Page 99 of Just Exes

He raises his brows. “I like that. It’ll give you a good story to tell your kids one day.”

His response steals my breath, and my heart falters. With all the chaos that has happened since Gage told me about Andy, I’ve never questioned his outlook on having a family—until now.

“Do you …” I stutter while searching for the right words. “Do you think he’ll want to have kids afterthis?”

Luke doesn’t answer until we make eye contact. “That’s something you need to talk to him about. He never talked about having children until Missy came along, but then again, he never thought you two would have a second chance.”

“Let me guess …”

The gravelly voice causes me to jump.

Gage steps into the room with sleepy eyes and yawns. “I’m the center of whatever you two are talking about.”

“No way,” I draw out. “We were talking about best-friend things.”

Gage snorts. “You two best friends now?”

“Damn straight,” Luke answers. “We’re ordering our friendship bracelets tomorrow.”

I nod. “They’re going to be pink.”

“Blue,” Luke corrects before standing up. He squeezes my shoulder and then slaps Gage on the back. “I need to hit the shower. Good night.”

We both say good night, and Gage waits until he disappears down the hall before falling to his knees in front of me.

“I’m not sure if I thanked you for coming here,” he says, grabbing my chin and caressing it with his fingers. “But thank you, Lauren. Thank you for everything—for thinking of my dad, for thinking of Andy, for wanting me even though I was acting selfish.”

A tear falls down his cheek and hits my leg.

“I’d follow you anywhere,” I say around a sob. “And trust me when I say this, Gage Perry, I will never walk away from you again. Never. You’re stuck with me now.”

A small glimmer of a smile passes over his lips. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

My lips meet his.

He gets up to grab my hand, and I can’t stop myself from smiling at the sight of the scratch marks on his back as he leads me back to bed.

Thirty-Five

Gage

Andy Amos Perry.

My son.

The sweetest and most badass kid I’ve ever met.

The tiny tot who wrapped his small fist around my heart and held on tighter as he grew up.

The boy who was just confirmed to have been found in the lake.

The phone falls from my hand after Cory breaks the news.

I run to the bathroom.

Vomit.

Slump down against the wall and cry, my knees to my chest.

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