Page 34 of Call Me Yours

“My mom had German Shepards for a long time, so I am used to bigger dogs.”

He smiled brightly and unlocked the door and opened it, taking a step inside to keep Raina in the apartment.

He stepped to the side and Elisa stepped into the apartment, Raina seeing her and her ears perking up.

She walked slowly up to her, Elisa slowing bending down to her level and holding out her hand to her.

She sniffed it for a minute and then turned around and walked off, Elisa looking up at him with concern.

Raina came back a minute later with her favorite toy, dropping it at her feet and licking her hand.

Elisa smiled and grabbed her toy, giving it a toss.

Raina ran off and got her toy, bringing it back to Elisa, starting a game with her.

Gage shut the door behind them and Elisa put her purse down and tossed the toy again, working her way over to Gage’s couch.

She sat down on the soft brown cloth and sighed, sinking into the softness.

Raina laid her head on Elisa’s knee and looked up at her, her blue eyes bright.

She stroked her head gently, Raina’s eyes closing slowly as she did.

Gage walked over to the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a beer, placing them both on the coffee table in front of them.

“Do you want something to drink? I have beer, sweet tea, and Sprite.”

Elisa looked up and replied, “Sprite please.”

He headed back to the kitchen and she called, “What movie are we watching?”

“I got two movies to choose from.The AvengersorThe Holiday.I know it’s like, August, but I like that movie.”

He chuckled as her jaw dropped open at his movie choices, relieved they were good.

“I loveThe Holiday.”

“Then that’s what we will watch,” he stated, walking back to the couch and placing her Sprite on the coffee table.

He plopped down on the couch next to her and turned on his Xbox, grabbing his TV remote and turning it on.

They watched as the Xbox home screen came up and he laughed when Elisa turned to him and asked, “MachoMan88?”

He started to redden as she chuckled.

“It was a long time ago; I was like sixteen when I picked it out.”

She smiled and Gage felt his heart stop, the smile so bright and genuine that he didn’t know if he could ever bear to not see that smile every day.

He reached over and cupped her face in his hand and pressed a gently kiss to her lips, her eyes falling closed as he did.

They broke apart when Raina jumped up on him and started licking his cheek, sending both of them into a round of laughter.

He looked back at the TV and realized the movie wasn’t in yet, so he stood up and walked over to his Xbox. He pulled the DVD from the large rack on the side of the entertainment center and put it in the Xbox, the menu immediately pulling up.

He walked back over to the couch and sat down, pulling Elisa into his arms to get comfortable and start the movie.

Elisa curled her legs on to the couch, Raina hopping up behind her legs and resting her head on Elisa’s hip.