Page 74 of After All The Wreckage

Gage inhaled sharply. “You think he’ll tell us the truth?”

“Not us. Me.”

“If you’re confronting Dunn, I’m going too,” he insisted.

I shook my head, thinking about how hard it was yesterday to have Gage with me. He’d lost his cool and he’d stood out like a Hollywood A-list actor walking through the halls. He hadn’t blended in at all. He was far too memorable.

“Monte and Ivy need you here,” I told him.

“Monte needs this solved. For us to stop whatever is going to happen to Demi and Dunn.” Gage’s voice turned deep and tortured.

“You hired me to take care of this. I know what I’m doing.” At least, most of the time that was true. Except this week Dad’s voice had been an almost constant companion in my head, filling me with doubts.

“You absolutely know what you’re doing. You’re one of the smartest people I know,” he said tenderly, making my heart thump happily. “But this time, you don’t have to do any of it alone. I’m here. I’m going.”

I tugged at the sleeve of my sweater, pulling on a thread that looked like it might unravel just like my insides were trying to do. I’d always worked by myself. Research—alone. Stakeouts—alone. Trailing a suspect—alone.

“What about the bar?” I asked softly.

“River and Audrey work Wednesdays.”

“It means leaving Monte and Ivy here.” That got him. I could see indecision roll through him.

“As much as I hate the idea of my brother being farther than an arm’s length away after what happened, this is more important than my feelings.”

He rose from the couch, went to the antique buffet where the television sat, and opened the cupboards. He pulled out some blankets and a pillow.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Taking the couch. You can have my bed.”

I huffed out a laugh. “I can go home, Gage. I literally live ten minutes away.”

“It’s two in the morning and it’s raining. You rode your bike, right? Just stay.”

He said it casually, as if it was a simple request based on simple facts, but we both knew it was much more than that. My pulse skittered once more, bringing me right back to our heated kisses.

“I’ll take the couch. I’m smaller than you,” I said.

“This couch and I have lots of fond memories,” he said.

I couldn’t help the snort that escaped me.

“Get your head out of the gutter, Pipsqueak. I’ve pulled some all-nighters here but not the kind you’re thinking. Quite the opposite. When Ivy was a baby, she got pretty sick a couple of times, and I had to stay awake and make sure she stayed hydrated one tablespoon at a time. And when Monte’s visions get really bad, he and I stay awake watching movies.”

I couldn’t remember a time my dad had stayed up all night with me. Not even my mom. I’d never really been a sick kid. A cold here and there. Nothing that had been worrisome.

When I had broken ribs after the fight in high school, I hadn’t been able to sleep, and Mom joined me on the couch as I rewatchedVeronica Mars. But she’d ruined the show with all her reality versus fiction talk, and I’d told her she had to leave before I found the duct tape. She’d laughed and headed to bed.

I’d been loved. I’d been hugged and fed and taken care of. Hell, my mom had even divorced my dad for me. Or because of me? Either way, she’d chosen me over him. If that didn’t sayI love you, nothing could.

But somehow I’d still needed something neither of my parents had been able to give. This was about me and not them. Rationally, I knew that, and yet thinking about Gage sitting up with his siblings, caring for them, felt like what I’d been missing from those interactions with my parents.

But maybe what I’d really been missing was simply Gage.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Gage