Who He Is (FireNine, book 1) (9 page)

The man told us to take a break after our fourth set and we laughed as we went for another round of beers. “I don’t know how I’ve missed out on this before,” I said before taking a gulp of my beer.

“Well, when you stay cooped up in your room that’s what happens,” Gage said, leaning against the wall. “You miss out on fun opportunities.”

“I have fun,” I argued.

He smirked. “Doing what exactly?”

“Drawing. Painting. Taking pictures.”

“So you’re really on the creative side?” he asked, amused.

“I am. I love art.
I wanna make it my career.”

“Maybe you should take some pictures of the band. You could make a ton of money off them—you could even become a graphic designer for us. All you need is my word. I can hook it up for you.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t think I want my future in your hands.”

He laughed. “What, do you think I’d forget about hooking you up?”

“No… well, yeah,” I stated honestly.

Gage laughed again before downing his beer. “If there’s one thing I don’t fuck with, it’s someone’s future and career. You seem passionate about it. If you really want it, I can give it to you.” His eyes softened and then he looked from my eyes to my cleavage. “I mean that in more ways than one, though.”

“Stop.” I slapped his arm playfully. “We’re just friends. Remember?”

“Well, yeah. Only because that’s what you want. I can respect that, but it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t do more with your body if
I were given permission.”

I smirked at him before taking another sip of beer. “I’d love to be a graphic designer for FireNine. I could create your next CD cover—maybe even the band’s T-shirts?”

“You could create a whole damn store for us if you want, Ellie.” He smirked. “I’m sure it would sell.”

I put down my beer, squaring my shoulders at Gage. He looked into my eyes, his eyebrows stitching as his lips pressed thin. “You’d really do that for me, Gage? Let me become a designer for you, I mean.”

“Is it something you’ll agree to keep doing?” he asked, leaning his shoulder against the wall and folding his arms. “‘Cause that’s what a career is all about. I don’t like quitters.”

“If I had an opportunity like that, I’d do my best to keep it.”

His right cheek lifted into a smirk as he studied my eyes. He was most likely trying to figure out if I was being serious. I was serious as hell. That was a dream job for me—to paint and draw and then see it as a final product. It was something I’d craved since I was a child.

“All right.” He sighed. “I’ll see what I can do. Of course, you’ll have to talk to Ben about it, too. He may know more people than me that could help you out a bit.”

“Oh my gosh! Really?” I squealed, grabbing his hands.

“Really.” He winked before
tossing his empty beer bottle. “Wanna go for some fresh air?” he asked, cocking his head toward the exit.

I nodded quickly. I was excited. I could see in his eyes that he was being serious. I knew he joked around a lot and could be really irresponsible, but this was one thing I wanted to trust him with.

I hooked my arm through his and we stepped through the crowd to get outside. “You don’t find it weird that none of those people in there knew you?” I asked.

“Not really.” He shrugged. “Most of them are real down-to-earth country people. They’ll listen to nothing but the country genre. FireNine is more of a rock
-slash-alternative kind of band—plus we’re just starting to become popular. Our music isn’t too hardcore or too soft. We’re, like, right in between.”

I nodded, my lips pressed together. “Makes sens
e.” We continued walking and silence crept up on us. There was one question that had been on my mind since his performance earlier and I had to get an answer. “Have you ever been in love before?” I blurted. Right after asking, my cheeks burned and I lowered my head a little.

Gage looked down at me, his eyes narrowed. “What makes you ask that?”

“Well… your song you sang earlier—the new one from the garage—you told me the other night that you write most of the songs. Did you write that one?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.
”

“The lyrics seemed to be about a broken heart…” I trailed off as he looked at me, smirking. “Never mind.” I sighed, feeling completely idiotic
for bringing it up.

“No, it’s cool.” He
tucked his fingers into his back pockets. “I’ve never been in love before. It’s odd, though, how one would think it’s always a boyfriend or girlfriend who’s broken someone’s heart. Sometimes it’s the ones closest to us who can destroy us most. Sometimes it’s friends…
family
. It’s not always a romantic relationship that can leave us with a broken heart.”

I nodded, speechless. His way with words was really, really getting to me. How could he be so deep and emotional yet one of the most ruthless rockers I’d ever known? It confused me and I thoug
ht on it as we continued walking—that is until Gage lightened up and looked at me. “So tell me about you, Sweet Ellie,” he said. “Besides your crazy, mad obsession with art, what else do you like to do?”

I thought hard on his question as I looked ahead. I knew he was trying to change the subject and I was glad, because knowing me, I would have asked him to clear my confusion. I wanted to know who exactly broke his heart.

The path was continuing between a cut of trees, but the moonlight was seeping through, giving us enough light to see where we were going. “I like music,” I said. “And watching cartoons sometimes.”

Gage laughed at me. “And, again, you say you’re twenty-one, right?”

“Yes, I am,” I said matter-of-factly. “Cartoons will never get old—especially the classics.”

He laughed again. “Okay, okay.” I pulled my arm from his to give him some space. It felt nice to be close to him, but I knew sooner or later me clinging to his arm was going to turn into something outside of being friends. I couldn’t afford it. “So what about your future? Do you have a boyfriend you swear you’re going to marry one day like most girls do?” he teased, winking.

“Nope.” My lips popped. “I’m a single dove right now.”

“I like that. Sing
le dove,” he noted, eyes connecting with mine.

“Really?” I folded my fi
ngers in front of me and a creek came into view. “You should make a song out of it… even though you aren’t single—but you do live the single life.”

He laughed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I rolled my eyes. “I think it’s obvious what it means, Gage.”

“Oh, Ellie,” he said, his deep voice causing my stomach to coil. “So impudent, aren’t you?”

I smiled, looking up into the hazel eyes that were already looking down at me. “Actually, I can be really coy.”

“I can see that. You’re one of those people who doesn’t give too much away.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, biting the corner of my bottom lip.

“Not at all. Not when you’re someone like
you
.”

My eyebrows drew in and an innocent frown took hold of my featu
res. “That made no sense at all,” I scoffed.

Gage took off his cowboy hat and ran a hand through his messy hair as he stopped walking. His dark hair rustled with the gentle bre
eze and as a strand fell onto his forehead, I bit my lower lip again, fighting the urge to push it back and get a clear view of his gorgeous face. Good thing his head was turned and he wasn’t looking at me admiring him.

“Would you like me to explain it to you?” he asked, meeting my eyes again.

“Please do, Grendel.”

He laughed at that. “Okay. Someone like you is… innocent—but knows how to have a good time. You’re someone who can create a smile without even trying. I’ve noticed it lately. I’m not really sure if it’s your innocence that makes people automatically fond of you or if it’s just that smile of yours that always seems so wide, yet so much is hidden behind it.” Gage’s smile fell the same time mine did. For some reason, I couldn’t look away from him. His eyes sparkled from the light of the moon, and as he blinked, I finally lowered my head to
look anywhere but at him.

“You’re someone who I can tell doesn’t trust easily. Love easily. Fall easily. Someone who knows how to step away from stupidity and nonsense instead of lingering around it. You’re the kind of person who knows she deserves it all because you’re strong, knowledgeable, and
mature for your age. I find it nice, really,” he said, grinning, but I could still feel him looking at me. He then did the unexpected.

He took a step forward, bringing his hand up and pulling me in by my waist. My heart throbbed and a trickle of heat ran from my throat to my stomach as he tilted my chin up with his forefinger. “I find
you
nice, Ellie. I see a whole lot more within you than you think I do.”

I couldn’t breathe. Usually that’s a bad thing, but in this circumstance, it was good. Gage’s lips hovered above mine and
his warm breath tickled my cheek. The warmth of his free hand was at my waist and his eyelids lowered as he looked from my eyes and then down to my lips again.

I bit on my bottom lip and his parted as he brought
his hand up to cup my cheek. The touch of his skin on mine sent me over the edge. He was so close. Even with the few gusts of wind blowing against us, I was burning up on the inside, yearning for at least one kiss. It didn’t have to happen again after this night, but at this very moment, it was the perfect time to go in for a taste of him. But how was I to go about it? What if it wasn’t the time yet? It felt wrong… but my body was screaming that it was so right.

“Gage—”

He cut me off before I could finish speaking, placing his finger against the fold of my lips. “Don’t,” he whispered. He moved in even closer and I stifled a breath. My heart was pounding the closer he got. He removed his finger from my lips to get full view of them again and a slow, sensual smile weaved its way across his lips.
Oh, God.
He was so beautiful.

So. Damn. Beautiful.

But just as he was about to place his lips on mine, a buzzing noise came out of nowhere and Gage stopped, but he was so close. He was almost there, but the vibrating disturbed it all. He then looked down and pulled away. “Your phone’s ringing, Eliza,” he murmured.

I blinked quickly, taking a step back and snapping out of my daze. I’d forgotten about everything else that was going on outside of us. I
quickly pulled the phone out of the pocket of my dress and saw Ben’s name on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Liza, where are you?” Ben asked.

“I’m out… with Gage,” I said, taking a brief glance at him. Gage forced a smile.

“Ohhh,” Ben sang. “Hope you’re having fun. I just wanted to check on you. I went by the bus and didn’t see you there. I knew you weren’t at the club.” He laughed, teasing me.

“Hardy-har-har,
” I said sarcastically, biting on a smile.

“Well, have fun. I’ll be out with a few friends tonight so don’t wait up for me. Hugs and kisses.” Ben hung up and I slid the phone back into the pocket of my dress before turning slowly to look at Gage. I took a step back and he looked me over, confused by the space I allowed to grow between us.
He turned his head, breathing strongly through his nostrils. His features became aggravated, frustrated. His jaw ticked and his grip around his cowboy hat grew tighter.

“Should we get out of here?” he asked, forcing another smile as he finally looked me in the eyes.

“Yeah,” I breathed as I stepped to his side.

His eyes softened and the walk to the barn was quicker, but only because Gage was pacing forward. During our walk, he called Stan and told him to come and get us. We waited in the barn for only ten minutes, quietly watching the people square dance, before Gage checked his phone and then told me to come on.

The ride back to the bus was worse.

Ten times worse.

If Stan wouldn’t have had his jazz music playing, the ride would’ve been dead silent and way too awkward. The night was ending in the wrong way, but I didn’t care because it was way too close. I’d gotten too close to Gage.

Stan pulled up in front of the tour bus and I climbed out quickly. Gage got out, but before he shut the door behind him, he told Stan to wait. One of the security guards hopped out of one of the trailers behind the bus with a bundle of keys in hand. He unlocked the door, nodded at me, and then hurried back.

I sped for my room, latching the door behind me. I slipped out of the boots, the dress, and removed the pigtails before sliding into some pajama shorts and a tank top.

Zippers zipped and Gage grunted a few times on the other side of the door. It was too damn quiet and I was starting to get annoyed by it.

I pulled my door open to look out, but my forehead creased as Gage sprayed some cologne over his fresh clothes. I expected pajamas, but instead he’d changed into some black jeans, a tight blue T-shirt, and his usual Chuck Taylor’s.

“Where are you going?” I asked.