, but something is always holding me back from telling him, even now. I never feel like he’s ready, and this time is no different.
“I’m happy with you too,” I say instead.
“I have to get some things from downstairs,” Leo says, walking out of the closet and slinging a duffle on the bed, earning a glare from Gage.
“You aren’t supposed to be carrying that,” Gage says.
Leo rolls his eyes. “Then you carry it downstairs, he-man,” he snarks and disappears out of the door.
Gage turns back to me. “I wouldn’t change anything,” he says, kissing me softly.
I feel like we’re dancing around the same three little words, neither willing to put it out on the line yet. It was easy with Leo; we had been dating for four months. Ryder was obvious because I’ve been in love with him half my life if I’m honest with myself, and Dex made it easy to love him, even now. Gage and Holden are the unknowns.
“Let’s go before he hurts his dumb ass self,” Gage says, grabbing my hand and Leo’s duffle and tugging my hand to go downstairs.
“He doesn’t listen. Maybe he needs a spanking,” I joke.
“Leo!” Gage yells. “Come here so Les can spank that ass!”
I laugh, rounding the corner, and stop dead in my tracks. Leo turns wide eyes on Gage and me, and my stomach drops to my feet.
I’m staring into the same blue-green eyes as Leo, just in woman form. The exact shade of brown hair except long.
It’s none other than Leo’s mother.
Fuck.
Chapter 43
Leo
Iwanted Alessa to meet my mom, but not when Gage rounds the corner yelling about spanking my ass. All color has drained from Alessa’s face, and she looks seconds from bolting, not that I fucking blame her.
“Mom,” I say again, “What are you doing here?”
“You tell me you’re hurt over the phone and don’t expect me to come to check on you?” she says, then huffs. “Nice to see you too.”
I instantly feel like shit and pull her in for a hug. “I always want to see you, but you shouldn’t have come all the way here,” I tell her, mainly because there’s a psycho Russian out for blood.
“Nonsense,” she says, patting my back. “Are you going to introduce me?” she whispers.
She knows about Alessa; I haven’t shut up about her. She didn’t know about Gage or my unconventional relationship with Alessa. How the hell do you bring that up to your mom?
I pull back from the hug and turn to a green-looking Alessa and an amused Gage. “Mom, this is Alessa and Gage. Guys, this is my mom, Katherine.”
Gage reaches his hand out to shake Mom’s, and Mom’s eyes zero on Alessa’s hand that Gage just dropped. “Nice to meet you,” he sayspolitely, kissing her hand when he shakes it. I roll my eyes, watching Mom fall for the charming shit.
Me too, Ma. Me too.
Alessa finally snaps out of her stupor and steps forward with her hand outstretched. “It’s nice to meet you finally.”
Mom waves Alessa’s hand away and crushes her into a hug. “I’ve heard so much about you,” Mom crows.
“Sorry,” I mouth to Alessa when her eyes meet mine. Alessa glares, and I don’t know if she’s serious or not.
