“Don't remind me,” I sigh before continuing. I need to change the topic and fast. I just don't get why my kiss with Gage is all everyone wants to talk about this morning. “Anyway, the reason why I’m calling you is that I want to know if we could do breakfast followed by painting the town red shopping?” I ask.
“Oh, you know I can never say no.”
“Great, meet you in town in fifteen to thirty minutes?” My smile is back as I ask.
“No, I’m actually on my way to the mechanic. It’s time for my dad’s car to be serviced and he asked me to take it in. So rather meet me there. I’ll send you the address.” She says.
“Okay, sure. I’ll wait for your text and meet you there,” I tell her before ending the call.
Less than a minute later, my phone pings with a message from Gwen with the address of where I should go meet her. I throw my phone back into my purse before driving off in the direction of Sleek Mechanics & Auto Repairs.
Gwen is standing by a massive entrance speaking to an elderly man when I finally arrive. The place is huge, the entrance is so big it looks like ten cars can easily drive in side by side. Stepping out of the car, I make my way toward her and the salt and pepper coloured hair man who’s grinning at her like they’ve known each other for years. I notice that the place is filled with dozens and dozens of cars and all I can hear is the noise of machines at work.
“Hey Lori, you made it.” Gwen says when I reach her and the old man.
“Hey,” I reply, a smile forming on my lips.
“Who is this pretty young lady,” the elder man asks with a grin on his lips, not faltering.
“Oh this is my good friend Lorianne Parkinson, Mr. Goodwill.” Gwen tells him gesturing her hand in my direction. “Lori, this is Mr Goodwill. The best mechanic in town,” She says, continuing with her introductions.
“It's a pleasure,” I say before extending my hand for Mr. Goodwill to shake.
“Parkinson, any relation to that boy Johnny who’s always hanging around here?” He asks, extending his own hand to me.
His question has me frowning. Why would my brother be hanging around here a lot?
“Yip, that would be my brother,” I smile.
“Good boy that one. But he never said that he had such a beautiful sister.” Mr. Goodwill says and the hint of flirtation I hear in his words turns my smile into a grin.
“Yeah well we should probably get going, I’m starving.” Gwen says before turning to leave.
I start to follow her when I stop dead in my tracks when I hear a voice I didn't think I would hear so soon after last night. “You leaving so soon? You didn't even come to say hi,” My brain is finding it hard to give the command for my legs to move an inch further.
What in actual fuck? Why is Gage here?
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask instead of commenting on his previous statement. I’m still looking away from him. I refuse to turn and look at him but then again even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to because my brain to legs function is still malfunctioning.
“Well, I might be the boss but I still need to come to work.” He sounds puzzled for a second as he answers.
“This is your place?” I’m surprised. If I knew this I would have never gotten out of the car.
“Yeah.” He says. “Now come on Lori, last night you couldn’t keep your lips off me and now you can’t even look at me?” Those words snap me out of any paralysis I might have had and anger works its way down my spine.
“Now you listen here you arrogant-” My words are cut off when I’ve fully spun around to look at him. I nearly swallowed my tongue when my eyes landed on a piece of perfection.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, my first reaction to Gage is not irritation or hatred. No, its pure attraction and lust. I feel my eyes taking him in, in those washed out jeans that are torn at the knees and hanging from his hips in the most sexiest way I’ve ever seen, showing the top piece of his Calvin Kleins. He’s shirtless and my eyes stop at the clearly well maintained abs that are screaming for me to touch. Memories of last night suddenly rush through my mind’s eye and it's all I can do not to moan out loud in front of all these people.
“You were saying?” My eyes snap up to his and find that he looks amused as he stares me down with that smirk that I always found annoying but today I’m finding that smirk hot as hell.
“You arrogant asshole. You kissed me, not the other way around.” I say, but my words don’t have the intended bite to them because I sound like a breathy, horny teenager right now.
“And you enjoyed it, baby!” His smirk has transformed into a grin.
What the hell is going on here. I thought he would be confused as I am about what happened last night, yet he’s casually and arrogantly standing here and making fun of me? Anger replaces my sudden lust and I narrow my eyes at the fucking jerk who confused me by giving me the best sex I’ve ever had.
“Maybe in your dreams and in my nightmares,” I counter with a smile of my own.
“Nightmare? I doubt it’s a nightmare if you’re screaming my name in pleasure,” he says, reminding me of the foreign sounds of pleasure that were coming from me last night.
“Uhg!” I exclaim before turning on my heel. “I hate you Gage Roberts!” I continue as I march down toward my mother’s car.
“I hate you more Lorianne Parkinson!” He replies and the only reply I give him is a rude gesture of my finger.
“You know you’d love to!” He says causing me to groan long and hard with frustration.
Gwen joins me in the passenger seat just as I slam the car door closed. I can feel her confused eyes on me and I try my best to avoid looking back at her. She was there for the first kiss Gage and I shared last night but I’m afraid she’s picked up that something else happened after the little show Gage and I just gave.
“So are we ready to go?” I say, breaking the deafening silence in the car.
“Aha, yeah sure!” I hear instead of seeing Gwen’s knowing smile as she answers.
“Great,” I say as I start the car and drive off in the direction of town.
“Are you going to tell me what the hell that was all about?” Gwen asks, yet again breaking the awkward silence.
“What?” I say, deciding to play dumb.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She laughs before continuing. “What is going on between you and Gage.”
“We kissed last night. You were there.” I decided to test the waters and see what she’s thinking.
“Yeah, and I honestly wasn't surprised. Even the way you just openly lusted over him just doesn't surprise me.” Her words make me look at her for a brief second before bringing my eyes back on the road. “But what I want to know is what’s going on now between you. Are you going to make sucking each other’s face off a habit?” She asks.
“No, last night was a mistake that will never happen again, Gwen. I still hate that man,” I tell her but even as the words leave my lips I can feel that they lack the passion of truth they once had.
Although I don't want to admit it to myself or anyone else, deep down I know that what happened between me and Gage last night changed everything and I don't think things between us will ever be the same again.
“I slept with him last night,” the words leave a bitter but sweet taste in my mouth as they hastily tumble through my lips. I don't know what possessed me to tell her seeing that I was planning on taking this to my grave and pretend it never happened but I swear the words jumped out of me like a damn jack in the box, startling even me.
“Oh my Fucking God what?!” Gwen is clapping her hands in excitement. “How and when. I thought he left after your passionate open display.” She continues.
I go into the story of what happened last night, starting at the part where he came back bursting into my room smelling of alcohol.
“Oh that sounds hot!” She says.
“I think the alcohol made him come back,” I tell her.
“
Or maybe he came back because he just really wanted you,” Gwen counters.
“Either way, last night left me confused and now I’m not sure how the hell I feel about him anymore.” I sigh before continuing. “All I’ve known to feel towards him is hate and now, now I just don't know. These new feelings are confusing the hell out of me and I don't know what to do with them.” I tell her honestly.
“Well, I’ve always guessed that you two would end up together so I think maybe you should give each other a chance and see where it takes you.” She says and for the millionth time, I ask myself why the hell she and my mother thought that Gage and I would become anything but enemies.
“I don't know,” I say.
Whatever these new feelings I have for Gage are frightening and confusing me. I think the best way to go is to avoid him at all cost and maybe just maybe my hatred for him will come back swinging.
Chapter Six
Gage
Discreetly adjusting my pants to try and hide the sudden hard-on I got as soon as I saw Lori dressed in that short dress, I watch as she and Gwen drive off. I wasn’t expecting to see her so soon after last night and by the surprise I heard in her voice when I first came out I think it's safe to say that she wasn't expecting to see me either.
After that mind blowing sex we had last night I decided that our agreement of it being the first and last time was null and void because after properly tasting her, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough. Lorianne Parkinson has now become my sweet addiction, an addiction I love to hate.
“Son, that one looks too fragile for your likes.” Mr. Goodwill says after a short while, bringing me back to the here and now.
“Excuse me?” His statement has me confused.
“She reminds me a lot of my wife when I first met her. Acting tough but actually really fragile. Don't hurt her.” He says before turning and heading back into the workshop, leaving me confused and not understanding what the hell he’s on about. He doesn't even know Lorianne.
Taking big strides to catch up to him I say; “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” He laughs as he shakes his head.
“By the way you watched her leave, it’s obvious that you’re taken by her and you are planning to give chase,” he says without stopping.
“Uhm,” I don't know what to say to his truth. I didn't think I was this transparent.
“Look son, all I’m saying is that she looks different from the usual girls that you go for. Just be careful not to hurt her.” He says before suddenly stopping to look at me. “Hurting her will have a lot of consequences, including losing your best friend. Johnny is her brother after all.” He continues.
“Right.” Is all I can say. I honestly didn't think about that. Maybe he’s right, this is a dangerous game I want to play. Maybe for once, I should stay away from the danger and play it safe.
“Right,” he says just before taking off again but this time I don't follow him.
I’m about to head to my office when a familiar voice stops me in my tracks. “Gage honey, I’m so happy I caught you,” I look back to see Mrs. Parkinson walking in carrying a paper bag.
“Mrs. P, what a pleasant surprise.” I grin as I walk toward her. I want to ask what makes me so lucky to get a visit from both the Parkinson women this morning but I stop myself because Lori wasn't really here for me.
“How are you honey,” she asks, giving me a one armed hug as her other hand is holding the paper bag.
“No complaints here ma’am. How about you?” I say.
“I would be so much better if you would tell me you and Lori are now a thing,” I nearly choke on air at that.
“Uhm,” is all I manage to say.
“Last night, the way you two were kissing-”
“Wow… Uhm… Jesus.” I say, cutting her off mid sentence as the tip of my ears heat up. “I’m sorry Mrs. P, I’m not…” I leave my sentence unfinished because I’m not really sure how to word what I don't feel comfortable talking about kissing her daughter in front of her like that.
“Oh, you’re embarrassed.” She snickers. “That’s okay honey. Just know that Bob and I are rooting for the two of you.” She continues. Causing the heat from the tip of my ears to spread over my face.
“Uhm. Right.” I say for the millionth time today. It feels like those words are the only two words in my vocabulary this morning.
“Anyway, I came to thank you for all the help yesterday,” she says, giving me the paper bag. I immediately open the bag and I’m met by a divine smell of nice home cooked mac & cheese. I would know that aroma anywhere as that’s my favorite food.
“Oh, thank you Mrs. P. You know it's always a pleasure,” I tell her, accepting the bag.
She looks at her watch then says; “Okay honey, I need to get going.”
“Thanks for this,” I say, lightly lifting the paper bag in my hand.
“Anytime honey. See you soon,” she says before leaving.
I've spent the past two hours hold up in my office sorting out invoices when my phone starts ringing. I don't recognize the number flashing on the screen so I decide to ignore the call. When my phone rings for the fourth time with the same unknown number I decide to finally answer because it's clear whoever is trying to get a hold of me is not going to give up anytime soon.
"Hello," I answer in a clipped tone.
"Hello, son." The voice on the other end of the line brings chills down my spine.
What the hell does he want? Probably more money to spend on drugs and alcohol.
"Dad," I reply. My mood has taken a nosedive.
"How are you?" He asks. Well at least he sounds sober.
"I'm fine," I say, keeping my answers short. He is the last person I want to be talking to.
"Look son, I've just got out of rehab and need a place to stay." He says, knocking the wind right out of me. I never thought he would ever go to rehab on his own. I've tried several times to get him to go but failed.
"Where are you, I'll come get you." I say, a little hope stirring inside of me. I never thought that this would happen. This might finally be the time my father and I can fix things and become a family again.
"I'm at the Hope for Tomorrow Rehab Centre," he replies and the relief in his voice is clear.
"Okay, I'll be there soon." I tell him before ending the call.
I don't waste any time grabbing my car keys and rushing out of my office. This is the best news I've heard in a while. I know I've acted like I don't care all these years but deep down I've been hurting and missing my father. We used to be the best of friends before mom died.
A short while later I'm parking my car in front of the rehab centre where I find my father sitting on a bench with a couple of bags at his feet.
"Hi Dad," I say as soon as I reach him.
"Gage," My name leaves his lips in surprise, like he wasn't expecting to see me. "I didn't think you would come," he says, confirming what I was just thinking.
"Come on, let's go." Is all I manage to say as I help him with some of his luggage.
"Nice ride, I see you could finally buy your dream car." Dad says as he climbs into my convertible.
"Yeah, I recently bought her." I tell him and I can't help the smile forming on my lips for two reasons. One, I can't believe he actually remembered that I've always wanted this car and two, because I actually achieved it without anyone's help.
"I'm proud of you, son." My chest swells at those five words coming from his lips because I've been yearning to hear them from either one of my parents. Yes. The Parkinson's are always saying them but it's not the same.
The rest of the drive to my place is in a comfortable silence and for the first time in a long time I don't feel anger towards my father.
"Wow, you really have done well for yourself, Gage." Dad says as soon as he steps into my apartment.
Apart from him calling me every other month asking for money, we haven't really talked in years meaning he's not been around to witness me grow up into the man I am
today.
"Yeah, I work pretty hard." I tell him as I close the door behind me. "So do you want to stay here tonight or should I take you to our old house?” I decide to ask.
"Oh, you didn't sell the place?” He asks, surprised by the information.
"Of course not," My own surprise is evident in my answer. I don't understand why he would think I would sell the house, it's his house.
"Then I'd like to go there, if you don't mind," He says.
"Okay sure." I say. "But let me order some food. There isn't anything in that house." I continue to tell him.
"Okay," he says and I motion for him to go take a seat in the living area.
I make quick work of ordering some pizza before joining him with some coke. At first I wanted to have some beer but I don't think he needs any kind of temptation his first day out of rehab.
"So, how long were you in rehab?" I decide to ask. I need some info before welcoming him back into my life.
"I've been in there for the past year." He answers before taking a sip of his coke.
"Why didn't you say anything?" I ask. I could have been there for him.
"I knew you wouldn't have believed me and this was something I needed to do on my own." He sighs before continuing. "One day I realized that I needed to make drastic changes to my life so that I could be in yours. I've been a horrible father ever since your mother passed. Yes her death was hard on me but I went about things the wrong way and never stopped to think how her death affected you." The tears running down his cheeks surprise me. Deon Roberts does not cry. Ever! Not even when his wife died did he cry.
"I'm so sorry, Gage." He tells me.
"Look Dad, I can't say all will be forgiven right this instant but we'll work on it. You need to promise me you will try and not fall back on the drugs and alcohol." I say and my words bring joy to his wet eyes.
"Of course. I promise, I'm going to be the father I once was." He continues.
"Great," my smile is back in full force.
Finally, I'm going to have a relationship with my father again.
My father and I spend the rest of the day catching up. He told me all about being in rehab and showed me all the badges he earned and in turn I told him about what's been happening in my life these past few years and about my business. I even ended up offering him a job at my auto shop until he gets back on his feet. Although he was never a mechanic by profession, he taught me everything I know.
Fine Line: An Enemies To Lovers Romance Page 5
