gage thatcher

Despite the picture perfect role his parents had painted onto him, holding down a steady and boring relationship wasn't in the cards for him. Truly, it was one of the reasons (along with plenty of others) why he and the woman worked so well. Far from stale and most times, far from steady too. Grin stretched wider once more as he finished the beer in hand, careful to sit it near the other's empty bottle before nodding for another. "Thanks. You know how crazy my old man gets when he wants the job done. We've had a few business deals fall through on another executive's watch. Just trying to make up for what some jackass couldn't land." It wasn't his fault, and yet, he faced the punishment for it in the end. Head shook at the other's comment, a sarcastic laugh rolling off his tongue. "Come on, man. She might be a lot of things, but stiff?" She was a firecracker, one that made him feel a little more lively too. "I've had chances, but I'm not that guy." His father was and because of that, Xavier swore he'd never stoop as low as dipping into another's bed as long as Camila was warming his own.

"Sounds rough." Gage was stressed out just from hearing about it. It's why he would never want to work a suit-and-tie job. This was another reason why Camila would always favor Xavier. He was far more ambitious and could offer her the world. All Gage has are broken dreams and a surfboard. "I guess she's different when it's just you two huh?" He didn't want to let on that he's met her wild side. He was also curious about their relationship. It couldn't be that exciting if she kept running back to him. Knowing how torturous it would be to hear the details, he decides to prod anyway. "So no ass on the side. I'm guess that means the sex is still lively? That's good, man. If you were being the world's greatest boyfriend while carrying around blue balls, I'd be disappointed."

Truthfully, he couldn't agree over who had a higher body count. He wasn't stuck on one, but the times in between Camila hadn't been about being a good man. It was and always had been different with her. "Alright, hear me out. You might have a higher body count, but when it comes to knowing to keep things going steady, I think I might have you beat. Besides, I've been with enough women to know what I'm getting myself into." Fingers drummed off the side of his glass, fingers stained in beads of water from the outside heat. He wasn't passing up Vegas, not entirely at least. "Relax, I'm not passing up. We'll get there and when we do, I'll make sure it's a good one." He'd foot the bill to wherever they went and in the end, it would be like he'd never said no at all. "Honestly, no clue yet. Anywhere but here sounds like a decent plan. I guess her mother has been on a warpath lately."

"Who wants to keep things steady?" Gage couldn't be more different than Xavier. He never wanted a wife and a nine-to-five job. He was enjoying himself too much. There were nonstop waves rolling in at the beach, beautiful girls waltzing around in bikinis year-round, and best of all he didn't have commitments to anyone but himself. "But, sure sure, man, I'll give you the win. You can use one after burying your head up works ass for so long." He pops the lid off another bottle and takes a swig before offering Xavier a second. A slow smile tugged at his lips knowing he was in for Vegas. Even if they would have to wait a little longer. "A warpath huh? I wouldn't know. I don't really talk to your girl these days. No offense, but she's stiff. You could do a hell of a lot better. At least tell me you've been getting some ass on the side during all these business endeavors?"

#carnival ( gage & camila )#camilaagarza

HAUNTED HOUSE / ft. @camilaagarza (tw: sensitive and potentially nightmarish themes )

Gage leaned deeper into their kiss and felt the rise of adrenaline in his stomach as she opened her legs for his hand to slide further up. But it was like she said in the Fun House, the power had shifted and became hers again. Therefore, he wasn't that surprised when she inevitably shifted back and prompted him to remove his hand before the ride stopped. Lolling his head back with a guilty smirk, he sighs to the heavens and curses whatever God made Camila so beautiful and yet so stubborn. Where was the carefree girl who would help him look for unlocked cars in bar parking lots to fuck in the back seat of? Xavier really did a number on her. She was even more reserved than he remembered. "You're going to blue ball me to death someday. Mark my words." He chuckled as he readjusted her hat on the off chance of being spotted once their cart made it to the ground.

"To the Haunted House, we go." He grabbed her hand and tugged her along before slinging an arm across her shoulders. After signing a waiver, they were let in by a man in a mask. The hallway inside was dark and quiet before the sound of manic clown-laughter filled its space. "Okay, you told me I could torture you, so you're up front." He teased before shifting himself behind her. Straight ahead, standing in a doorway under a single flickering light bulb, was a clown with a twisted grin and black soulless eyes.

An eerie sound escaped its lips as he began dragging his foot toward them. "I don't think this guy is joking, Cam." Gage was only teasing to make the matter worse as the clown began to huff the closer it got, dragging his foot faster and faster. Then when he got close enough, he opened his mouth and blood poured out. On cue, Gage helped push Camila forward, away from the clown and toward the next nightmarish display.

There was blood all over the walls and an old 90s' television left on with static playing. Then behind them a rocking chair began to squeak and a bald fat man in a tank top shooed them out of the way. "If you're going to ruin my TV time, I'm going to ruin that pretty little face. Just like I did to my wife." He points toward a dark corner and as the television changes channels, a bright glow lights up the corner where a skinny woman sits slumped over with her hair pulled out and blood all around her. "Maybe you should be my new wife." The man grinned without many teeth left.

"You know girls, huh?" If it weren't for the swig of his beer, he would have released a laugh beneath his breath. As tempting as it was, for once, Xavier had his head in the right place. "Look, I appreciate the advice, but I'm doing this. I owe it to her. I haven't been around much and running off to Vegas doesn't really help." At least if he had the chance to spend time with her, he'd make his case that she wasn't on the backburner in the way he'd been treating her. "If it can't wait until after I do something with her, then I'm out." Simple as that. Out of everyone he expected to understand, it was Gage. He'd been around for their ups and downs, and while it wouldn't last, he wanted to ride out the current as long as he could. "It'd be nice if my best friend had a little faith in me. I've got some making up to do with you too. I just... I need to do this, G. And once I do, I'm your guy."

To Gage, it was no contest on who knew more about girls. Xavier's been locked in since, when, high school? He didn't have variety, no experience, unlike Gage who's been moving around Siesta like a sex shark. "What's with that tone? I know more about girls than you, man. How many girls have you been with?" He knew he wasn't going to win the argument concerning the getaway plan with Camila. He was too dead-set and stubborn. "Can't believe you'd give up Vegas." He sighed, finishing off his beer with masked irritation. Although, the reminder of their status as best friends did manage a slight pull on his heartstrings. They have been through hell and back with each other. Maybe it was time he put his ulterior moves aside and focus on Xavier as his friend. "Fine, man. Vegas will wait for you. A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do, right? So then what's the plan? Where are you thinking about taking her?"

"It's not all about relieving my stress, man. It's about getting outta this place for a couple of days and putting work on the backburner. Look, I know I've been absent lately, but trust me, I need this. Let me take a couple of days with her, and in the meantime, you work on that." His heart leaped in excitement at the mere thought of spending a few days with the boys in Vegas, but before he could commit to such a feat, he needed to mend the gap he'd forged with Camila. "Besides, I don't want to half-ass anything." A swig from his beer and a half-cocked smile later, he shifted his focus to Gage. "Trust me, alright? If we're doing this, we're going to do it right."

"If you take her somewhere romantic and have a few days alone with her and then disappear off to Vegas, she's going to be mad. Trust me, I know girls. It would be better if you come out with the boys and then make it up to her after she gets mad. It's a win-win." If he thought about it logically, it would be easier for Camila to forgive him if she gets taken out afterward, not before. "Bro, no, you trust me. I know what I'm doing. While you're working all the time, I'm out here playing the field. I know a thing or two about partying and getting away with shit. Vegas is calling. It's either you're in or you're out?"

#camila: thread 004 #camilaagarza

GARZA, CAMILA:

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Her eyes rolled before his fingers tickled her sides and she squirmed just as dramatically to escape them. The only thing to stop her and calm her back down, was the hand he placed on her thigh. It felt warm and familiar and welcome, and if he were to move it up just another inch or two, he’d tread towards more dangerous territory.

Thankfully, he showed her mercy and came clean at the same time. Had she not run into Dante again herself, when sleeping over his house with Stella, now would’ve been the time where she realized the two were related. It was moments like these, where she realized just how small Siesta Key really was. It seemed everyone knew everyone in some way or another.

One of her closest friends was related to the dirtbag who threatened him and nearly beat him to a pulp. If that didn’t tell them how small their world was, she didn’t know what would. “I figured as much when I ran into him leaving your place the other day.” It was the same night they got into their last big fight, before they made up here.

As much as Camila had more to say and weigh in on the topic, she let herself be silenced by his kiss. The last thing she wanted to do was spark another argument. At the same time, he needed to know how she felt. Just in case, the opportunity slipped away and never came around again.

“Mmm,” she hummed thoughtfully against his lips while wrapping her hands around his wrists which were being used to cup her face. “I hope not.” She’s not sure what it is about her that makes the men in her life fail to stay. Gage was constantly coming and going. Xavier was too involved with work. Her own father chose fame and drugs over getting to know her. It’s like they could only tolerate her for so long sometimes. “I want you here.” Meaning in town, close by. “But, I also wish you’d refrain from getting into so much trouble.” Some trouble was okay. Attractive, even. It was sexy in their teens and early twenties but, Gage had a tendency to take things to the extreme. He loved hard and fought harder. Just like her. “The constant fighting and brawling. I really wish you’d stop.” She didn’t want to force his hand but, if she had to then she would. “Promise me, it ends today? I really wanna trust you and believe this time could be different. I’m just so sick of all the drama. I want us to be better.” She knows she plays a part in it too and for once, she’d allow herself to openly admit it. “I’ll make the effort if you do.”

Despite his usual arrogance, Gage understood. If he were to keep getting into trouble, he would end up like Dante who spent a good amount of his life locked up. He already wasted so much of his time with Locals Only; Time he could have spent here with Camila instead of backing off, which allowed her to get closer to Xavier again. The only problem with staying out of trouble was the fact that he was already in trouble. He has loose ends and if he doesn’t tie them up then Dante will continue to find new and torturous ways to make his life miserable. It was bad enough that he threatened him with Camila. Who knows what she would do if he approached her. Gage hoped by telling her about this and about Dante that she would stay away from him.

“I’ll do my best to stay out of trouble.” But even while saying that, he couldn’t help but think about tonight’s heist. He already texted Dante the code to get inside the room and without him standing guard, who knows how things will turn out. A part of him wanted to set him up to assure he would be out of his life and Camila’s, but another part of him would rather he walk away a happy man. He just wasn’t so sure he could trust him to see things as being even afterward. Sometimes a bloodthirsty shark doesn’t stop, even after it’s stolen your leg.

“Okay. I promise. You can hold me to it. If I mess up for whatever reason, you can walk away. And I won’t blame you.” If this was his only way for them to be together then he would take it. What other choice did he have? It was either he agree and have a chance to prove himself to her, or call it quits and watch her walk away with Xavier. With the latter being his worst nightmare, he decided he would stay with Camila and send in a tip to security that someone was breaking into the charity vault.

“Let’s kiss on it. Make it official.” He smiled as he frames her face and kisses her lips again. As the ferris wheel pauses with them at the top, he slips his tongue into her mouth and slides his hand up her thigh. He hates the height but does his best to focus on her. “Does this count as me being bad?” He lifts his thumb and rubs it against her panties, building a warm circular motion around her clit. “—Because I can stop.”

Jaw clenched tighter, a smile remaining on his mouth. He worked hard because he had to, at least, that was the bitter fact he'd convinced himself of. Fingers curled around the neck of the cold bottle, beads of watery sweat staining his skin as he offered a single shake of his head. He was stressed, but he wasn't to the point of taking a cigarette. "I'm good. Things are busy, but they're not that busy at this point. Might change soon." If his father locked down another big marketing deal and pitched it towards him to lead, then he'd need an entire carton to get him through the transition period. "Wouldn't say she's happy about it, but we're making things work. I'm thinking about taking some time off soon. What's the point in working so damn much if I can't enjoy the money, you know? I've been thinking about getting her out of town for a little. I can't remember the last time we took a trip together."

"What? No, man. A little romantic getaway? That's not going to relieve your stress. What you need is a boys' night. Not some date night with a girl in your ear. Let me get the old gang together, go to Vegas, play some cards, drink some beer, check out a few clubs. When's the last time we hung out? C'mon, don't keep me hanging." The last thing Gage wanted to see was Camila being swept off to some romantic gesture. If he could get Xavier to come out and party with him then he'd have a good time and feel better knowing Camila is home alone. That would be two birds with one stone.

Knuckles rapped skillfully against the cool metel of the van door as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Sorry about missing out on those waves. I had a work thing. You know how it goes. Someone screws up and I've gotta play Mr. Fix It. Think you can spare a cold one?"

@gagethatcher

"You always have to work." His expression loosens into a friendly smile. It's been a while since he saw Xavier which was both good and bad. Good because he's come to resent his face for locking down the girl of his dreams and bad because he needs to keep him in his circle if he's going to sabotage his relationship. "For you, I can spare more than one." He hands a beer over and shuffles out another cigarette. "Wanna smoke?" Not wanting to come off as intrusive, but needing to know, Gage takes a sip of beer and yawns into what he hopes comes across as small talk. "So how are you and the misses doing? Is she okay with you taking up so many hours at work?"