Page 61 of Structure of Love

“I’ll let you finish painting. I’ve got a hair appointment I don’t want to be late for. Gage, you come with Logan next Sunday for lunch, all right? He always has lunch with me on Sundays.”

“I’d love to.”

She hugged him, then me, and she was out the door again with her basket of dishes before I could even offer to carry it to the car for her. Sprightly little thing for an almost seventy-year-old woman.

Gage picked up the roller again, but he glanced in the direction of the front door. “Your grandmother is amazing.”

“She’s my favorite relative, bar none.”

“I can see why. It’s even more odd that your mother is the way she is.”

“My mother is the type to conform to anything her partner wants. She married a man who is very conservative and hateful about it.”

“Oh. Yeah, I can see how it happened, then.”

“Gage?”

“Yeah?”

“Understand Grandma wants you over for Sunday lunches. You’ve been adopted.”

“Honestly? Sounds awesome. I’ve never had a grandmother, and if I had to choose, I’d take yours in a heartbeat.”

Good, then he realized he truly was welcome among my family. Thank god my grandmother had just randomly stoppedby. If it made Gage more secure about dating me, I’d take the win.

Gage looked about the room. “Let me finish up this second coat, then I’m messaging Zar.”

“Please and thank you.”

Dating a handsome, considerate man had so many benefits.

Gage: Hey Zar, wanna kidnap an 18yr old from her abusive parents?

Zar: You know I will but I’m calling in 2 min because I need more info than that

Gage: :thumbs-up:

20

Logan

Tuesday night rolled around, and Gage was coming over for a home date. I had high hopes for the evening because he’d been giving me a few signals since Saturday of his readiness to become lovers. It wasn’t just those handsy make-out sessions, either. We’d been borderline sexting since Sunday night. Really,reallyhoping I was reading him right. I’d be so disappointed if I was wrong.

Now, I made a delicious chicken pot pie, and since I had time, that’s what I chose to do. I threw the ingredients together, stuck it in the oven, and set a timer.

Then I cleaned up the kitchen. I’d noticed Gage liked things clean, and I’d definitely scored points with him the other day when he’d come over. I wasn’t a slob in general, so it wasn’t like I’d had to bend over backward to please him.

I’d love to bend over, though.

Gage and I hadn’t talked about the bottom/top details yet, but we’d hit the point where we needed to. I wasn’t sure where he was at emotionally, but I liked him. I wanted us to be in acommitted relationship rather badly. I hoped to broach the topic tonight, see if we were on the same page.

I made sure I took a thorough shower and got all spruced up, the house was clean, and the bed especially was all set and ready to rumble.

Lube and condoms in nightstand drawer, check.

Tissues for cleanup, check.

Extra pillow on bed in case he wanted to sleep over, check.