28. Confession
The next morning Hazel was more than excited when Gage announced that they were going to go to the beach after breakfast. Bree was feeling like she was living a dream, she was happy, laughing and giggling with Hazel and Gage during the day. Then when night came the man would pleasure her like crazy, the multiple orgasms were beyond her wildest imaginations.
It was day four, they had been staying at Gage’s Inn for three nights, and tomorrow they were scheduled to go home. It was late in the evening, Hazel was sleeping, too tired from the day’s activities. Bree was leaning on his chest, sitting on Gage’s lap while they relaxed on the outside balcony of the master bedroom. They were looking out the beach, hearing the wave of the ocean lazily hitting the beach.
“My late wife was Sally’s best friend. She still meets up with her family from time to time. Sally invited me a couple of times but I couldn’t, the memory had been… still too much sometimes.” Gage was trying to explain his sister’s Sally behavior as to why she was cornering Bree at their last family dinner.
“Gage, you don’t have to justify her questions to me,” Bree tried to cut his words but he just kept on talking.
“No, I should’ve had your back that day, but I didn’t want to make a scene with Hazel in the next room,”
“Hey,” Bree sit up and looked into his eyes. “It’s in the past, I’m building my hard exterior here, Gage. I’m sure in the future I’d meet more judgemental people,” this time it was Gage who was trying to interrupt, but Bree kept on talking. “Hazel is going to grow up, I don’t even know what her childhood is going to be like, the parents of her school, the teachers, maybe even my future neighbors would think about her single mom busy working and too busy to iron her clothes for school.”
Gage moved in his seat, he straightened himself up, he was not amused by the story that she painted. The man had plans for Bree, he loves her and he was upset that she didn’t include him in the future she was describing him.
“You’re not serious, right? where am I in your future Bree?” he finally asked feeling left out of her life.
“Gage, I’m sure your family would set you straight and you will find a beautiful woman and live the rest of your life happily.” Bree was giving him the hard truth, family is everything and with two judgemental siblings, it would only take time until his parents hated her too. Then eventually Gage would despise her for creating a rift between him and his family, though he said otherwise she was not ready when the day comes.
Gage was not sure where he went wrong in the last couple of days. He thought he was making progress, but now Bree was thinking the opposite. He cursed on the inside, but not before he suddenly had the greatest headache he had ever experienced before.
“Gage?” Bree looked at him in concern, “are you okay?” she asked helping him get up, ushering him inside the bedroom, and gently helping him to lay down on the bed. “I’ll make you some tea, why don’t you lay down?”
The man groaned but he did what was asked of him, while in reality, all he wanted was to set her straight, telling her that he loves her and that he would be there for years to come. Because honestly, he does love her, too fucking much. And he knows that he was seeing their future, already imagining their wedding. Just yesterday, he even imagined what it was going to be like to see Hazel all grown up, becoming a beautiful young lady, and how he was going to be one of those dads who’d threaten their daughter’s dates.
“Tell me?” he finally asked minutes later when his headache was almost nonexistent and he was sipping the cup of tea that Bree made at the little corner coffee and tea station in the living room suite.
“I’m just keeping things real, I really don’t like to get my hopes up, you know… being realistic?” she half questioned her own words, surely she was not confident with the situation and Gage thought with her past and her ex he could understand her. But it doesn’t mean that he liked her conclusion of what she thought she meant for him.
And the man was getting too old for uncertainties, so he did the most logical thing to do next. He asked her to marry him, he had always been a straightforward man after all. But what he didn’t expect was for her to reject him.
“No Gage, I’m sorry.” She put her dainty hand on his face caressing him gently. It felt like a slap on his face, his heart was strangely feeling the invisible stabbing sensation and he took a deep breath, pulled her into his arms and he said nothing. They didn’t make love that night, and Gage slipped out of the bed when Bree was asleep an hour later.
The man was preparing himself for when they get back, he had a very bad feeling about how their situation was going to change. He knew Bree, though only for just a couple of months he already knew that she would want to move out of his place because she felt bad that she had rejected him.
And he was right because that was how it exactly plays out days after they got back. The positive side was that Hazel seemed to take it well, she believed everything her mom said about the need to go back to their sleazy apartment now that the landlord had gotten rid of the mold in their ceiling and he also slapped in new paints and fixtures making sure that Bree would keep quiet of the past situation that had caused her little girl to be hospitalized. Bree was relieved and glad when Mrs. Mancini greeted them, Hazel hugged her tightly and her smile broadened when she presented little Hazel with her favorite chocolate cake.
Days later, things between Gage and Bree were awkward, they didn’t exactly break up but the wide gapping distance of whatever kind of relationship they had was there. Gage felt like he had taken steps backward and fell down the snake and ladder board game. He felt like he was going to work on their relationship all over again.
Luckily for Bree the moment they were back from the seaside town Gage’s lawyer updated them about the situation with her ex and how Bree will be able to expect her alimony and child support in the future. And luckily for Gage, the news didn’t make Bree want to quit her daytime job with Jojo. Her excuse was simple, just as he had expected, stability, she wanted to have savings for Hazel.
It was the same excuse that he still couldn’t get his head wrapped around, knowing she would definitely have stability once they were married. At least Gage’s lawyer made sure he had a restraining order for Bree’s ex, the image of her ex coming by her apartment was not a pleasant one. Gage had also made sure that Rockford canvased her neighborhood for any potential threats.
The boss man licked his wound by working hard on his other businesses, he seldom went to Babes for the next few weeks. He went out of town a lot though still keeping in touch with Rockford, Rocco, and Jojo just to make sure Bree was well taken care of and the club was running smoothly.
He blamed the headaches on his heartbreak and his parents noticed his behavior the moment he came by for one of their Sunday lunches.
“So, where’s Bree?” Sally was the first one to ask when they were having coffees after their family lunch and the kids were playing with Duke outside.
“You should be please,” he said in irritation to his younger sister.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
“Me, why?” Sally asked confused.
“I proposed and she said no.”
“Gage,” his mom put her hand on his, she worried when she noticed that Gage looked tired and sad. And Edith knew that it had been years since Gage even had someone he truly loved.
“It’s okay mom, we’re working it out. She moved back to her rundown apartment, I think she’s going to be okay financially, I had my lawyer pull some strings and made sure her ex pays alimony and child support. Hell, maybe I am too old for her. I’m just too fucking tired,” Gage finally said, not at all sorry for the curse word he used in front of their parents. He massages his scalp feeling the headache was coming back strong.
“Maybe it’s for the best?” Marvin tried to cheer him up but the man just shrugged at his brother.
“Yep, look I have a meeting in half an hour, I should go.” Gage lied, he didn’t want to be there and the headache was making it worse.
Sally looked upset but she didn’t say anything when Gage walked out of his childhood home and knows that he wouldn’t be coming back for dinner and brunches anytime soon. He needed some space, he needed some time alone to think and rectify his situation.
He still wanted Bree.
He wanted Hazel.
And that were the last thoughts he had when his car crashed and he blackout out in the middle of the road.