Page 25 of Sunflower Persona (Classic City Romance #2)

Kori

E velyn’s room is bigger than I expected.

Between the kitchenette and separate bedroom, it’s basically an apartment tucked inside the dorm.

More importantly, it is very pink .

Not that there’s anything wrong with pink—other than yellow is objectively superior—it’s just not what I expected her room to look like. The shade is a soft pastel that coordinates well with the accents of gray and cream, giving the space a delicate and feminine feel.

I’m scared if I move, I’ll disrupt the peaceful balance she’s clearly worked hard to craft. At least the couch is comfortable. It makes a perfect base for me to perch on, unmoving, like a gargoyle. All my muscles are stiff enough to be stone.

Sounds stream from the TV, but they are nothing more than muffled noise to my ears.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t tune in to the program.

At least my host doesn’t have the same hang-ups.

She’s engrossed in the drama on the screen.

It’s the whole reason I’m here. She invited me over to watch some reality show with her—Love Something-or-Other.

They aren’t my normal cup of tea, but I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to get out of my room. Or my head.

Perhaps it wasn’t the best choice, considering I’m trying to distract myself from my own romantic failings.

God, what even was that kiss?

I thought I read the signs right—the most obvious being his clear, and large, erection—but I was wrong.

I googled it once I stopped wishing the floor would open up and eat me; apparently, men’s bodies simply do that sometimes, attraction or not.

That would have been really helpful information a few days ago.

Would have saved me from some real embarrassment… and maybe our friendship.

Because that is absolutely over now too.

My resolve to keep things platonic dissolved the second I saw an opportunity for something more, and my worst-case scenario came to life.

The text from Evelyn this morning was a definite shock, all things considered.

I assumed Gage would have me blacklisted from his friends and I’d never hear from any of them again.

Evelyn stirs beside me as the credits roll and the next episode cues.

Shit, has it been that long already?

“How are you settling into Athens?” she asks.

“I’m settling. It definitely feels more like a college town than my last school did, which has been a nice change of pace.”

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the hustle of downtown Atlanta, and before you know it, two years have passed by with nothing to show for it besides the grades on a transcript. I never would have made friends the way I did here…it’s more likely I’d have gotten mugged.

“Why did you transfer? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“My parents are alumni, and I wanted to get my degree from their alma mater. They actually met here when they were in school. I grew up hearing the stories about how this place shaped their lives for the better.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Sure,” I snort. “Until they start getting into the details of it. They absolutely hated each other at first. They were in the same program, same organizations, and they are both competitive as hell, so I’m sure you can imagine how that played out.”

“But they fell in love,” she swoons.

“Yeah, they did. Sickeningly so.”

“This place has a way of doing that,” she says with a knowing smile. “If you need any recommendations for things to do and places to check out, let me know. I did my undergrad here too. There is way more to Athens than Cutter’s and Double Teep, no matter what Karis and Gage would have you believe.”

“Wait, you’re in grad school?”

Why on earth is she wasting her time with me?

“Yup. James and I graduated last spring. Morgan, Nathan, and Karis are all in grad school too, and James and Gage are working, obviously.”

“Why are you in the dorm and not in an apartment or graduate housing?”

“I’m a graduate assistant. I was an RA for most of undergrad, so I already had an in with housing.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.”

“It can be, but it’s worth it for the pay. Housing is stupid expensive.”

Her words leave me feeling two inches tall.

Never once have I had to worry about how much money I’m spending to be here.

My parents have always had it covered. I’ve never had a job, either.

They wouldn’t let me work in high school, and I never had a need after.

It never really occurred to me that my new friends might have had different experiences.

“Speaking of finding love in the Classic City, has there been any movement on the Gage front?”

Her question causes my heart to harden and drop like lead into the pit of my stomach.

It looks like Gage hasn’t told his friends about what happened between us.

That’s probably for the best. Everything would be so much easier if we could pretend it never happened.

But it did, and talking to Daisy about it has gotten me nowhere.

“Oh yeah, if you consider raising the white flag movement,” I say with a bitterness clinging to my words.

The playful expression falls from her face.

“What happened?”

“I kissed him, and he pushed me away. He said, ‘That shouldn’t have happened’ and then tried to apologize like I wasn’t the one who ambushed him. So yeah, I’m pretty sure anything that might have been brewing between us is officially dead in the water.”

I sigh and sink back into the couch, clutching one of her petal-pink pillows to my chest to give my hands something to fidget with.

“That sucks,” she says and mirrors my posture. “Karis was so sure he was into you too. But maybe it’s for the best.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, do you not find him…I don’t know, intimidating?”

“Intimidating? Why would you think that?”

Gage might be a lot of things, but that isn’t a word I’d use to describe him.

Intense, sure, but he’s never made me feel uncomfortable being around him.

If anything, his presence is—was—soothing.

Even after the kiss, I know nothing will happen to me when he’s around.

Hell, I even like it when he touches me.

Those calloused hands make my skin crawl in a good way.

“He doesn’t talk much,” Evelyn says with a shrug, “and he’s always scowling at something. I’m not even sure if he wants to be our friend, or if he only comes because Karis drags him along. And after what happened at the beach last year…”

“Wait, what happened at the beach?”

“Jamie’s ex attacked Morgan, or at least tried to. He got one punch in before Gage stepped in and had him restrained without throwing a punch himself. I didn’t actually see it myself, but I’ve heard the stories enough.”

“Why is that intimidating? It sounds like Gage de-escalated the situation without violence. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“No, you are right. I think it’s more the fact that he could have caused some serious damage if he wanted to. I’m probably making assumptions here, but you’ve seen him. The man is a giant.”

Yes, I have, and before the disaster that was our lesson, I wanted to see more of him. Clothing optional.

“He also wasn’t nearly as restrained when you…

got hurt…at Cutter’s. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that enraged or out of control.

It was terrifying, and it wasn’t even directed at me.

If Nathan hadn’t intervened, I think he might have done real damage—not that that asshole wouldn’t have deserved it—but I’m talking irreversible, life-altering shit.

Like ‘Gage ends up in prison’ levels of anger.

Even Karis and Morgan looked scared—not of him, I don’t think, but of the consequences. ”

Okay, that’s a lot.

After a certain point, my memories of that night disappear aside from a few scattered, hazy flashes, and in every one of them, Gage is nothing but a steady and safe figure. The rage she describes doesn’t mesh with that at all.

A knot forms in my throat as I comb through this bit of information, letting it reframe every interaction I’ve had with the infuriating man. Still, it doesn’t reconcile, and I can’t decide if it paints him in a new light.

“I thought you were his friend?”

“Fuck. I am. Well, sort of. It’s a whole story.

After Chelsea graduated, it was only Jamie and me left in Athens.

I’m sure you can tell Jamie and Morgan are a bit…

clingy. So I got closer to Morgan’s friends, but even then, I’m closest with Karis.

Nathan is cool, too, but Gage has always been more of a presence than a persona.

“Goddamnit, I’m rambling. Yes, I’m his friend, and I’m not trying to paint him as a villain or anything.

He is a good man. The others wouldn’t be as unwaveringly loyal as they are otherwise.

I guess all I’m trying to say is maybe it’s a good thing nothing romantic is happening between you guys. He has demons.”

“It would be nice if my heart got that memo.”

“Oh, Kori, I’m sorry.”

I try not to flinch as she wraps an arm around me and pulls me in for a hug. This group seems keen on the whole touchy-feely thing. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Thankfully, it doesn’t last too long, and when she pulls away, she has a devious smile on her face.

“Oh, I’ve got a great idea.”

“You do?” I ask, swallowing back the nerves that look inspires.

“Yes,” she says with a firm nod. “We’re going to go to Cutter’s and show Gage exactly what he’s missing out on.”

“I don’t know…”

“It will be perfect. We can get dressed up, flirt with cute guys, and not look in that jerk’s direction.”

“I—”

“And if the guys are awful, we can dance like Jamie, Chelsea, and I used to. That always turned heads. Plus, I miss dancing. It feels too awkward to do it on my own.”

She looks so excited about the prospect, I can’t bring myself to say no.

“Fine. No to the flirting, but I’ll go dancing with you.”

“Perfect,” she says with a happy squeal. “Let me text Karis and find out if he’s working tonight. Oh, I’ll invite Jamie too. This is going to be so much fun.”

Call me crazy, but I have a sinking suspicion it will be anything but.