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the dark, Gage came out of it and seemed to notice me for more than just Ryley, his friend next door he'd throw mud at for a good laugh. 
      "Anything else you need me to do for tonight?" He half-ran down the stairs, smiling just like his brother used to. 
      "I was going to get some of the food prepared. You wanna help?"
    He did, as I knew he would. If there was one thing about the Porter boys, they were always willing to help. They may have had a messed up childhood, but their grandma definitely raised them to be gentlemen.
    Being in my parents' tiny kitchen never felt more awkward than it did before that party. Sure I had spent plenty of time around Gage, but it was different this time. I felt something being so close to him, something I had never felt before. Something I thought only Liam could bring out in me. Gage was so close to me, brushing against me, his smiles lingering on me. When we both reached for the Coke we were sharing, our hands touched and I felt something towards him I never thought I'd feel towards any other boy than Liam. We laughed and I pushed it toward him, trying to push away the tension in my belly that had only ever seemed to be there for Liam when I developed those feelings. But in Liam's absence I saw so much more in Gage. There was so much bad that had happened in their lives, but Gage didn't seem fazed by it and I couldn't help but feel maybe Liam should have taken a lesson from his older brother and let it all go. 
      "Hand me that knife, could ya?" he asked as he started getting the sandwiches ready.
    I reached out, only half paying attention to what I was doing, and grabbed the blade of the knife thinking it was the handle. I felt the blood before the pain. Hissing I dropped the cookies I was setting out on a plate and ran for the sink. 
      "Oooo! Gage! Move, move, move!" I pushed past him and rushed to turn on the cold water, throwing my hand underneath the stream. 
      "Oh my God, Ry. Let me see that!" Gage never liked blood so it surprised me when he took my hand to examine my cut. His hands were rougher than Liam's, but he still had that same gentle touch as his brother. 
    After grabbing a wad of paper towels, he pressed them to my hand. 
      "Where's your first aid kit?" His eyes were so intense, so deep green. That was the first time I actually noticed how pretty Gage's eyes were. I used to stare into Liam's light green eyes like that.
    I grabbed ahold of the napkin, applying pressure and walked into my parents' bathroom. He followed me, helping me get down the first aid things we would need from the medicine cabinet. 
      "Take off the paper towel, Ry. I need to make sure it's not too deep. We may need to take you to get stitches."
    I took off the paper towel wad, seeing it soaked bright red, and I had to look away as Gage tended to my stupid mistake. He was so gentle, so caring. In all of our years being so close, I had never met that Gage before. 
      "I think you'll be okay, but I need to clean it up and get it wrapped. Hang tight, Ry. Try not to move it." His voice was gentle but solid.
    He knew what he was doing to take care of me and he was making me listen and hang on to his every word. 
      "This may sting a bit," he said right as he poured something cold over my hand.
    I winced and instinctively pulled back, but didn't make it too far; he had a grip on my wrist and when I turned to look at him, he was glaring at me intensely. 
      "Try not to move, Ryley," he said again, softer than before.
    Raising my hand to his lips, he blew softly over the fresh wound, making the liquid he just poured over it turn colder, no longer burning my hand. That afternoon was the first time I had ever felt something more than just friends for Gage Porter. Perhaps I was replacing Liam with Gage, and that wasn't fair to either of them, but Liam's neglect and Gage's attentiveness confused my head enough to confuse my heart. 
    Once it was wrapped and I was given stern instructions