Page 111 of Pretty Broken Wings

For a heartbeat, Gage stands there. Then he leans back the tiniest bit, and I have the insane urge to flip our positions and pin him against the counter. To see what he’d do. To see if I can get that rush of power from pushing men around.

So, because I’m stupid and a little buzzed, I lean forward and test the limits. “You can’t tell me what to do, Gage Newman.”

Gage’s nostrils flare, and he sucks in a breath while taking the tiniest step back. It’s like a shot of adrenaline in my veins. I put my hand on his chest and push. Then I grab his arm, pulling it so his back is to the counter, and our positions are flipped. Ilean in, breasts brushing the fake plastic armor he has on instead of his warm skin.

Both of us are breathing hard. I expect Gage to try and control me. To grump at me and demand I do exactly what he says. But, just like every time we’ve played the game, he doesn’t. He just waits for me to take the lead.

It’s fucking intoxicating. I suck in a breath, enjoying the moment of total control. Then, fear creeps in. Is this for real? Or is he just manipulating me to trust him so he can take advantage of me? Get me drunk and off my game enough to do what he wants to me, like bathroom guy? To get me incapacitated like Max?

My thoughts spin round and round, and I’m not sure what to think or do.

“Celeste?” Gage says my name softly, like a question, and it startles me back into reality. He’s looking down at me with a gaze that almost looks… adoring. He looks at my lips like he’s going to kiss me. Like he’s going to take me right here without the game.

And I want him to.

That scares me.

“I, uh, my neck is fine.” I take a step back, heat flushing across my face. I need something, anything to distract from what’s going on right now. I motion at his glasses. “Plus, you should be able to see now that you stole these back.”

Gage’s smile falters.

I keep talking, needing to fill the space. “The glasses are the true victims in this custody exchange.”

I try to move around Gage, and this time he lets me. I grab a glass and fill it with water. I need to sober up, or I’m going to do something really stupid. I wait for it to fill, then swallow down three gulps before I hear Gage moving.

“Speaking of my brother… he, uh… said something about Max tonight.”

I wince, then freeze. Why the fuck was Axel talking about Max?

“Oh yeah?” I play it cool, taking another drink, but this time, it’s hard to swallow. It’s like there’s a rock in my throat. When Gage doesn’t respond right away, the hairs start prickling on the back of my neck.

“I just… he said, was he, uh…”

I turn, and Gage tries to offer me a fake smile.

“What?” The fake smile isn’t helping. In fact, now I feel unease creeping into my gut. I don’t want to know what he’s going to ask, but I alsoneedto know what he’s going to ask.

“You know what, nevermind.” Gage turns away.

“What were you going to say?”

“Nothing. Axel was just drunk.”

“What did he say?” He’s not going to drop Max’s name and then not tell me. I want to know what they think they know. How can I make a plan to stay safe if anything has changed?

“It was nothing. He was just being an idiot.” Gage sounds mad now, which only ups my fear. Why the hell is he mad? For a brief second, I let Gage hear the fear in my voice. He’ll talk to me if he knows I’m afraid.

Then Gage drops his gaze and stares at the floor. He says nothing.

“Fine,” I say. I slam my cup down on the counter and stalk out of the kitchen.

Gage’s frustrated growl follows me, and I stalk to my room and slam the door, still riled up from the closeness of Gage’s body.

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

“Would you just hold still?” Buddy thrashes beneath me, refusing to open her mouth for her dewormer. “It’s for your own good.”

She doesn’t listen. In fact, she squirms right out of my grip for the third time in a row. I let out a little half-grunt.