Read Online Elysian by Addison Moore - Free Book Online

accessory rather than an article of clothing.
    They yap all the way to their middle school about Gabe and Nate until I finally pull up to their junior house of learning and unleash them on society. 
    “Sheesh,” I say as they slam the door shut behind them. Mom owes a serious apology to humanity for raising a couple of hormonal fashionistas.
    I turn the corner on Saddle Drive, and Gage materializes in the seat next to me.
    I let out a blood-curdling scream and cross into oncoming traffic before he takes the wheel and saves us from impending doom.
    “What the hell was that about?” I shout, clutching my chest while continuing down the road at an accelerated pace. 
    “I wanted to surprise you.” His eyes widen as if he’s just realized it was a dicey idea at best.
    “With what, a casket?” I say as my heart starts in on a livable rhythm. “And, thank you.” I reach over and tweak his leg. God, I miss touching Gage, and it hasn’t even been a week. “This is insane.” I shake my head.
    “I agree. You should choose me and end the insanity.” He says it dry like he really doesn’t believe I’m going to choose him.
    “Maybe I will.” God, I hope I will.
    We pull into West and park out on the dirt extension since the main lot is already cluttered with cars. You wouldn’t think there were that many people enthused to be here this early on the first day.
    A white SUV barrels in after us and narrowly misses my fender as it fishtails to a dramatic stop.
    “Shit,” I hiss, killing the engine. Gage and I get out, ready to tell off the bastard that nearly took out the Mustang, and gasp in unison when the driver springs from the car.
    “Morning!” Giselle bounds over and envelops us in a three-way hug.
    “Who let you…Did the Kraggers…?” Poor Gage can’t even choke out a sentence, he’s so ticked.
    “Relax.” Her eyebrows narrow with a look of hurt just the way his did a moment ago in the car. “Emerson had a license and everything. This is totally legal.”
    “ Emerson may have had a license”—Gage starts, trying to keep his voice even-keeled—“but you’re technically three, not sixteen, and you haven’t logged enough time as a passenger let alone a driver.”
    “I’m not three.” Her jaw squares out. “You’re not the boss of me.” She takes a few steps backward and nearly trips over a branch. “The next thing you know you’ll be telling me which boys I can and can’t kiss.”
    “You can’t kiss boys.” Gage shakes his head incensed she would even consider it.
    A small squeak escapes her throat as she takes off toward campus.
    A laugh bubbles from me as I pull him in by the arm.
    “Skyla,” he moans. “It’s not funny. That’s my baby sister.”
    “You’re right.” I cinch my arm around his waist. “It’s totally not funny. But I think you’re going to make a great dad someday—just not to Giselle.”
    He tightens his embrace and looks down at me with an intensity that reduces me to butter on a hot L.A. day.
    “I want to be a great dad.” His dimples flex. “I want to share all of those things with you.”
    A swell of emotion rises in me, and I swallow back the tears that beg to surface.
    “You probably already know all this.” I don’t mean for it to come out as accusingly as it does. But he does have the gift of knowing. Gage with his pale skin, his hair as dark as midnight. He stands out like a prince against the evergreens.
    “I do know some things.” He swivels his hands up and down my back and exhales as if he’s waited a lifetime to do just that. “But I don’t understand everything. Sometimes I wonder if I got it all wrong. Tell me I don’t have it all wrong, Skyla.” He swallows hard as if his sanity depends on it.
    “I don’t think you have anything wrong.” It comes out weak like an assurance I’m not strong enough to offer.
    A familiar white truck speeds in and knifes past us as if it had a death warrant.
    “And here he is.” Gage ticks