Page 43 of Our Cracked Pieces
Lorcan~
The problem with relationships was that when a woman confided in her friends, it was expected and acceptable. When a man confided in his friends, there was a fine line between seeking advice and kissing and telling. A woman’s privacy was to be protected at all times, and I felt strongly about that. I only had to think of my sister to remember that important fact, not that I ever forgot it.
But if I had any hope of navigating through Rowan Lewis’ landmines, I needed some serious input, and there were only three people who could give that to me. Two-Mystic and Grayson-would both tell me to go to hell before revealing Rowan’s secrets, so that left Gage.
Though, to be fair, I wasn’t sure there was much Gage could tell me about Rowan. She was Mystic’s friend, and Gage couldn’t see past work and his wife long enough to pay attention to anything else. Once those kids come along, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sold everything he owned, just so he could divide his time between his wife and babies.
Picking up the phone, I bit the bullet. While Gage might be able to tell me much, maybe he could see something I wasn’t.
“I think you’ve called me more in these past few days than you have during our entire friendship,” he said in lieu of a greeting. “And that’s saying something considering how many business dealings Stymic and CI are involved in.”
“Are you done?”
The asshole chuckled. “For right now.”
“I need you to tell me everything you know about Rowan Lewis,” I demanded.
“Christ, Lorcan, is that what it’s come to? Stalking?”
“Really? This coming from you?”
“Hey, I never said it wasn’t a sound plan,” he said. “I just…I’ve never seen you this worked up over a woman before.”
“Well, I am,” I admitted. “And…the woman isn’t making it easy on me.”
Gage laughed. “What did you expect? This is the same woman who had basically told us to both go eat a dick the first time we met her.”
“If you don’t want your children saddled with a crazy godfather, you better work with me, Gage.”
His sigh was loud. “I don’t know if I can, Lor,” he replied. “I know the basics, but she’s Mystic’s friend. I know her father is a criminal attorney, her mother is a high school teacher, and they both live in California. I know Grayson is a high school teacher and a football coach, and that he’s supposedly so good at coaching, he was offered a hell of an opportunity here in Chicago, and he moved here several years ago to pursue it.”
“That’s it?” That’s all shit I could have found out myself with a little bit of internet-stalking.
“Pretty much,” he confirmed. “She’s a corporate auditor, and a damn good one, but you already knew that. She lives alone, dates casually, and is a bit of a spitfire.”
“So, you seriously have no insight for me,” I surmised.
“Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on, Lorcan,” he drawled out. “Quit dicking around here.”
“We slept together last night,” I finally admitted. “Armed with the information you gave me, I went over to her apartment, and…well, one thing led to another, that led to her showing me the door afterwards.”
“Maybe-”
“Don’t,” I bit out. “The sex was phenomenal. That wasn’t the problem.”
“Just because a woman cums-”
“Phenomenal, Gage.”
“Okay, okay,” he said, but the chuckle wasn’t reassuring. “Phenomenal.”
“You’re such a fucking asshole,” I told him. “People think I’m bad, but-”
“You are bad,” he quickly jumped in. “Apart from your mother, sister, and Rowan Lewis, your heart is as black as night, Cavanaugh.”
“With good reason,” I huffed. Gage knew all about Vanessa, so there was no need to explain any further.
“With good reason,” he agreed. “However, you still haven’t told me why you’re calling me. If the sex was phenomenal, why did she kick you out?”
