Free Who He Is (FireNine, book 1) by Shanora Williams Page A

dance every Saturday night. It’s fun.”
    I frowned. “I’ve never square danced before.”
    “Let’s change that.” He grunted, bending down to unzip his suitcase. His eyes never left mine. “Come with me.”
    “Don’t you have to we ar something cowboy-ish to an event like that?”
    He smiled boyishly. “It’s not required, but it makes the night much more fun when you do.”
    “Oh, well, that’s too bad.” I shrugged. “I don’t own any rodeo or square-dancing clothes.”
    Gage stood up straight and cocked his head at me. He then dug into his back pocket for his cell phone. “Most places down here don’t close for another hour or so,” he said, checking the time. “We have just enough time to buy something nice and make it there. Square dancing doesn’t start until ten.”
    “Gage…” I giggled. “Seriously, it’s nice of you, but no.”
    He frowned. “What’s your excuse?”
    “For one, I have paint all over me,” I said, holding out my hands. “And two, it’s just really one of the nights where I wanna relax and enjoy the quiet. I know when the boys get back it’s going to be a damn circus in here.”
    “Ellie,” Gage murmured, taking a step toward me. He grabbed my right hand and looked down at it. “The paint will always be here. Square dancing in Texas only comes around every once in a while. We’re only staying here for one night. Why not embrace it?”
    “I can always come back to Texas when I wanna square dance,” I whispered, trying my best to keep my breath from hitching.
    He took another step near me , reaching a hand up to cap my shoulder. “It’ll be fun, Eliza. I swear. Come with me.”
    I noticed then that Gage only called me by my real n ame when he was being serious. It made me feel kind of important… in an odd sort of way.
    I stared into his pleading hazel eyes and soon the guilt surfaced. Groaning, I removed my hand from his and took a step back. “Fine,” I sighed. “Just let me wash up.”
    “Take your time, Ellie.” He winked at me before going for his suitcase again and I slowly made my way toward the bathroom, wondering how this night was going to turn out.

I fel t so silly—actually beyond it. Gage and I went shopping for something to wear for square dancing, and I ended up getting a blue-and-red gingham dress. Gage got a red-and-blue plaid button-up, some boot-cut jeans, and he’d even gotten us a pair of matching brown cowboy boots. I found it ridiculous but cute. I’d even gotten him to buy himself a brown cowboy hat… and damn if he didn’t look hotter than hell…
    “Look at you, Ellie, looking like a million bucks,” Gage said as he held the back door open for me. I looked at him beneath my eyelashes and he shut the door behind me. He tapped the window t wice and Stan pulled off.
    “You really had to insist that the woman give me pigtails, huh?” I giggled , toying with my hair. “She was enjoying playing dress-up with me.”
    “The pigtails look good on you. Fits the theme. You look like Rodeo Barbie.” Gage winked and then held his elbow out and I hooked my arm through his. The pavement led to a tall red barn, and a few monster trucks and classic cars were parked outside. Lanterns were hanging outside the barn, the light stretching across the dewy grass, and a large green tractor was parked in front.
    “What’s the tractor for?” I asked, my vision tunneling in on it. “It’s blocking the entrance.”
    “Oh yeah!” Gage yelled , laughing. “That’s the thing about these people. They can get a little wild. Before we’re allowed in, we have to race another couple on riding lawn mowers.”
    “What?” I squealed. “That’s insane.”
    “It’s Texas, baby!” someone yelled from beside the tractor. I looked up quickly to figure out who the deep voice belonged to and a tall man with a black cowboy hat, a belt with a large silver buckle, and a white button-up revealed himself. He was smiling as a woman with blond hair