And he's right.
Because as we leave, Gage's hand at the small of my back, I already see it.The future.My future.A place with my name on it.A life I never thought I could have.
Gage leans in and murmurs against my ear."Still think this isn't a real first date?"
I laugh, my heart full."Oh, it's real."
And it's just the beginning.
Chapter 34
Gage
Shehasn'tsaidaword.
Not in the lobby, not when we stepped outside into the night air, not even when I opened the car door for her and she slid into the passenger seat with a small, polite smile that didn't reach her eyes.
And now we're driving through the city, and my hands are sweating on the steering wheel.
What if I pushed too hard?
What if I misread the moment, the way her eyes lit up when Stephen offered her the spa?The way she took the contract as if she was ready to conquer the world?
But maybe she wasn't ready.Maybe I put her on the spot.Maybe this was too much.
The lights from the city dance across her face as we stop at a red light.Her profile is calm, composed, almost too still.Like she's bracing herself.
I clear my throat, fingers flexing against the leather grip of the steering wheel.
She still doesn't look at me.
I glance over again, trying to read her expression.Her hands are in her lap, and she’s still holding the contract.She's not fidgeting or tense.
But she's not relaxed either.
And fuck, I hate this.I hate not knowing what's going through her head.
I open my mouth to say something, anything, but the words get stuck behind the growing lump in my throat.
The light turns green, so I just drive.
By the time we turn onto the main road toward the restaurant, I'm chewing the inside of my cheek.The confidence I felt back in that office is gone, replaced by a slow-creeping dread.
"Take me home," she says quietly.
My stomach drops.
I flick my eyes to her again, heart slamming in my chest."Skye…"
She reaches out, her hand soft on my forearm.“Let's go to your place and order in."
Relief hits me so hard I nearly miss the turn.
"Yeah," I say, adjusting the wheel."Of course."
I keep my eyes on the road, trying not to let the surge of emotion show too much.Still, part of me stays on edge.She hasn't explained what she's thinking, and I know better than to assume.When she goes quiet like this, it's never nothing.
Not to mention, she hasn't been to my place outside of checking on me the day I resigned.We've always stayed at her place.I want to hope it's a good thing, a step in the right direction.But Skye can always surprise me, so I don't know.