Babes Stripping For Love

“Gage?”

“Yeah, sorry Jade, please come in.”

Gage and Jade had been dancing around each other since the first day he was back working in his office at Babes. Not that Marvin hadn’t been doing a good job there, but Gage needed to see some familiar faces in his environment and Jade was the person that he had felt most intimate with since his memory loss.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Though Gage seemed reluctant to move forward with Jade, cause he didn’t want to start something he knew he had ended before. That afternoon he finally called in Jade to find out why. Hopefully, she could tell him the reason they broke up, if not then he’ll think of something else. These past couple of weeks Gage felt like he had done too much thinking.

The dark-haired woman with decorative tattoos on several parts of her body gave him a smile before she took her seat in front of him. Gage decided to stay behind his desk, thinking he felt less awkward with some distance for their talk since he didn’t want to jeopardize the good friendship they have after their break up.

“So, you know I was in an accident and now I have partial memory loss?”

“Yes, you had a tumor, Gage, you didn’t just bump your head.” Jade, knew exactly what happened thanks to Cassidy who relay everyone at the club. She was surprised when he remembered her and not Bree. Jade knew they were getting extra close and she was wishing the best for Gage.

The relationship between them had faded with time and they had been friends afterward, he had been nothing but nice to her and her son, Chase.

“Yes tumor, hmm… anyway, I’ve been meaning to ask you, why did we break up?”

“We were not compatible, months after we started dating everything just went bland.” Jade fiddled with her fingers showing off her nervousness. In her head, she was battling her wants to be back to being the center of attention of Gage. But she remembered how disappointed Chase was knowing his mom was dating other men instead of his dad. Back then at the age of four Chase was a very receptive child, but he could never like other men his mom brought to meet him. That included Gage, and since then Jade was had unwillingly self-sabotaging their relationship.

“Gage, as much as I like your attention, I can’t do this to Chase. I’ll forever be your friend, but…”

“But I’m not the one.” He whispered as he slumped back to his seat, his fingers massaging his temple, feeling a numbing sensation after a slight headache he had earlier.

“Are you, okay? do you need me to get Marvin?” Jade felt bad, but she knew she had to let him know the truth before she let herself fall for him again. And she was not in a place where she wanted to do it again, she was getting better at handling her life without any man by her side. She got Chase and her job, and Jade was good, she was happy. At least that was what she kept on telling herself.

Gage smiled and assured her that he was fine. “If you don’t mind, can you send Bree in? I need to talk to her before I go back home.” It was only four in the afternoon, but he knew she was scheduled to go home in an hour.

“Sure, and Gage?”

“Yeah?”

“You can always talk to me, as friends,”

“As friends, got it. Thank you, Jade.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiled before she exited his office.

Gage was about to take his medication for his headaches when Bree knock on his door.

“Come in, please have a seat,” Gage continue to pop his pill and emptied his glass of water. “Sorry, I need to see you before I leave,”

“You still have headaches? you’re not driving, right?” Bree blurted out her questions then quickly put her hand on her mouth knowing she had asked the question as if she had the right to ask him. The man didn’t even remember her. Once again she felt her chest tighten, she blinked her eye a few times trying to clear her tears away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”

“It’s okay, my mom was upset though, she really likes you and your daughter, Hazel?”

Bree knew Edith had talked about her and Hazel to Gage. She had met her when Marvin took his mom to meet Bree a couple of weeks ago for a coffee break. They talked, mostly it was Edith telling her to be patient with Gage. And because of the deep feelings she still feels for Gage she had said yes. Though she didn’t know how long, Bree promised her anyway.

“She did, we went to your family dinner and she loved Hazel.”

“How is she?” Gage asked and Bree didn’t know how to answer without saying that her little sunshine had been asking for Gage. Hazel had been upset thinking that Gage didn’t want to be her daddy and the thought of that finally made her feel crushed and all the pent-up sensation made her emotion burn inside her. She should be patient but honestly, seeing him with Jade made her jealousy and disappointment flare in her heart.

“Hazel has been asking for you, and I’ve been lying to her. God, Gage, I don’t know if I can do this anymore. You and Jade…” Bree got up from her seat and was ready to leave his office.

Gage also got up, he still needed to talk to her. Somewhere in his gut something was telling him that he wanted her to stay, he still needed to find out more about both of them, “Me and Jade are friends, and I’m trying here, Bree, it’s not like I asked for a tumor either!” the man finally let out his frustration on her and Bree trembled from his loud voice. His demeanor was taking her back to the time when her ex used to shout at her seconds before his hands would make contact with her skin and out of instinct she crosses her arms in front of her face like she always did.

“Shit, Bree, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he pulled her in his arms, he felt her body shake like a leaf and he hated that he scared her like that. His gut told him that there was something more behind her reaction, and he hated that he could not remember, did he use to frighten her? all kinds of scenarios played in his head.

And in that same moment she melted into his arms, it had been so long and Bree missed being in his embrace, though she didn’t dare move an inch, afraid that the slightest stir would make Gage pull away from her.

“Can I get to know you again? will you give me the chance?” the man put his thumb on her chin, tilting her to face him and she felt her eyes moisten when she said her yes.

Bree didn’t give it a second thought, she replied yes, instantly, and she was finally confident enough to put her hands on his chest and let him rest her head on his shoulder. The warmth of his body made her relax immediately and she stopped trembling.

Bree hoped they could work it out.

Bree hoped that he would fall for her again.