Jenalyn: From the Inside (#3) [Complete]

Chapter 62: Tyler

Thursday, 4:18 P.M. PST

This is the first time I’ve spoken to Gage since the day I told him about Sophie, and he ran off to tell Hayden. 

We even steered clear of each other during our Generation Z work. I didn’t think that was possible!

“Can we talk?” Gage asks, his head popped through the crack he’d opened in my bedroom door.

I ate, showered, and tried to take a nap- but can’t. He probably heard me in here fucking with the guitar I’d brought up from the studio to work on Hayden’s song.

“Last time I checked, we could!” I joke with a light heart. 

I've been pretty mad at him since the day I told him about Sophie, and he blew up on me. He didn’t bite his tongue in how he saw my relationship, and that day? It hurt me.

But I guess I understand…

He’s been close with Hayden from the start. I can’t blame him for falling in love with her; Or for being upset that I got her and then fucked her over in a way he says he wouldn’t have…

Gage forces a laugh, shutting my bedroom door behind him.

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry…” he mumbles as he plops down on the edge of my bed beside me. He lets a small sigh escape his lips. “It’s been bugging me. The things I said to you? I didn’t mean for any of it to come out like that.” 

I reach over to pat his shoulder a few times, thankful for his apology though I already found it in myself to forgive him. 

“It’s all good, big bro!” I tell him with a smile. “You weren’t… completely wrong. I’ve got some shit I need to work on; I always have! You know that.” 

Gage laughs and rolls his eyes as if to say I’m cutting him too much slack. He loosens up though, now aware that I’m not holding onto any negative feelings.

“Nah, man! I crossed the line,” he says, returning the shoulder pats. “I don’t think Hayden deserves better than you-“

He cuts himself off, trying to correct his phrasing. “I mean, she deserves the world!” he says almost defensively. “But I didn’t mean to say you couldn’t give it to her.”

I wonder if he really believes that.

I know he loves Hayden, and probably would be better for her as much as I hate to admit it.

Gage put the bottle down a while back. He doesn’t make the stupid decisions that I still do.

“I appreciate that, brother,” I tell him, “I’m sure you could be her world too!” 

I add on the second part to try to make him feel better, though the statement does hold some truth. 

A look of surprise crosses his face before he rolls his eyes with a laugh.

“You sharing your girl now?” he asks sarcastically. “Because that’s the only way we’re both going to be her world!” 

I laugh too, though I feel myself about to respond in a way that I wouldn’t expect to had I given myself time to consider it.

“She loves you too, Gage,” I say, finding the knowledge in a part of my mind I’ve chosen to ignore since I got with her. “If you two… have something? And it doesn’t get weird or shady, and she’s still mine? …Go for it.” 

I don’t know where it came from, or why I said it, but I don’t take any additional steps to rescind it.