Page 50 of Structure of Love

16

Logan

I think one of Gage’s concerns was that we’d be great in bed together but otherwise the relationship wouldn’t gel. My playing DnD with his group had gone oververywell. In fact, Riggs had invited me to join the main campaign and keep playing with them, which I’d promptly accepted. I wanted to prove to Gage we’d make excellent friends as well as lovers. I also sensed that his really shitty dating history made him slow to open up and trust. Which, understandable. I didn’t take it as a personal insult because he was still getting to know me. Once I proved he could absolutely trust me, I figured our relationship would naturally go to the next level. I could be the man he counted on. I wanted to prove that to both of us. At the core of the matter, we both wanted a companionable relationship. It was why we were taking the time to build a foundation.

So let’s build that foundation a little more.

I invited him to have dinner with me at Lulu’s Diner and then have a home date with me. Our plan was to watch something together and chill for the evening. Nothing complicated, but we could determine how well we hung out together. I thought we’dbe great—dates had never dragged with him—but today was about proving the point. One way or another.

Gage leaned against his truck, waiting on me, when I arrived on the bike. I loved the way he automatically smiled when he saw me. There he stood, looking like a goddamn model, despite him just being in dark wash jeans and a regular white T-shirt, and smiling like I was the one the moon was hung for. All the while, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.

He could drive me crazy doing nothing at all.

I was quick to hop off my bike, let me tell you, because I had to taste his smile. I set my helmet down without looking and went right up to him, kissing him hello.

Gage kissed back but kept it light. Probably because we were in a busy parking lot. “Hi yourself. Hungry?”

For you. “Sure am.”

“Let’s eat, then.”

Gage slid his hand into mine as we walked inside. I loved the feel of his hand against mine, its warmth and casual strength. It felt great to hold hands so openly, too. I’d dated many a man who’d thought holding hands was beneath him. I liked this kind of skinship very much and was happy Gage did it.

Sandi eyed our joined hands, blinking in surprise. “When the hell did that happen?”

“Recently,” I admitted with a shrug. I didn’t care to elaborate.

“If I’d known, I’d have made a bet,” she said in dismay. “I never win the bets.”

“I’d say something like ‘I’ll give you a hint next time’”—Gage’s expression was pure sarcasm—“but I’m hoping there’s not a next time.”

Same, hon, same.

“Well, yeah.” Sandi surprised me with a ready agreement. “I wouldn’t either in your shoes. Bah, it’s fine, I guess. What’ll you have?”

Gage rattled off his order, which gave me precious seconds to figure mine out. I placed mine, then dragged him off to the back-corner booth, well out of most people’s line of sight.

He slid into the same side of the booth as me, our thighs pressed together. I was seriously going to get high from all of this skinship. Might end up on cloud nine.

“All right, so you said chill on the couch and watch something fun. Do you have any ideas?” Gage asked. “I only have two requests: not something horror, and notQueer Eye. I loveQueer Eye, don’t get me wrong, but every episode makes me cry.”

“Saaaame. Don’t worry, not on my agenda. I mentioned a movie a few dates back,Knives Out, remember?”

“Oh, the mystery movie?”

“That’s the one. I think you’d like it, and they’re releasing a sequel this December.”

“Perfect. I love a good mystery.”

That was something else I wanted to test today—our entertainment compatibility. You didn’t think of tastes in movies or music as deal-breakers until you lived with someone who had the opposite tastes to you.

I got a text, checked my phone, then said, “Huh?”

“Bad, good?”

I showed him my screen. “Confusing. I don’t know any of these numbers. I’m randomly in a group chat? Somehow?”

Gage snagged my phone to read the initial message. It was obvious I legit didn’t know the others as they were a string of five phone numbers, no names.