He nodded slowly. “I didn’t even bother using my G.I. Bill for a lot of the same reasons,” he said. “I got on with a contractor thanks to Reaver, and I’ve been making pretty good money at it.” He shrugged one shoulder. “The trades are pretty much highly undervalued anymore.”
“They totally are,” I agreed. “I still can’t see myself as a plumber or an electrician, though. I mean, I love working for the coffee stand, but it’s just a sort of ‘in the meantime’ thing until I figure some things out. Of course, I’ve been saving but I need a car now.” I winced. “I was going to ask you about that,” I said.
He went over to the bed and sat down, looking at me.
“You need help?” he asked.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Not financially, anyway. I have a modest savings, and the insurance payout will be here soon. I just can’t decide if I want something used or if I want to use what I have as a down payment on something new, maybe.”
“Depends, sounds like you have some other long-term goals to figure out before you make such a big decision.”
I frowned at him slightly and said, “You’re so helpful.”
He smiled at me and held up his hands as though to ward off any ire. I had none, just a deep longing, love and affection for him.
“Things are pretty new between us, wouldn’t you agree?” he asked suddenly, and I paused in cinching up the top of my nice leather backpack I had asked for the previous year for my birthday and nodded carefully.
“Yeah,” I said gently. “Where’d that come from?” I asked.
“Comes from me wondering how soon is too soon to make big plans, you know?”
I shook my head, slightly puzzled, and he smiled at me. “You done?” he asked, and I felt as though he’d gently set down the subject, tabling it for now.
“Yeah,” I said and went to the back of my door for my coat and scarf.
“Okay.” He shouldered the bag. “Anything else?” he asked.
“That tote there,” I said, nudging it with my toe.
“Got it.” He shouldered both, one on each shoulder.
“Is there anything else?” he asked one more time, grinning.
“No,” I said smiling.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, come on, let’s go.”
“K.”
I grinned and followed him out of my room, giving it one last sweeping glance, paranoid I was forgetting something now that he’d made such a big deal about it.
“You’re sure now?” he asked, grinning over his shoulder and I laughed, giving him a little shove.
“Yes, I’m sure, you ass!” I sputtered. “You’re making me paranoid!” He laughed, and I grinned big – happy and excited to be going with him.
“We’re leaving,” I said, going into the living room to hug and kiss both my parents goodbye.
“Okay,” my dad grunted. “You text me when you get there, one or the both of you,” he said.
“Okay,” I agreed.
“You got it,” Sage echoed.
“Bye, Dante!” I waved at my brother at the dining room table, who was frowning over some homework.
“See you tomorrow, Eedee,” he said absently, and I smiled.
I led Sage out, closing up the door behind him and locking it. He looked back, eyeing me and telling me to be careful as we made our way through the half-melted and re-frozen snow and ice to the truck.
He put my two bags on the seat between us, shrugged out of his cut and got behind the wheel. I got in and he laid the cool, slick leather across my lap.
“You look like you’re freezing in that,” he commented dryly, and I smiled.
“What? No! They’re fleece-lined leggings,” I declared. They were maroon, under a golden yellow corduroy skirt that hit me at mid-thigh. I was wearing the cream, Moreno wool Irish sweater that Evy had given me last Christmas as well. I was as warm as could be.
“Not going to be wearing it for long as soon as we get back to my place anyway,” he said with a shrug, starting up the truck and I laughed.
“I like the sound of that.”
He reached over and put a hand on my knee any time he didn’t need to shift and I loved it, getting a secret little thrill at the little touches.
He pulled into the club’s driveway, parked us, and shot a text to my dad before taking his cut and slipping out of the truck with a grunted, “Stay right there.”
I waited, and he came and got my door for me, ever the gentleman. He took my bags and held my hand as we traversed the slick and slippery slush accumulated in the drive. I was glad when they’d had the lot and drive properly paved when I was like thirteen. I always hated the bikes on the gravel. Was always afraid someone would get hurt.
Inside the club, Trigger, Reaver, Blue, Data and Thirteen sat around one of the poker tables in the corner with Mali acting as their dealer. I always loved watching her with a deck of cards in her hands. She did incredible things with shuffling and I had asked her once if she had ever been a dealer in someplace like Vegas. She’d just given me a side-eyed glance and an enigmatic smile and had shuffled on.
“Hey, kids,” Trig grunted in greeting.
Sage smiled and shook his head. “Not anymore,” he said, and Trigger chuckled.
“Always will be to me, bro. Sorry if I offended.”
“No offense here,” I said smiling.
“Good deal.”
Sage switched my hand from one to the other and led me back to the hub and subsequently down the hallway to his room.
It was like as soon as he shut the door a weight lifted from me and I could breathe again. Things just felt better when it was just he and I alone like this. He immediately set my things down and went to our little Christmas tree, plugging in the lights.
“That’s better,” he said, straightening back up. I toed off my super warm snow boots and stripped off my thick woolen socks, stuffing them into each boot. Sage shrugged out of his jacket and cut, hanging them on one of the hooks on the back of the door. He took my jacket and scarf from me and hung it beside his.
“That’s better,” he murmured, pulling me into his arms.
We kissed and the last little bit of tension left my body.
“You ready for your first Christmas present?” he asked, and I smiled.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Get undressed,” he said. “Lie on your stomach on the bed.”
I blinked up at him curiously but moved to do what he asked, gripping the hem of my sweater and pulling it over my head while he went to his dresser and opened one of the drawers. He pulled out a set of pillar candles in various heights, setting them up on a plate and lighting them with one of those long fireplace or barbecue lighters.
He ditched the lighter back in the drawer just as I stepped out of my panties, leaving everything in a heap by my bag.
“Go ahead and go lie down,” he said encouragingly, and I did. I went to the bed and laid down in the center on my stomach. The whisper of cloth made me turn my head in his direction as he swiftly disrobed, coming over to the bed and getting on, straddling the backs of my thighs as he leaned way over and opened up his nightstand drawer.