She dropped my hand and shook both hers in the air. “Oh, please call me Tamra. Mrs. Tucker is my mother in law. She is old and senile. I am much too young to be anything that proper.”
Gage looked at his mom for a moment before asking, “How did you get here? Your car isn’t out front.”
“Dylan. He ran into town to pick up a few more drop cloths and paint brushes. He should be back soon. Why don’t you show everyone around while I entertain the kids?”
It was like Evie took that moment to notice Gage’s mom standing a few feet away from her. She let go of Gabe’s hand and ran to Tamra. “Aunt Ra Ra! Dis my fweind, Gabe.” Evie smiled brightly at my little boy.
Tamra shifted Londyn to her hip and looked at my handsome little guy. Gabe actually looked a little shy. Hmm. I didn’t know my son, the loud mouth, dirty talking little boy had a shy bone in his body. Holding her hand out, Tamra said, “Hello, Gabe. It is so nice to meet you. Evie talks about you all the time.” Tamra looked to Jenna and Larkin and winked.
Little Evie had her first crush. And, it was my little man. How sweet.
Shaking Tamra’s hand, Gabe said, “Yeah, she likes me.” He sighed and lifted one shoulder. “All the ladies do.”
Tamra giggled. “I can see why. Would you like to help me unpack toys in the playroom while Gage shows your mommy his new house?”
Gabe smiled. “Yes! Mommy, I’m going with Tamra to play.”
She took all the kids and started down the hall. I have no idea how she did it. Gabe and Evie were holding hands again and she was carrying Londyn, Nash, and Knox. Brave woman.
Gage grabbed my hand and walked us into the sunken living room. “Obviously we all know what room this is. What I really want to show y’all is upstairs. But, to be the nice host, I’ll tell you everything that’s down here on our way upstairs. Everything down here is covered in boxes anyway.” Leading us up the ‘Gone with the Wind’ staircase, Gage said, “There is the obvious living room, kitchen, dining room, family room, office, two half bathrooms, and a theater room. There is also a sunroom off the kitchen that leads to the back deck and the pool. I also have a pool house and a bungalow style guest house out back.”
He walked to the double French doors at the end of the hall. Shoving them opened I could see into what I assumed was his master bedroom. There was a large four post bed in dark wood in the center of the room. Beside each side of the bed was a nightstand in matching wood. There was an armoire in the corner with a large dresser to the left. In the opposite corner was a black leather couch and chair facing the flat screen television hanging on the wall. Glancing around I noticed a large picture hanging above the couch. It was in black and white. It was the kids and I on the beach. I had Londyn and Gabe in my arms, my head was back and I was laughing, both kids smiling. We looked happy.
Not stopping, he walked through his room and into the bathroom. The five of us following him in.
“Wow, you have a toilet, you lucky bastard. Really wish I had one of those. Larkin said our next house we may just splurge and get a toilet.” Jenna said, laughing.
We all laughed and Gage said, “No, I wanted to show you the phone. How fuckin’ cool is that? I have a phone in the fuckin’ shitter.”
I craned my neck to see around Gage. There it was, right next to the toilet. A phone, really? In the bathroom?
Jenna wrinkled her nose and said, “Gage, make me a promise.”
“What’s that?”
Jenna pointed at the phone when she said, “Never, ever call me from that phone.”
Gage grabbed Jenna around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. “Don’t worry, you will be my first call from this phone.”
Larkin joked, “As long as it doesn’t send pictures, I’m down with getting a shitter call. Just no shitter picture.”
Leigha giggled. “Well, I mean, I guess it’s practical. What if you run out of toilet paper? Now you don’t have to worry. One call and problem solved.”
“I’m glad some people can appreciate good craftsmanship. This is what won me over and sold me on the house. It had nothing to do with the marble or hardwood floors. Or even the six bedrooms, or the man cave, or the pool. It was the fuckin’ phone. Sweet as shit.” Gage dropped his arms from Jenna and wrapped them around my waist.
Jenna looked from Gage’s arms around my waist to my face then Gage’s. A slow, somewhat sad smile playing on her lips. Starting to get uncomfortable I tried pulling away. Gage tightened his grip and whispered in my ear, “No.” Sending shivers down my spine and right to my core.
“Gage? You up here?” A male voice came through the door.
“Bathroom, D.” Jenna yelled back.
Looking up from the gorgeous marble floor I saw a miniature version of Gage walking in. Well, not exactly miniature because he was damn near just as big, just younger. Wait, he looked familiar. Very familiar.
Smiling wide, the boy said, “Were you showing them your shitter phone?”
Gage nodded. “Sure was.”
Nudging Jenna, the boy said, “Ain’t that the shit? Literally.”
Jenna curled her lips. “I swear if one of you call me from that phone I will stick my foot so far up your ass you won’t shit for a year. Got it?” She grumbled, pointing at Dylan. She was smiling by the time she was finished talking.
He was the boy that delivered the flowers! “You’re Gage’s brother?” I asked out of the blue.
Turning his sky blue eyes to me, he said, “Yep. The name’s Dylan.” He winked at me like we were sharing some ‘I murdered the mailman and you hid the body’ kinda secret.
“You work for a florist?” I asked, somewhat confused.
Everyone, except for Leigha looked at Dylan. Gage and Dylan started laughing. Jenna accused, “Dylan couldn’t tell the difference between a rose and a daisy if he tried.”
Gage said, “Actually, not too long ago he had a one day stint as a florist delivery boy. There was a special girl that deserved flowers and I wanted to make sure she got them.” He kissed my temple.
Really? What was with all this public display of affection? It was really starting to screw with my head. My brain was starting to listen to my heart. That can’t happen. I won’t let that happen. We agreed this was just for fun. Now Gage is screwing that up with all these small things he’s doing. I was letting my guard down. Sure to get hurt in the end.
Leigha furrowed her brows. “He’s the one who delivered your flowers?”
I nodded. Jenna elbowed Larkin. “I don’t even get flowers. I want flowers,” She joked.
Larkin rolled his eyes, “I gave you three kids. Isn’t that enough?” He looked at his wife. Anyone could see how in love they were. Jenna leaned into him and kissed his chest. They really did look like the poster couple for perfect.
Once Gage was satisfied with himself and his potty phone he walked back into his bedroom. There that picture was again. Staring me in the face. I glanced at Gage who was saying something to Trent and laughing. His eyes caught mine and they instantly darkened. How could he go from zero to sixty within a split second?
He smirked. “Annie, I want to show you something.” He turned to look at Jenna and asked, “Jenna can you check on the kids and make sure they haven’t duct taped my mom to the wall?”
“I’m sure if anyone has the duct tape it would be Evil Evie.” Larkin laughed. Jenna nodded in agreement.
Leigha looked me over before saying, “I’ll check on little man.”
Trent placed his arm on the small of Leigha’s back and said, “I can help you with that. I like that little dude. He’s a chick magnet.”
Jenna, Leigha, and I all looked at each other, rolling our eyes. Leave it to Trent to use a child to get attention.
Watching the others walk out of Gage’s room he shut the door behind them. I turned to look out his window at the backyard and the in ground pool when I heard the lock click. “I have been waiting to get you all to myself since I walked into your house.”
“Why do you have the picture?” I tossed my hand in the air in the direction of giant picture on his wall.
“You don’t like it?” Gage asked. His voice laced with a hint of hurt.
