32. Hadley

32

HADLEY

H adley absentmindedly traced her finger along the spine of the Bible in her lap as trees flashed past the window. Gage's hand rested on her knee, and her other arm was wrapped around his bicep. Touching him while they were together reminded her that he was really here. He wasn't some dream she'd been living with for the last six weeks.

Though, so much of their relationship felt unreal. The changes in their lives had come so fast, she still woke up and took stock of reality every morning.

Thea was safe and married to Brett. They were living in a cabin on the ranch with Thea's mom.

Hadley's mom was doing great and currently in the longest streak of good health since before the stroke .

Emerson was Hadley's new roommate, and she still hadn't cracked that nutshell.

Gage had gone to great lengths to break all ties to his family. He was determined and completely changed from the guarded man she'd first met. He never missed a chance to remind her and show her how much he loved her, and she enjoyed reminding him of her own love.

Seriously, someone needed to pinch her.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"I'm not the one going to meet a bunch of new people. I promise they're all good."

Gage reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'll be fine."

"I'm glad you agreed to come. I don't know if I've said it enough lately, but it means a lot to me."

Gage glanced over at her before turning his attention back to the road. "You've mentioned it a few dozen times."

"I'm serious. I'm proud of you. It's not easy."

Amidst all the mess they'd been fielding in the last few weeks, Gage had been adamant to stick to his meetings with Mr. Chambers. She loved hearing Gage get excited over the things he'd learned.

Yet, he still hadn't agreed to go to church with her. His reluctance was understandable. The news about his family was still running rampant in town. How could she blame him for wanting to hide out? When Gage said he'd go with her to Bible study at a friend's house tonight, she'd almost jumped for joy.

Almost. She didn't want to scare him off. He still had the look of a cornered animal sometimes, and she didn't want to push him into more than he was comfortable with.

With one wrist lazily propped on the wheel, he leaned over closer to Hadley to whisper, "The things I do for you."

Her stomach did a happy somersault, but she repressed her body's natural reactions to his charms. "No, this is for you. Let yourself have something good for once."

Gage nodded and turned back to the road with a grin. "I have you."

"But you need more."

Gage's brows relaxed, and his grin flattened into a serious expression. "I know, sunshine. No one has ever cared about me enough to push me to be better or do better. I like that you want what's best for me because I want to be the best I can be for you."

Hadley pressed a hand to her chest, trying and failing to calm the out-of-control thumping of her heart. She'd seen her fair share of bad men, and she'd been made fully aware that people don't change. Her mom had tried and failed too many times.

But Gage was showing her all the ways he didn't fit that mold. He was changing, and so was she .

Hadley pointed to the turn up ahead. "That's the road."

He slowed as they neared their destination. When Blake and Everly's mega mansion came into view, Gage looked at her with his brows raised.

"Care to share the story behind this?" he said, pointing to her friends' gorgeous home with a view of the mountains.

"You know Cheyenne's fiancé, Ridge? Well, he used to be a pro football player, and Blake was his agent."

"Wait a minute. Your sister is marrying Ridge Cooper? The guy who used to play for the Colts?"

"Yeah. You've met him."

"I know, but I guess I didn't put two and two together. It's been a while since his face was plastered all over TV." Gage turned into the drive and shook his head at the beautiful house. "I'm guessing Ridge is loaded too."

"Yep. I think his house might be even bigger. The houses are way too big for just two people, but I think both couples plan on starting families soon."

"Big families," Gage whispered.

"Until then, they just like hosting get-togethers. Everly is a wedding planner for the ranch, so she likes throwing a party."

They parked beside some of the other trucks in front of the house, and Gage held tight to her hand as they walked up to the door. He raised his hand to knock, but Hadley took the lead and opened the door.

She shrugged as she passed him and stepped inside. "We're all family here."

Gage shook his head again. "I've never had many friends and definitely not ones like this."

"Don't let it bother you. Blake and Everly both work at the ranch, and they definitely don't act like they're better than anyone else."

Hadley led the way into the bright foyer. Tall ceilings opened up into the large living space that looked over the bar and kitchen. Her friends hung around the fireplace where a baseball game played on the TV and the other half were seated at the bar chatting with drinks in hand.

A chorus of "Hey!" filled the house as Gage shut the door behind them. A few of the ladies came over to share hugs while the men took their time getting up to greet them.

"I hope you're ready for pizza," Brett said as he extended a hand to Gage. "We thought Colt, Remi, and the kids were coming, but they got caught up at home. Now we have enough pizza to feed an army."

"Thanks, man. I can put away some pizza," Gage said as he shook hands with Brett.

Seeing Gage and Brett getting along like friends was still a little shocking, but was it too much to hope that this was the new normal? It had been weeks since the shadow of the feud between the Howards and Pattons had darkened their door.

Blake and Everly introduced themselves and told Gage to make himself at home before getting everyone's attention to bless the food.

Gage gently wrapped his hand around Hadley's as Blake thanked the Lord for bringing everyone together and for the blessings in their lives.

Hadley's own list of blessings was growing by the day, and her heart swelled with joy. A single tear seeped from her closed eyes and dripped from her lashes. She was learning to love, but she still couldn't understand the Lord's unconditional love for His children. It was just too big–too unreal.

As soon as Blake finished his prayer, Brett let out a wild hoot and jogged toward the kitchen. "Meat lovers is mine!"

Gage stayed by Hadley's side as they filled their plates with pizza. The guys kept up a steady conversation with him as they ate, and Hadley half listened to the various conversations while watching Gage win over her friends.

When everyone was finished eating, they cleaned up their leftovers and refilled drinks to sit around the living room. Couples dotted the couches, recliners, and hearth as they opened their Bibles.

Gage leaned over to whisper to Hadley, "I didn't bring mine. "

She leaned over to grab her Bible from the end table. "No worries. We can share mine."

He pressed a kiss to her temple as she scooted closer. "Thanks."

Brett had been leading a study of the disciples and the spread of Christianity after Jesus's resurrection, and they were coming to the harrowing recountings of the apostles' deaths.

Hadley listened with a tight throat as one by one the men who obediently followed Christ were murdered in violent ways. Her palms grew sweaty against the leather cover of her Bible.

Brett pointed to the Bible open in front of him. "I mean, if anyone needed confirmation that Jesus was real, hearing about what the apostles went through is plenty of confirmation for me. Most people would have given up and denied Him to save their own skins. These guys never backed down."

"Well, Peter did once," Everly added.

"Yeah, but then Jesus told him He would build His church on Peter's steadfast faith," Brett said. "He sinned, but Jesus offered him forgiveness."

Ridge shook his head. "Man, I would not want to face Jesus after that. The guy had to be shaking in his sandals."

The conversation took a lighter turn after that, but the thought stuck with her. Everyone in this room had been taking steps to move closer to God, but to what lengths would they go to defend that faith?

Gage wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as if he could sense the turn her thoughts had taken. It was unnerving and calming at the same time how well he could sense her moods. Having him near calmed any unease in her heart.

When the scripture discussion was over, Olivia scooted forward on her seat. "Okay. Who needs prayer?"

The group always prayed for each other at the end of every gathering, and Hadley had spoken up quite a few times in the past, asking for help when she didn't know where to turn.

Asa rested his arm around Lyric's shoulders. "The adoption hearing is next month. We'd appreciate prayers that this would go smoothly. We're not expecting any hiccups, but for some reason it's a complicated process."

Lyric placed her hand on top of her husband's. She loved Jacob like he was her own, and she was already such a good mom to him. Lyric's pursuit of adoption restored Hadley's hope in humanity.

Olivia wrote the request in a notebook on her lap. "Anyone else?"

"Keep us in your prayers too. Planning a wedding is tough," Dawson said as he rubbed a hand in circles on Olivia's back.

She whipped her head up to him, sending her dark hair flying. Her fiery look had Dawson cracking up. "What do you mean tough? You haven't done anything!"

Dawson patted Olivia's back. "I meant tough for you. But to be fair, you haven't asked me to do anything yet."

Everly waved a hand in the air. "We don't need your help yet, but your time is coming."

Olivia went back to writing. "On a more serious note, Dawson does need prayers for the sergeant's exam."

"And don't forget Olivia," Dawson added. "She's had good reports lately, but there's no such thing as too much prayer."

Hadley reached out and gripped Olivia's shoulder. She had a habit of biting off more than she could chew, and when her health got bad, she stressed about keeping everything going. "We're right here if you need us. Don't forget we can help you."

"I know. Trust me. I feel your prayers and support. It's helping. I want to make a prayer request for Anna. She says everything is going great with Dean, but sometimes I get the feeling she… isn't as happy as she claims."

"You think?" Brett said.

Thea elbowed him and cast a warning look his way. "Be nice."

Brett held up his hands. "What? The guy doesn't exactly treat her right. Or listen to her. Or anything. Maybe he treats her better when we're not around."

Olivia sighed. "She wants to find love and start a family so badly, I'm afraid she's looking for love in all the wrong places."

"Lookin' for love," Brett sang.

"Don't," Ridge said, holding up a hand.

Brett's shoulders slumped. "You're no fun."

"I didn't put it on my resume," Ridge said.

Cheyenne bumped Ridge's arm. "Mom could use prayer. She's been doing well lately, and I really want to have hope that things are getting better."

Gage squeezed Hadley's hand. He knew exactly how much she worried about her mom, and he always let her vent when she needed it.

"Our mom could use prayers too," Thea said, fixing her attention on Gage. "We've seen an improvement since she started the clinical trial, and I really hope she's not in the control group."

"But we don't know for sure yet," Gage added. "She has another month of the trial before they test again."

Gage and Thea's mom's treatment wasn't a small thing. She'd had some pretty major side effects, which meant she was probably receiving the treatment, but also meant she hardly ever felt well enough to do much.

Hadley knew what it was like to watch someone she loved suffer. It was a double blow that Gage and Thea were going through a similar trial as she and Cheyenne.

Gage shifted in his seat and sat forward to prop his elbows on his knees. "I could use some prayer. Nothing is resolved with Bruce, Tommy, and Cain, at least until after the trial. The bail is too high for them to pay, but they could still find a way to weasel out before the trial. I really don't want them coming after anyone if they get to roam free."

Hadley tightened her grip on his arm. These were the same things that kept her up at night. She'd seen what those men did to Thea, and the thought of them walking the streets was inconceivable.

Still, they'd been warned that Tommy and Cain might get a slap on the wrist. Bruce would probably get a hefty sentence for killing Brett and Thea's dad, but the others could be negotiated down to nothing with good counsel.

"We pray about it every day," Dawson said. He'd been there and seen what the Howards were capable of. Everyone in this room wanted to protect their loved ones from the evil the Howards served.

"We've got your back," Asa said.

"Yeah," Dawson added. "I know I wasn't always nice to you, and I'm sorry for that. But I'm here if you need anything."

Gage smirked. "This doesn't mean we're friends."

Dawson chuckled. "It doesn't mean we're not either. "

Ridge sat forward. "You know, I had my own run-in with the law, and I can say I wouldn't be here today without the people who stood by me."

"I remember hearing a little about that on the news a while back," Gage said.

Ridge had gotten into a fight with a man while defending Everly, and the man suffered some serious injuries after falling. Ridge had only meant to protect his sister, but the fallout was pretty severe. He'd left the NFL after and never looked back.

Lyric sat up beside Asa. "I know how hard it is to get out of that hole. I did a lot of things I shouldn't have." She looked at her husband with a bright smile. "But it helps when you have people beside you who believe in you. Asa arrested me once, and look at us now."

Gage laughed. "You've gotta be kidding me."

Everyone joined in on the laughter, and Lyric's cheeks bloomed pink. "I wish I was. I did a lot in those years I'd happily take back, but I'm glad the Lord was leading me here. I don't know how I survived, but now I know that whatever happens, I have friends who really care about me."

Everly wrapped her arms around Lyric's neck. "You bet you do."

Gage cleared his throat. "Thanks. I appreciate your support. It's good to know you're not all as perfect as you seem."

"Ha! He thinks we're perfect," Brett said .

"Not you," Gage corrected.

Hadley rested a hand on Gage's knee. "No one is perfect, but knowing Jesus changes you for the better."

"Yeah. After a while, you don't recognize the person in old pictures," Lyric said.

Gage nodded. "I get it now."

Hadley rested her cheek on his shoulder. He stayed quiet through the prayers, and Hadley added her own prayers. Gage was restless, and she could practically feel the anticipation radiating from him all evening.

When everyone started slowly saying their goodbyes, Gage was wrapped up in conversations. Hadley waited patiently and watched him open up to the people who had helped save her less than a year ago.

Brett walked up beside her and propped his elbows on the bar. He bumped her shoulder and jerked his chin toward Gage. "He'll be okay."

"I know. He needed this."

"Everyone needs someone to believe in them. I know I was skeptical about you hanging out with him, but I think it's safe to say you saved him."

Hadley shook her head. "He's not safe yet, but I can't do the saving. Only Jesus can do that."

"But you're leading him there. Keep it up."

Gage found her across the room and winked as Dawson kept talking to him. He was happier with the chains of his family off his shoulders .

"Thanks for including him."

Brett slapped a hand on her back. "Anytime. I gotta go round up my wife. It's past my bedtime."

"See you tomorrow," Hadley said over her shoulder as Brett walked off. She took her time wiping down the kitchen counters with Everly, while Gage finished up his conversation with Dawson. Olivia played with Blake and Everly's dog in the living room, and the comforts of home wrapped around Hadley's shoulders, despite the enormous size of the place.

Gage and Dawson said their goodbyes, and Hadley picked up her Bible. They made a plan for their next meeting, and Hadley walked to the truck with her arm threaded around Gage's.

"Did you have fun tonight?"

Gage opened her door and offered a hand to help her step in. "I did. I don't think I've ever hung out with people like that."

"You haven't had the right friends," Hadley said.

When Gage settled into the driver's seat, he didn't start the truck. Instead, he rested his hands on the wheel and looked out into the darkness.

"What's wrong?" Their good time couldn't be gone already. They were just getting started. But the look on Gage's face said something was bothering him.

He turned to her and took her hand in his. Rubbing the pad of his calloused thumb over her skin, he took a deep breath. "I think I'm ready to go to church."

Hadley gasped. "Really? Are you sure?"

"If I don't go, I'll sit around waiting to feel ready, and that might not ever come. I'm gonna have to just man up and do it."

Hadley wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm so proud of you. You won't regret it."

His arms rested around her middle, and he drew in a slow, deep breath. "Thanks for being patient with me, but now I need you to push me."

"I can do that. I'm here for you no matter what."

Gage leaned back and let his gaze roam over her face. "I love you," he whispered.

"You already told me that today."

"I can't ever tell you enough, sunshine."

He pressed his lips to hers, and her eyes drifted closed. His slow kiss was a reward for persevering through the hard times they'd faced. Loving Gage was as wild as the dark night and as calm as a spring rain. He thought she was a good influence on him, but he was changing her too.