From Ashes

“Dad, is she serious?”

John shrugged. “I argue with your mama, I sleep on the couch and she doesn’t feed me. So I don’t argue with your mama.”

I laughed out loud at that, but Gage still stood there with a horrified expression. It’s not like we hadn’t gone almost two years of being in love without having sex; we could go . . . however long until we got married. I pushed on his chest. “You heard your mama, step back, no funny business.” When I finally pushed him far enough, I closed my legs so he couldn’t step back between them and gave him a sly smile.

“Knew I loved that girl for a reason,” Tessa muttered as she went back to chopping. “Got a problem with it, son, I suggest you marry her.”

“Ma, I’m gonna marry her. Y’all just aren’t giving me a second to even propose; I just got her back today. I gotta make up for two weeks of thinkin’ she was gone first before I can get my head on straight again.”

My heart fluttered at that . . . Am I ready to marry Gage? I’m only nineteen. But Connor was right, my life had caused me to grow up fast, and I’d never felt fully comfortable with people my age unless it was Tyler. I wasn’t looking for college experiences, clubs on the weekends and flings with random guys. I’d found everything I would ever want the day I met Gage. So was I ready to marry him? Um, yes. Yes, I was. I grabbed his shirt and brought him close to kiss him softly once. “Get to bed, baby, you haven’t slept in a long time. I love you, sleep well.”

He smiled that heartbreaking smile and his green eyes lit up before he touched his lips to mine again, then my forehead. With a heavy sigh and frustrated look he turned toward the living room. “You gotta be kidding me. Can’t even sleep next to my girl?” He drawled, “Mama, you better be able to get a wedding together real quick.”

“Just give me the date.”

“Like . . . yesterday,” he said, clearly still frustrated.

“Will do, honey, sleep good.” Tessa turned to wink at me and looked suspiciously at my hand. “Did he propose? Did I miss something?”

I shook my head twice.

“He better get on with it then. That’s gonna be one frustrated boy until y’all are married.”

I nodded my head twice.

Tessa and I looked at each other for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“At least y’all can find it funny,” John said as he snagged another bell pepper. “Poor boy’s gonna go crazy and he’s gonna be hell to work with ’til then.”

Well, we couldn’t have that, now, could we? They thought Gage couldn’t last? Hell, I wouldn’t last. Hopping off the counter, I finally got that glass of water, drank it, and cleaned the glass before hugging both of them and calling out good-nights. After getting ready for bed, I talked to Amanda about Jesse for almost an hour before she passed out and I made my way to the sofa bed in her room, so ready to sleep. It had been a long, emotional day and I was so exhausted I didn’t think I’d be able to get the covers over me.

It couldn’t have been more than a few minutes later that I was woken up by Gage crawling into bed beside me and pulling me into his arms.

“Gage, your mom—”

“Darlin’, I need you in my arms tonight. I didn’t just miss sleep last night; it’s been a long two weeks.” He kissed the top of my head softly and curled his arms tighter around me. “Night, Cass, love you,” Gage managed to mumble before he fell asleep.

Seconds later, I followed him into the best sleep of my life.

“WAKE UP, DARLIN’.”

I burrowed my head farther into Gage’s chest and groaned. Too. Early.

He laughed and kissed a line along my jaw. “Gotta start my day. I’ll see you when I’m done.”

“You’re leaving already?” I turned to look out the window; it was barely turning gray outside. “Mmkay, Gage. Come back soon.”

“It’ll be a short day since Isabella and Jesse are here. Just gonna feed everyone, make sure none of the cattle broke any of the fences last night, and we’ll be back.” He trailed his fingers between my thighs and kissed me thoroughly, catching my moan.

“Not nice,” I grumbled when he pulled away chuckling.

“Go back to sleep, Cassidy.”

Rolling onto my back so I could look up at him, I pulled his lips down to mine one last time. “I’ll see you when you get back.”

TWO DAYS LATER I was in the kitchen with Tessa and Amanda, and we’d just finished lunch and were already working on dinner and dessert. Well, Tessa and I were; Amanda was focused on her phone. Ever since Isabella and Jesse had gone home yesterday morning, I hadn’t seen her set her phone down once. I’d finally gotten to have that talk with Isabella, and before I even got the full question out she was already answering.

“Oh, darling girl, I just knew I would see him find his other half before I went. I can now die knowing he’ll be taken care of.”

It seemed kind of morbid, but Isabella was thrilled, so I kept the smile plastered to my face. Later that day I’d accidently walked in on Jesse and Amanda making out in the laundry room. They were so into each other they didn’t even notice me walk in or step back out. But that night sure as hell was awkward, and they noticed that. I’d fallen asleep after spending another hour talking to Amanda about Jesse and was expecting to be woken up by Gage crawling into bed with me again as he had the night before. I’d been woken up by Gage all right, just not by his getting in the bed.