Saving Us (The Billionaire Brothers of NY Duology #1)

19. Gage

CHAPTER 19

Gage

W e’d fallen into a routine, Harper and me. We spent Sundays together, since she was off from both her jobs on Mondays. She took her time getting up and out, and I have to say, I loved seeing her in my bed as I left for work. Monday nights were usually good for us both, so we either went out or brought food in. She was off from the shop on Fridays, too, so I did my best to meet her for lunch.

It was nice. And some might think we were moving quickly, but I felt that our pace was just right—for us.

But then we decided we should spend more time as a couple with our friends instead of holed up alone in my brownstone.

Our plans today included a day with Jared and Delia at Coney Island, specifically to do go-karts. It was something Jared and I had been wanting to do, and the girls were on board. I wasn’t sure if they agreed just to make us happy, but it did exactly that.

Jared and I were definitely like little kids when it came to our downtime activities. We both enjoyed golf, softball, going to the gym, basically anything physical.

But to top it off, we were competitive as shit.

Today could get messy. Harper hadn’t seen this side of me yet, and I hoped after she witnessed how he and I got when we competed, she didn’t want to just walk right away.

“Are we seriously taking the subway?” Harper asked. The incredulity in her voice startled me.

“Yes,” I answered with a finality in my voice. “Why?”

Her voice went higher when she answered, giving a look of innocence. “Nothing.”

Her nothing definitely did not mean nothing.

So, I continued to stare at her as we stood across from each other, my kitchen island between us. I’d been packing a backpack with some snacks and water bottles for the day, thinking we might want to sit on the beach if the weather held up. When she continued to say nothing, I stopped packing the bag until my stare got her attention.

“Well,” she started. But the pause was followed by her shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know, all we’ve done so far is use your limo and Thomas. I just didn’t think it was ‘your thing.’”

And she used the air quotes.

“My thing ?” I questioned. But I realized she was right. One hundred percent correct. Not sure if it was an unconscious thing, like I was low-key trying to impress her. Or maybe I’d just been overly busy since meeting her and recently getting back in the groove at work. But thus far, we’d only used Thomas to get around the city. “Well, I do get around like other people a lot of the time. It just hasn’t happened much since we’ve met.”

I thought my answer would satisfy her, but instead, she still looked thoughtful. I didn’t want this to turn into something it didn’t need to be, so I let it go.

“I’m looking forward to our day together, what about you?” I asked as I closed my bag. We were meeting Jared and Delia down the street at the subway station in fifteen minutes, so we needed to start heading out. I reached for Harper, my arm going around her waist as I pulled her against me. Her arms wrapped around my middle and her head fell against my chest.

“I am,” she said, looking up at me. “I really like Jared and Delia. And believe it or not, even though I’ve lived in New York for five years, I still haven’t been to Coney Island.”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Well, then let’s get going. It’s iconic, and even though we’re really going for the karts, I think I’ll have to get you on the Cyclone. You do like roller coasters, don’t you? I’m not sure this will work if you don’t.”

Her laugh filled the room, and I caught a glimpse of her dimple at the same time. I wasn’t prepared for the warm feeling that consumed me hearing and seeing both.

“Lucky for me, and us, I love roller coasters,” she said as she turned out of my hold. “C’mon, we’re gonna be late.”

Jared and Delia were at the corner as we arrived, and we all walked down the stairs to the subway station. I loved seeing how Harper and Delia ran to each other on the street and walked arm in arm toward our train.

“So, things seem to be going pretty well between the two of you for someone who said he swore off relationships,” Jared chided. We hung back as the girls walked ahead.

“Yeah, well, we both know me, don’t we?” I answered.

As hard as I may try, I wasn’t built for casual or even short term. I was a perfect case study for some psychology student somewhere. But the best part was, I think I found my match in that department with Harper.

“I really like her, we’ve been having a good time,” I told him. But I was playing it down. I more than liked her. At least, it was headed in that direction. And for some reason, I wasn’t scared. With my recent past, I probably should’ve been, but everything seemed right with her.

“Well, then I’m happy for you, man. You deserve it after what Rebecca put you through. Just don’t get totally swept away, I guess,” he said, a bit of a warning in his voice.

The girls were up ahead, already through the turnstile, as he and I joined them waiting for the Q to arrive. The hour-long train ride to Brooklyn wasn’t much longer than taking a car, so it made sense.

Delia and Harper were giggling and whispering to one another, about what, I had no idea. But it was cute to watch. I was happy to see them connecting, getting along. Harper said often that she doesn’t fit into my world. But seeing her here, with me and my friends today, I knew there was no other place she belonged.

I knew I would heed the warning Jared gave. I was working so hard to stay vigilant about my feelings, not letting myself get too carried away. But all I saw as I looked at Harper was someone I could spend the rest of my life with. And maybe the timing wasn’t the best. If I were being truly cautious, I’d take more time to heal from the divorce. But I wasn’t about to let her walk away from me, either. The past weeks we’d been spent together had been amazing.

More than amazing.

“Gage, c’mon!” she yelled as she ran to me and grabbed my hand. “The train is coming.”

Her smile was wide and her eyes bright as she looked up at me. I was oblivious to the smell of piss that surrounded us and the garbage down here in the underground station. She made all of that disappear.

She seemed to make so many of the unpleasant things in my life take a backseat.

And I wanted to see where it went.