Carly had heard everything he’d said, his entire speech, but it was those last few words that stuck. It was those last few words that echoed through her mind as she leaned over and kissed him on the mouth. “No more secrets,” she insisted. “No matter what you think you’re protecting me from—no more secrets, okay?”
“Done, okay,” Gabe promised, and kissed her again.
“It looks like the swimming lessons are going well!” Crystal joked from the shore. “That seems to be all you two do lately.”
“So what if it is?” he called back. “Are you getting in the water or what? I was just going to challenge Carly to a race. You’re more than welcome to join us if you think you’ve got a shot at winning.”
“You can’t beat her on foot, so you think you’ll have an advantage in the water?” Crystal laughed. “Good luck with that.”
“He’ll need all the luck he can get,” Carly said, her gaze flitting to Abel as he joined Crys on the beach.
Abel locked eyes with Carly just as he pulled his black V-neck sweater up over his head, revealing his chiseled chest beneath. She looked away, although the half-naked image of him remained imprinted in her thoughts. Whatever had happened in the caves with Abel was done, and she had to let it go. Gabe had withheld the truth from her, and she had to let that go, too. Some things were just worth the compromise.
“How about that race?” Gabe suggested.
“Race?” Carly repeated with a wink. “Is it really a race if we already know who’s going to win?”
“I guess we’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”
* * *
It was nearly midnight, nearly Carly’s curfew, when Gabe pulled up in front of Grant Manor, the shoreside mansion where Carly lived with her father, Howard. He and Carly’s late mother, Molly, had inherited the eight-bedroom house from Molly’s father, Honorius, after he’d passed. But Howard didn’t make the decision to relocate to northern Minnesota from the Twin Cities until years later, after Molly’s funeral. Since Carly’s arrival in Sterling, the three-story mansion had transitioned from an overwhelming new start to home.
Gabe put the Jetta in park, turning to face Carly instead of jumping out of the car to get her door. Carly’s curfew was one of the ways in which Gabe liked to test Howard’s limits, and one of the ways in which Howard tested his daughter’s. There was an interesting dynamic to the group, as the youngest full blood shapeshifters were the most powerful. When Carly’s parents had her, they’d each sacrificed some of their power to pass on to her. Gabe’s parents had done the same, and as the only two full bloods of their generation in their corner of the world, Carly and Gabe had the potential to hold more power than the other shifters in their community. It was something both Gabe and his father, Paul, didn’t like to let the group forget.
“You’re not upset that I beat you at that race, are you?” Carly teased, wrapping her fingers around Gabe’s. “I’m sure it’s a lot to get used to—second place.”
He broke into a grin. “I’m more than happy taking second place to you. Are we still on for the dance next weekend?”
“Winter formal? I suppose we should probably go—considering Crystal made me buy a new dress and everything.”
“Winter formal means it’s almost Christmas break, which also means it’s almost your birthday,” Gabe pointed out.
Carly’s birthday was Christmas Eve, which she had never minded before. But this would be her first birthday and her first Christmas without her mother, and she wasn’t looking forward to either. “I guess so.”
“Well, just to give you a heads up, Crystal already has a huge party planned. And knowing Crys, you’re going to have fun whether you want to or not.”
“We’ll see.” Carly glanced at the clock, noting it was 12:08 a.m. Eight minutes past Howard’s pathetic attempt to exert some control over her. “I should probably head inside.”
“Wait, Carly. About the amethyst skull—”
“Gabe, let’s… not worry about it tonight. I think you’re right—it’s probably safe where it is for now. If that changes, so will its location.”
Gabe leaned over and met her lips in a soft kiss. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Well, it at least explains your weird behavior lately,” she told him.
“What weird behavior?”
Carly snickered. “You’ve been acting, I don’t know, conflicted or something. Like you did before we started dating—like you have some big life-changing secret you can’t tell me. Like you’ve been arguing with yourself about whether or not you should spill the beans. Then it was because you couldn’t tell me I was a shapeshifter—now it’s because of the skull.”
“Carly, it’s… It’s not entirely because of the skull,” Gabe admitted.
There was a strange pull at her heart—similar to what she’d felt in the caves with Abel. It was as if everything she thought she knew about the world was about to change. What other secrets was Gabe keeping from her?
“It’s not what you think,” Gabe quickly assured her, his fingers flinching in hers. Was he nervous?
“Okay, then what is it?” she pried.
“I…”
“Whatever it is, Gabe, I deserve the truth.”
“…Love you, Carly.”
Carly had only a second to savor his confession before she heard a tap on the window behind her.
“Time’s up,” Howard insisted, and rapped on the glass again.
Carly gritted her teeth as she glanced over her shoulder at her father. She wasn’t in the mood for this argument right now and decided to skip it altogether. Locking eyes with Gabe, she telepathed, Meet me in my room. Use the secret passage that leads from the caves to my house. You helped my dad board up the basement, so I’m sure you can figure out a way through. I’ll make sure my end’s unlocked.
Carly left it at that because she wanted to finish the rest of the conversation out loud, without her father watching through the window. She opened the door, and Howard stepped out of the way as she jumped out to meet him. “Hey, Dad, I was just on my way in.”
“You have a curfew for a reason, Carly,” Howard replied, bending down to look at Gabe through the open car door. “Good to see you again, Gabriel.”
“Same to you,” Gabe told him. “We’ll talk soon, Carly?”
“We will,” she confirmed, and closed up the door.
Gabe held her gaze for a moment before driving around the circular driveway into the dark winter night. Carly’s heart raced as she headed for the house. She couldn’t let him go any longer than he had to without knowing she loved him, too.
“We agreed on a curfew because it helps keep you safe,” Howard spoke as he followed her into the foyer.
“I’m a full blood shapeshifter who can actually shift now,” she argued, stopping to meet his gaze. “I figured when I killed that ruskah, it was proof enough I’m all grown up.”
“You’re not even seventeen yet, Carly.”
“Well, at sixteen, I managed to save my own life, so maybe you’re putting more emphasis on the number than you should.”
Howard let out an exasperated sigh. This was about where all their talks led these days. He didn’t want her to grow up, and because of that, he couldn’t see that she already had.
“Look, it’s been a weird day,” Carly said, which was nothing short of the truth. “I’m off to bed.”
“Carly?” Howard called as she started up the staircase.
“Yes?” she asked without turning to meet his gaze.
“Have a good night.”
She nodded, and headed on up to her room. Carly locked the door and stood listening for several moments to make sure Howard hadn’t followed. Once convinced she was alone, she spun to the wall opposite the staircase. All she had to do was press on the hidden lever in the wainscoting, and the wall would pop open—with her boyfriend waiting on the other side. But she couldn’t bring herself to follow through on the action.
Carly hadn’t been th
rough the passage since the ruskah had used it to sneak into her room with the intent of taking her life. She’d shapeshifted for the very first time that night and had come out the victor, but the all-consuming fear she’d experienced before her triumph would always haunt her. She attempted to put it behind her, but it was quickly replaced with new fear.
Gabe was waiting for her, and also waiting for a response to his confession in the car. His admission had come out so fast she wasn’t sure it had been real, and knew there was only one way to find out. She stifled her apprehension and pressed the lever to open the passage.
She was a bit surprised to find Gabe already waiting, but relieved to see him all the same. Carly took his hand to pull him into her room, and without stopping to think, blurted out, “I do, too. Love you, I mean. If that’s what you meant.” It was only after the words had tumbled from her tongue that she dared meet his gaze.
Gabe was all smiles as he secured the passage closed. “It is what I meant. That I love you. I’m honestly a little surprised you didn’t hear it in my thoughts, considering they’re pretty much wrapped up in you all the time.”
“I guess you have more privacy than you think,” Carly pointed out.
“Oh yeah? And what about us? Do we have privacy?”
Her heart hammered as she managed, “I locked the door, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Gabe nodded, his arms wrapping in around her waist as he met her mouth in a kiss. He was her best friend, and he loved her, and Carly couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than that. She backed away from him, biting at her lip as she pulled her sweatshirt up over her head.
“You sure?” Gabe whispered.
“Yeah, if you have a condom.”
Several, he confessed, his arms going around her again before he carried her to her bed.
Carly’s skin sizzled as she settled down beside him, her mouth finding his. So, this was what it was like to be in love. This was what it was like to have finally found her soul mate—
He has a secret.
“Huh?” Carly muttered, not realizing at first that the thought was her own.
“What?” Gabe answered, his fingers fumbling for the button of her jeans.
He has a secret, echoed through her mind again, and it was enough to make her scramble away from him.
“Carly?” Gabe sighed, running a hand over his hair as he sat up on his knees to face her. “I thought you wanted me to—”
“I did, I…” She shook her head, her face flushed. Carly had wanted him to kiss her, and touch her, and take off her clothes, but… “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Gabe didn’t answer, and when she looked up to meet his gaze, she saw that he was staring down at the comforter, his face red as well. Was he keeping something more from her?
“I thought you were ready for this,” Gabe answered, hopping up off the bed. “But if you’re asking me a question like that right now… Clearly, you’re not.”
Carly thought she’d been ready, too, but—
“Look, I’m going to take off,” he decided, walking over to the staircase.
“Don’t leave,” she pleaded, skipping to her feet. “I’m just… nervous, Gabe. I’ve never done this before.”
He hung his head as he pushed at the wainscoting to open the secret passage. “That’s another reason to wait.”
“Gabriel, you don’t have to—”
“I do love you, Carly. I really hope you know that. We’ll talk later.” And then he was gone, and she was alone, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.
What secret could Gabe possibly have? He was her best friend, and she could hear most of his thoughts. There’s no way he could be keeping anything from her. Which meant Carly had stopped him for no reason at all.
What’s wrong with you? she begged of herself, closing up the passage in the wall. Why had she flaked on Gabe like that, and why had he been so quick to take off?
You know the answer to that last one at least. He thinks you stopped him because you were thinking about Abel.
“But I wasn’t,” Carly growled, storming across her room to the stereo. But it was too late to drown out her thoughts without headphones. She grabbed a wireless pair, covered her ears, and turned up Cursive as loud as she could stand.
Gabe couldn’t have a secret, and Carly didn’t have feelings for Abel. And tomorrow, once she’d had a chance to sort out her thoughts, she’d find Gabe and clear this whole thing up. And then, just maybe, they could pick up where they’d left off.
four
Carly wasn’t much for sleep, and wandered down to the kitchen at dawn to start a pot of coffee and a batch of chocolate chip and walnut cookies. This was a new day, and she was determined to have a new start with Gabe. Too impatient to let the cookies cool, she packaged up three dozen and snuck off to Sterling.
Fresh snow blanketed the ground as Carly sped into town, but she enjoyed the challenge of the slippery road. At least a little ice on the pavement put a smile on her face. She hoped she’d still be smiling once she spoke to Gabe.
Carly pulled up to Gabe’s two-story blue Victorian home and parked behind a PT Cruiser. What was Abel’s car doing here? Don’t think about Abel, she instructed herself, grabbing the container of cookies before heading for the front door.
She squared her shoulders and reached for the bell. Gabe was her best friend, and they could talk about anything. She’d remind him of that if he ever answered the door.
Carly rang the bell again before she stopped to consider that perhaps it was too early on a Sunday morning to be bothering the boy who’d so abruptly left her alone last night.
“Carly,” Gabe spoke with surprise as he popped open the door. “It’s early.”
“Oh,” she replied, clearing her throat as she listened in on his thoughts. Gabe’s mind was generally open to her, but right now, he had it locked up tight. She guessed why when she spotted Abel in the foyer. “Sorry, I…” What had she just walked in on? Her face burned, her confidence all but gone as she held out the container toward him. “I made you cookies. I was hoping we could talk.”
Gabe softened somewhat. “Cookies, huh?” He tore off the lid and popped one of the treats into his mouth. Grinning, he added, “You sure know the way to my heart, don’t you?”
She wasn’t sure how to reply to that, or him at all, or Abel hovering in the hallway. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You weren’t interrupting anything,” Abel informed her, a strange smirk at his lips.
Carly had most definitely interrupted something. “I, um, I should—”
“I have to help my dad with something at the dealership,” Gabe said, digging out two more cookies. He tossed one back to Abel and took a bite from the one remaining in his hand. “I think it’s just moving vehicles around, so it shouldn’t take too long. But then maybe I can take you out for breakfast?”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I’m kind of starving anyway.”
“Well, I’m on my way to the resort for coffee,” Abel spoke up, finishing off the cookie. “You’re welcome to tag along, Carly, and get something to tide you over until Hutchinson’s done.”
She looked to Gabe, expecting some sort of jealous protest. But he just shrugged.
“Go, get a caffeine fix,” Gabe said. “I’ll meet up with you later.”
O…kay? “Sure, if you’re sure?” she replied.
Gabe kissed her on the cheek. “I love you. We’ll talk soon.”
Hearing him say that again, in the light of day, with an audience, made her feel a lot better about the whole thing. “I love you, too, Gabe.”
“Come on,” he said, sparks shimmering between them as he tugged at her hand. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Want me to drive?” Abel asked as he followed after them.
“I think I can handle getting us to the coffee shop,” Carly joked as she headed to the Jeep. She stopped at the driver’s door and let go of Gabe’s hand. “Tell your dad
I say hi?”
Gabe let out a laugh. “He told me to tell you the same thing before he left this morning. I’ll be sure to mention it.” He kissed her on the lips, and added, If the cookies were some sort of apology, you don’t need one. You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Carly.
“We’ll talk soon,” she told him, and hopped in the Jeep. She watched Gabe as he walked to his Jetta, but Abel stole her attention when he settled in the passenger seat. It was really odd that Gabe and Abel seemed so buddy-buddy this morning, but she wasn’t about to question it. Not without another cup of coffee anyway.
Legends: Bloodline Book 2 Page 3