Chapter 2
Saturday night
After spending the morning fretting Sydney decided to make pot roast for Gage. She knew he would love anything she cooked, but for some reason this dish always seemed to be her best. Syd had started the meal at 5 and had taken a shower; all that was left to do was set the table and wait. After what seemed like 15 times, Syd finally found the perfect arrangement, they were to sit across from each other of course, but with dimmed lighting, she had decided to hold off on the candles just yet, after all Gage did not say it was a date.
It was 6:30, and the house took on the unmistakable aroma of delicious simmering pot roast. Just as Syd was going to re-do the table for the 16th time, the phone rang.
"Hello" she asked somewhat annoyed
"Hey Syd it's me, I wanted to ask you if you wanted me to maybe bring some movies, so we can hang out a little longer after dinner"
"Yeah Gage that'd be great, what are you thinking of bringing?"
"Well Syd I do believe that is what they call a surprise"
"Fine" she said with an exaggerated sigh "I'll see you soon"
"I'm counting on it," said Gage as he hung up
Syd was excited at this news, getting to lay on the couch and watch a movie with Gage, they had done it before, but for some reason today just seemed different. Syd was snapped back into reality when she realized that she was still in her comfort clothes, making a mad dash to her room she changed into a pair of short khaki shorts and a low cut white top, just as she finished re-applying her makeup the door bell rang.
When Syd opened the door she felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, there he was wearing jeans and a gray t-shirt topped off by his sexy black leather jacket, God he looked good.
"Hey Syd," hey said with a chuckle "these are for you"
He handed her a bottle of wine and a single red rose, after seeing the rose she slightly blushed "Thanks Gage come on in" She was saying as she put the rose in water and the wine on the table.
"Man it smells great in here what on earth did you cook" Gage asked as he walked into her apartment,
"Just pot roast it'll be ready in a couple minutes, make yourself comfortable, hey what movie did you bring?" Syd said coming back into the living room, she now sat facing him on the couch
" Oh I brought The Waterboy, I thought it was a good night for a comedy," He laughed softly and smiled at her, in return she smiled back but quickly got up to check the food
"Yeah, that's great, let me go check on the food" she said as she left the room, Gage got up to follow her, he was standing in the doorway of the kitchen unnoticed by Syd. As she leaned down to get the rolls out of the oven he couldn't help but notice how well she filled out her shorts, in fact that outfit she was wearing was very flattering to her figure.
"Hey Syd let me help you" he said, when she jumped he laughed and took the rolls from her hand "where do you want these?"
"On the table is fine, here take these while you're at it" She handed him two wine glasses and followed him to the table with the pot roast " I hope you brought your appetite"
"Syd, do you know who you are talking to"
"Oh yeah of course"
Gage sat down at the table and Syd followed suit, he poured each of them a glass of the wine they quietly they started to eat until Gage couldn't hold it in any longer "You are so beautiful Syd" After realizing what he said he quickly stated "and this food is excellent I don't know what took you so long to have me over"
Syd was stunned and at a loss for words, he said she was beautiful, deciding to ignore the comment Syd said, "Well thanks, but it is just an old recipe and Gage you could have came over anytime"
"I mean it Syd you are beautiful" Gage's tone was serious, not joking like usual
"Thanks Gage, it means a lot to me to know that you think that" Her eyes met his for a moment and time seemed to have stopped
"I have always thought that Syd, I mean it, now and when I told you last time" He was referring to the time after Walkers wedding when she was mad about never dating.
"Gage, how do you always come up with new ways to make me smile, you have to be the only man I know who can brighten up bad days for me" She was softly smiling at him, and he in turned out down his fork and took her hand in his
"That's easy Syd, you are my best friend, and I will always be here to cheer you up"
"I know Gage, you're my best friend to, I don't think I would have made it without you after what Richard did to me" A frown came across Syd's face as she thought of him, her ex boyfriend, after Angela had been born she had let her guard down and found herself in a relationship with a guy in her apartment complex. His name was Richard and for a while she thought he was the one, he was a real charmer and treated her like a princess. That is until she caught him in bed with another woman. She had felt like her heart had been ripped out and thrown in her face, and Gage was there for her, he held her and let her cry, and helped her move Richard out of her life permanently.
"Hey Shorty, I only want to see only smiles from you tonight, you got that?" Gage smiled at her a warm comforting smile.
"Your right Gage, it's behind me, and I have you to make sure I never get with guys like that again" She smiled back at him reassured, she knew he meant what he said
"Ok now, lets finish this food so we can watch the movie" Gage said; removing his hand from hers back to his joking old self
"You mean so we can do the dishes and then watch the movie?" asked Syd with a smile
"Yeah that, that's what I meant" Gage and Syd finished their meal over small talk and many compliments to the chef. When the kitchen was put in order Sydney took Gage by the hand and led him to the living room.
Gage did not know what to think, but he did not want to, so he grasped her hand tighter and followed her
"Ok sit down while I put in the movie" Syd said in what sounded like a command
"Yes ma'am" answered Gage in a playful voice.
After Syd put in the movie she sat on the couch next to Gage, he in turn put his arm around her and pulled her close, before long they were both laid out on the couch, Gage still holding Sydney.
"So Syd are you sure you have to stay gone two weeks?" Gage asked as he ran his fingers through her hair
"Yes I am sure, don't worry there are plenty of restaurants to feed you, and work will be so busy you won't even miss me" Syd was gazing into Gages eyes, neither of them paying any attention to the movie.
"Fine, but I am still not happy about this, I'm gonna miss you Shorty"
"I'll miss you to, I mean 2 weeks with my family is not going to be fun, now stop all this talking and let me watch the movie" she said lightheartedly punching him. They both turned back to face the television and finished watching the movie, Sydney still in his arms as he played with her hair.
When the movie was over Syd noticed it was quite late, if she was gonna get any sleep before her flight tomorrow she would have to call it a night.
Gage got up and stretched, he figured Syd would have to leave early so he slowly started walking to the door
"Hey Gage" Said Syd as he reached the door "I had a great time tonight, sleep well"
He turned around to face her finding her lips only inches away from his, "I will Syd, you to, have a safe flight tomorrow, and you better call me as soon as you plane lands" his tone was very stern, until she started laughing at him
"You know I will, I'll call you all the time" She smiled up at him, slightly leaning in all the while.
"Good, now I'll let you get some sleep, Thanks again for tonight, I had a great time, like always" He moved one hand around her waist and let the other gently stroke her cheek as he slowly leaned in and gave her a tender kiss on her lips.
"What was that for?" She asked, still somewhat flushed but wishing for more
"Because I care, and so you'll remember what your coming home to, we have a lot of unfinished business to take care of" He laughed and put on his jacket "be safe Syd I'll miss you"
"Bye Gage" she whispered softly as he left "Take care of you", she did not even have to comment on what he had said, she knew full well what he meant, there relationship had been changing since Richard. She knew she loved Gage but the hurt from Richard was still fresh, and she did not want that to happen again. As she changed into her bedclothes she couldn't stop thinking about that kiss, time away is what she needed not a relationship, so she dismissed it from her mind and went to sleep.
TBC
Saturday night
After spending the morning fretting Sydney decided to make pot roast for Gage. She knew he would love anything she cooked, but for some reason this dish always seemed to be her best. Syd had started the meal at 5 and had taken a shower; all that was left to do was set the table and wait. After what seemed like 15 times, Syd finally found the perfect arrangement, they were to sit across from each other of course, but with dimmed lighting, she had decided to hold off on the candles just yet, after all Gage did not say it was a date.
It was 6:30, and the house took on the unmistakable aroma of delicious simmering pot roast. Just as Syd was going to re-do the table for the 16th time, the phone rang.
"Hello" she asked somewhat annoyed
"Hey Syd it's me, I wanted to ask you if you wanted me to maybe bring some movies, so we can hang out a little longer after dinner"
"Yeah Gage that'd be great, what are you thinking of bringing?"
"Well Syd I do believe that is what they call a surprise"
"Fine" she said with an exaggerated sigh "I'll see you soon"
"I'm counting on it," said Gage as he hung up
Syd was excited at this news, getting to lay on the couch and watch a movie with Gage, they had done it before, but for some reason today just seemed different. Syd was snapped back into reality when she realized that she was still in her comfort clothes, making a mad dash to her room she changed into a pair of short khaki shorts and a low cut white top, just as she finished re-applying her makeup the door bell rang.
When Syd opened the door she felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her, there he was wearing jeans and a gray t-shirt topped off by his sexy black leather jacket, God he looked good.
"Hey Syd," hey said with a chuckle "these are for you"
He handed her a bottle of wine and a single red rose, after seeing the rose she slightly blushed "Thanks Gage come on in" She was saying as she put the rose in water and the wine on the table.
"Man it smells great in here what on earth did you cook" Gage asked as he walked into her apartment,
"Just pot roast it'll be ready in a couple minutes, make yourself comfortable, hey what movie did you bring?" Syd said coming back into the living room, she now sat facing him on the couch
" Oh I brought The Waterboy, I thought it was a good night for a comedy," He laughed softly and smiled at her, in return she smiled back but quickly got up to check the food
"Yeah, that's great, let me go check on the food" she said as she left the room, Gage got up to follow her, he was standing in the doorway of the kitchen unnoticed by Syd. As she leaned down to get the rolls out of the oven he couldn't help but notice how well she filled out her shorts, in fact that outfit she was wearing was very flattering to her figure.
"Hey Syd let me help you" he said, when she jumped he laughed and took the rolls from her hand "where do you want these?"
"On the table is fine, here take these while you're at it" She handed him two wine glasses and followed him to the table with the pot roast " I hope you brought your appetite"
"Syd, do you know who you are talking to"
"Oh yeah of course"
Gage sat down at the table and Syd followed suit, he poured each of them a glass of the wine they quietly they started to eat until Gage couldn't hold it in any longer "You are so beautiful Syd" After realizing what he said he quickly stated "and this food is excellent I don't know what took you so long to have me over"
Syd was stunned and at a loss for words, he said she was beautiful, deciding to ignore the comment Syd said, "Well thanks, but it is just an old recipe and Gage you could have came over anytime"
"I mean it Syd you are beautiful" Gage's tone was serious, not joking like usual
"Thanks Gage, it means a lot to me to know that you think that" Her eyes met his for a moment and time seemed to have stopped
"I have always thought that Syd, I mean it, now and when I told you last time" He was referring to the time after Walkers wedding when she was mad about never dating.
"Gage, how do you always come up with new ways to make me smile, you have to be the only man I know who can brighten up bad days for me" She was softly smiling at him, and he in turned out down his fork and took her hand in his
"That's easy Syd, you are my best friend, and I will always be here to cheer you up"
"I know Gage, you're my best friend to, I don't think I would have made it without you after what Richard did to me" A frown came across Syd's face as she thought of him, her ex boyfriend, after Angela had been born she had let her guard down and found herself in a relationship with a guy in her apartment complex. His name was Richard and for a while she thought he was the one, he was a real charmer and treated her like a princess. That is until she caught him in bed with another woman. She had felt like her heart had been ripped out and thrown in her face, and Gage was there for her, he held her and let her cry, and helped her move Richard out of her life permanently.
"Hey Shorty, I only want to see only smiles from you tonight, you got that?" Gage smiled at her a warm comforting smile.
"Your right Gage, it's behind me, and I have you to make sure I never get with guys like that again" She smiled back at him reassured, she knew he meant what he said
"Ok now, lets finish this food so we can watch the movie" Gage said; removing his hand from hers back to his joking old self
"You mean so we can do the dishes and then watch the movie?" asked Syd with a smile
"Yeah that, that's what I meant" Gage and Syd finished their meal over small talk and many compliments to the chef. When the kitchen was put in order Sydney took Gage by the hand and led him to the living room.
Gage did not know what to think, but he did not want to, so he grasped her hand tighter and followed her
"Ok sit down while I put in the movie" Syd said in what sounded like a command
"Yes ma'am" answered Gage in a playful voice.
After Syd put in the movie she sat on the couch next to Gage, he in turn put his arm around her and pulled her close, before long they were both laid out on the couch, Gage still holding Sydney.
"So Syd are you sure you have to stay gone two weeks?" Gage asked as he ran his fingers through her hair
"Yes I am sure, don't worry there are plenty of restaurants to feed you, and work will be so busy you won't even miss me" Syd was gazing into Gages eyes, neither of them paying any attention to the movie.
"Fine, but I am still not happy about this, I'm gonna miss you Shorty"
"I'll miss you to, I mean 2 weeks with my family is not going to be fun, now stop all this talking and let me watch the movie" she said lightheartedly punching him. They both turned back to face the television and finished watching the movie, Sydney still in his arms as he played with her hair.
When the movie was over Syd noticed it was quite late, if she was gonna get any sleep before her flight tomorrow she would have to call it a night.
Gage got up and stretched, he figured Syd would have to leave early so he slowly started walking to the door
"Hey Gage" Said Syd as he reached the door "I had a great time tonight, sleep well"
He turned around to face her finding her lips only inches away from his, "I will Syd, you to, have a safe flight tomorrow, and you better call me as soon as you plane lands" his tone was very stern, until she started laughing at him
"You know I will, I'll call you all the time" She smiled up at him, slightly leaning in all the while.
"Good, now I'll let you get some sleep, Thanks again for tonight, I had a great time, like always" He moved one hand around her waist and let the other gently stroke her cheek as he slowly leaned in and gave her a tender kiss on her lips.
"What was that for?" She asked, still somewhat flushed but wishing for more
"Because I care, and so you'll remember what your coming home to, we have a lot of unfinished business to take care of" He laughed and put on his jacket "be safe Syd I'll miss you"
"Bye Gage" she whispered softly as he left "Take care of you", she did not even have to comment on what he had said, she knew full well what he meant, there relationship had been changing since Richard. She knew she loved Gage but the hurt from Richard was still fresh, and she did not want that to happen again. As she changed into her bedclothes she couldn't stop thinking about that kiss, time away is what she needed not a relationship, so she dismissed it from her mind and went to sleep.
TBC
