“Don’t worry about it,” Gage assured me. “But there’s something I should tell you.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m surprised he hasn’t yet, but I’m sure he’s just waiting for the right moment to spring it on us.”
“Then tell me,” I urged.
Gage avoided my eyes. “He and Ian paid me to be your friend.”
“What?” I shouted, bringing attention to us.
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
“You’re not really my friend?” I asked, hurt and embarrassed.
He grabbed my hand, squeezing. “Of course I’m your friend. I’d even do it for free.”
“Ha ha,” I said humorlessly. “So that explains you popping up out of nowhere.”
“I care about you, Gianna. As a real friend. Say you forgive me?” His face looked both remorseful but hopeful. He’d proved over the months we’d hung out to be a true friend. At least it seemed that way.
“Okay,” I agreed, pointing a finger at him. “But don’t hang out with me unless you want to.”
He grinned, returning to the carefree guy I knew. “Never have.”
I chanced a look at Caleb. He looked ready to murder Gage, his eyes narrowed on my friend. But I was feeling just the opposite. I tried to keep the love out of my expression as I gazed at him. He’d been so worried about me while he was locked up that he’d paid someone to watch over me.
Sneaky boy.
My heart melted for the hundredth time since meeting Caleb.
*****
CALEB
Norah waited at the gallery so I could drop off a couple paintings. The gallery was closed on Sundays, but when I’d called Jim he’d set it up so Norah could meet me.
Seeing Gianna and Gage together at Chance’s birthday party today had put me in a foul mood. I’d wanted to bash his cocky face in, but he’d been lucky to have the buffer of eleven innocent children.
My girl had looked gorgeous, wearing a blue summery dress with her hair pulled back in a headband. When Norah met me at the entrance of the gallery, holding open the door for me, she wore a tighter, shorter dress. I hoped it wasn’t for my benefit, even if her ass was almost as perfect as Gianna’s.
Norah’s breasts were on display in the low neckline as they brushed against my arm. “You can bring them to the back.”
I carried the carefully wrapped paintings to where she pointed in the storage room. “Tyler will move them where he wants tomorrow morning.”
Placing them gently on an empty shelf, I turned around to find Norah standing close. “What are you up to tonight, Caleb?”
I stepped around her, heading out of the backroom. “Hanging out with a friend.”
“A girlfriend?” Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor as she strutted behind me. I’d noticed she had a good walk, proving she wore heels often, but she didn’t have Gianna’s dancer gracefulness.
I stopped with my hand on the door to outside. “No, just a friend.”
She bit her lip, scanning my body. “What are you doing tomorrow night?”
“Why?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“I thought we could get together.”
Images of taking Norah to the backroom and fucking her against the wall flashed through my brain. I was on edge after watching Gianna and Gage while she did her best to ignore me.
But I had an indiscretion to orchestrate tonight.
“Call me tomorrow and I’ll let you know,” I told Norah before walking out.
*****
I’d been waiting outside the party off the CU Boulder campus for three hours. Hailey texted updates periodically, but still hadn’t completed her mission.
Count on Boulder students to throw a party on a Sunday night. This one was at a frat house situated between other frat and sorority houses. The whole neighborhood was rented out to students. Anyone else would be crazy to live so close to one of the biggest party schools in the country.
I’d thought about going in, but didn’t want Gage to suspect anything. He’d been hired to DJ the party so it could be awhile before Hailey got a chance to seduce him. She’d already messaged to tell me she’d do him for free, so I was a sucker for paying her. Money well spent if she succeeded.
I felt no remorse. If Gage was dumb enough to cheat on Gianna, he didn’t deserve her. Nobody did, but I also knew no one would love her like I did.
It was good I’d avoided the drunk fest. I was going out of my mind with my need to fuck and being upset with Gianna was not the right frame of mind. On Friday night I’d almost screwed that chick and I wanted to be able to tell Gianna when we got back together that I’d stayed true to her in both mind and body.