Page 56 of Savage Salvation

“Eh. Maybe a little,” Gage teases.

“Whatever.” I shake my head, looking to Gage. “You’re the one who said you’d miss him more than anyone else, and that he needs to visit regularly.”

“Oh, I’m really gonna miss hearing her call you on your shit.” Memphis laughs, pointing between me and Gage. “Unicorns are the best.”

“What?” I ask, looking to a smirking Memphis and an annoyed Gage.

“Nothing,” he says too quickly.

“Sure. Well, we have a really long drive to New York, so there will be plenty of time for you to tell me all about unicorns.”

Gage looks to Memphis. “Thanks a lot. Because you know she’s not gonna let it drop until I explain it.”

“Yep.” He doesn’t look the least bit bothered but rather amused. “Just keep me updated on where y’all are. We have a lot to get done.”

“We know it’s in good hands.” I give him one more hug before he walks away. We might not get to visit in person as much since we’ll be across the country, but I know we’ll be in constant communication with him.

Once Gage suggested turning the Hawthorne estate into Hawthorne House, a home for people who need one for various reasons, I knew it was a good idea. When he suggested Memphis oversee it, I knew he would be the right person. Because he cares. He’s got a passion for helping people and will be excellent at being there in the hard times for people trying to find a place in life. Hawthorne House won’t just be about providing a person a bed but also a home.

Looking over at Gage, I see his eyes on me. “What?”

“You look happy,” he says, his hand clasping mine.

“I am.” And I really am. After everything happened with Danielle, I knew I couldn’t take the inheritance, but I couldn’t just hand it over to her either. Not after everything she did. It was Gage who made the suggestion of using it to fund the project. And it was the best idea I’d ever heard. I didn’t want the money, but I hadn’t known what to do with it. And his suggestion was perfect. He matched the donation, providing more than enough funds to remodel the house to make it run functionally for years to come.

Walter and Hayden were more than happy to jump aboard the project too, guaranteeing that more than enough funding would always be there to keep it open and at no cost to anyone who needed a place to go.

“Let’s hit the road. We’ve got a very long road trip ahead.” He looks to me, and I already know what he’s about to say.

“No. I’m not flying. Feet on ground or I’m not going. Besides, you picked out most of the stops on the trip there.”

“True.” He feathers a kiss over my mouth. “I’m just eager to get our life together started.”

“Me too.”

There’s one more person I’ll miss, but Johnny promised to keep in touch. And I know he will. It wasn’t until we told him we were leaving that he said he was closing the store. He said he loved it, loved the people, but was ready to retire. I hadn’t realized it, but he only kept the store open for me. He said he wanted me to have a place to stay, a place to get away from the Wagoners, and he apologized that all he could offer was the back of the music shop. But what he never realized was that that place saved me. If I hadn’t been able to go there, I probably would’ve lost my mind. And I pray Hawthorne House will be that for someone else.

We drive by Johnny’s shop to tell him goodbye once more. Standing in front of Savage Serenade’s store closing sign brings sadness to me, but I know it’s for the best. I’ll just miss it.

“I have a graduation gift for you,” Gage says, passing me a pink gift-wrapped box. “I figured this would be the perfect place to give it to you. And I hope you like it.”

“I’m sure I will, but I didn’t get you anything.”

“I have everything I’ll ever need. And I hope you do too.”

He’s uneasy, or maybe a little bit nervous, which makes me edgy. There’s not much that frazzles Gage.

“What is it? Because you weren’t this nervous when you asked me to marry you.”

He lets out a chuckle as he says, “I knew you’d say yes. Like you could resist me.”

“Yeah, sure.” My hands grip the box.

“Open it, Kinsley Grace.”

My eyes watch him for a few seconds as I pull the wrapping off, then look down to open a brand-new tablet.

“Did you know that your mom was in a band when she was in high school?”