Love's Delusion || ✓

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

It didn't take Gage long to realise that I wasn't going to leave Aaron on the floor. He not-so-gently dragged Aaron's unconscious body up the stairs to our bedroom, me following close behind. 

"Are you going to tell me now?" Gage spoke however he chose not to look at me, his attention fully on Aaron as he made sure all of his limps were all on the bed-- not exactly caring if he wasn't in the best position, his legs twisted together with one of his arms behind his back. 

I ignored Gage's question as I gently moved in his way, positioning Aaron to make sure that he was comfortable. 

"Veronica." I bit down on my tongue as I continued to ignore the broad man behind me in hopes that he would leave. I tried to give Aaron's almost life-less looking body my full attention however I was itching to look behind me. 

It was as if I had spoken my thoughts out loud as Gage gripped on my shoulders and spin me around, shock mostly evident on my face due to the sudden reaction. 

"Veronica." He repeated, his hands still planted on my shoulders.

"Gage." My lips twitched to a smile however it took all of my power to keep it still. The smile didn't believe on my face at the moment, it was evident it was fake but I made no more to remove it. 

"Why was he talking like that?" I sighed at Gage's repeated question, he wasn't going to leave me alone.

"He was drunk--"

"I didn't know that gave people a right to be dicks." Gage stunned sarcastically, rolling his eyes when he finished his sentence. "Veronica, answer this question for me," I nodded. "Has he acted like this to you before?"

I felt my heart drop at his question.

"No, of course not." I scoffed, looking back at Aaron in order to hide my face from Gage. I couldn't deal if Gage was to see the look on my face. 

"Are you sure?" I took a deep breath, my fists clenching and opening with each second. I spun back to Gage, praying that my forged annoyance had been written over my face. 

"Of course I'm sure." I snapped, tilting my head to the side almost challenging Gage not to believe me. Gage's face fell momentarily before he looked down at Aaron and a hard expression was back on his face. 

"Why did he call you a slut?" My fists clenched at the profanity and I hid my hands behind my back. 

"I don't know." My voice was a whisper and cracked, emotion slowly escaping through my voice, as I looked back at Aaron. After a while, you'd expect me to get used to the profanity Aaron throws in my face when we fight however it never gets old, and it never not hurts me. 

Gage noticed my actions, placing a hand on my shoulder but not making any movement to turn me back. His hand was warm on my bare shoulder, reminding me that I was wearing a thin vest top.  

"Veronica," Gage's voice was soft, anger from earlier's incident was not evident one bit. Just by his voice, I felt the need to relax in his hand however I chose not to as I stayed composed. 

I didn't bother turning back as I cut Gage off before he could speak about it.

"It's fine." I swallowed down the lies as I spoke. "He was drunk, he didn't know what he was saying okay?" I still refused to turn away, however, I moved my head to the turn so I could see Gage from the corner of my eye. 

"He didn't mean anything he was saying," I spoke, no longer talking about me and instead insisting that Aaron didn't mean what he was saying to his brother. "He was drunk, don't let it get it you." Gage scoffed.

"I don't give a shit what he said to me, it isn't the first time. I care what he said about you." I felt my heart squeeze at his words, but I chose to ignore that reaction. 

"It's okay." It wasn't the first time, and some part of me tells me it would be the last.

I try to ignore what Aaron says to me, what Aaron spits in anger towards me, but everything it still hurts no matter how try I to ignore it and tell myself-- he doesn't mean it.

Gage moved me so I was facing him, leaving Aaron sleeping behind me. His face was close to mine, his eyes didn't flinch away from mine despite my attempts to not met his gaze. I couldn't help but uncomfortably shift. 

"It's not." He spoke, his voice low. "Drunk or not, he shouldn't have said that to you. You don't deserve that." 

But I do. Aaron had seen me once again break my promise and it broke me slightly. 

I kept breaking my promise while Aaron continued to keep his. It must seem that he truly loves me while I'm simply playing with his emotions, lying to him while I spend the day with his older sibling. 

I trapped my bottom lip between my teeth as my mind wandered, only to my pulled back into the real world. Looking back at Gage, I noticed that his gaze had fallen to my lips as his thumb pulled my lip out of my teeth. 

I didn't know what to say, his reaction surprised me and it seemed to surprised him just as much as he quickly made distance between us. I couldn't help but feel my stomach stir slightly at his movement. 

Gage moved his mouth to speak however no words came out as he began opening and closing his mouth like a fish. I didn't know what to say. 

It felt like we were quiet for so long, just standing in front of each other with nothing to do but stare. 

"Sorry." He finally mumbled, looking down at the floor for a split second before looking back at me, a small smile evident on his face but for some reason looked oddly fake. 

Again, silence filled the room-- beside Aaron light snores as he stayed laying on the bed, with no awareness of what was happening in the room he slept in. 

"Just--" Gage began, stepping forward. "If anything is going on, with Aaron--" he nodded to the unconscious body behind me. "Don't think you can't tell me, I'm here." We weren't touching but once again we were inches away. 

I didn't know what to say to him, nodding at his words. He gave me another smile, lifting his hand up to rub my shoulders in a comfortable manner. 

We stood there for a moment, not knowing what to say. 

I took a few moments until any of us said anything, as Gage wished me goodnight and sending a glance at Aaron before making his way back to his room. 

I let out a long breath when he finally left the room, the nerves in me melting away. 

I glanced at Aaron and couldn't help but narrow my eyes at him in annoyance. 

My cereal was probably soggy by now.