Friends didn’t get butterflies in their stomachs when they saw each other. Friends didn’t burn with jealousy when some cute little sophomore started acting on her crush.
Carly couldn’t take it anymore and jumped to her feet. She was quite certain that Crystal had left her keys in her car. It would be okay if Carly borrowed it, at least long enough to get home. Besides, everyone was still in the water, so no one would notice if she left anyway.
Carly crept over to the two-door Mazda, determined to sneak off without alarming anyone. But a hand landed on top of hers just as she reached for the door handle.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Gabe questioned.
Carly gazed over his eyes, his lips, and the water dripping down his bare chest. “I…”
“The sun’s about to set. You’re not going anywhere by yourself.”
“I didn’t think it would be a big deal if I just went home.”
“Well, it is a big deal when it’s dark outside,” Gabe informed her.
“I didn’t want to bother anyone,” Carly reasoned. “You guys are having so much fun out there, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“You’ll be out there with us soon enough, Carly,” he assured her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how much we were isolating you. You seemed like you needed space tonight, but I didn’t think giving you some would make you leave.”
Carly glanced over his shoulder and locked eyes with Sharla—who was none too happy that Gabe had abandoned her. Carly hated that her relationship with Gabe, whatever it was, affected the whole group. “I knew I shouldn’t have come tonight. I’m in the way.”
“You’re not in the way of anything, Carly.”
“I am until I start shifting. I’m not as strong or as fast or as powerful as any of you. I even need a babysitter if I want to go out after dark. What if I don’t want to be like you? Then it will just be the seven of you again, like it was meant to be from the beginning.”
“You can’t deny what you are, Carly,” Gabe pointed out. “Is that what this is about? Is that why you don’t want to talk to me?”
“No,” she snapped in reply.
“Then what is it? You’ve been acting crazy all day. I’m supposed to be your best friend. If I did something wrong, tell me what it is so I can fix it. I hate that I can’t talk to you right now.”
Carly took her time looking over his sturdy jaw, plush lips, and mesmerizing pale blue eyes. She’d hoped to deny everything she was feeling for him, but didn’t know if she could anymore. Hell, she didn’t know if she really even wanted to. Not when it would be so easy to just kiss him.
“Are we ready to go then?” Sharla asked as she sprinted up to join them. “To Crystal’s house, right?”
Carly felt the blush in her cheeks as she looked away. “Yeah, sure.”
“Gabe?” Sharla added, taking a step toward him. “Is that a yes?”
“Is everyone else ready to go?” he asked, his voice riddled with impatience.
“I don’t know. I thought I’d check with you first.”
“Carly and I are ready.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll let them know. Well, okay, bye.”
Carly watched Sharla as she walked back to the beach. “She’s really cute.”
“Is that a yes or a no to you talking to me again?” Gabe prodded.
“Gabe, I’m just… scared. Okay? Everything’s so up in the air right now, and there are so many possibilities, and… And I just can’t wrap my head around what I’m feeling right now.”
He took a step forward, sliding his hand onto her shoulder. “It’s okay to be scared, Carly. I realize I totally overwhelmed you this past week. I’ve actually been surprised you took it so well. I just need you to know you can talk to me—about anything. You know you can talk to me, right?”
Carly heard a soft hum, and glanced down at his hand on her shoulder. The tip of his thumb was grazing her neck, and it felt like tiny sparks of electricity were forming where they touched. She’d never had physical reactions like this with Ross. What was it about Gabe that made him so special?
“Are we heading over to my place now?” Crystal called out.
Gabe pulled his hand back from Carly. “Yeah, if that’s the plan.”
“It is, but Carly will need to catch a ride with you. My car’s full.”
“Sure, no problem.”
Crystal winked. “Could you two leave now and pick up some snacks? I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely going to need some serious carbs before this night is over.”
“Is that cool with you?” Gabe asked Carly. “I could go for some carbs, too.”
“Um, sure,” Carly agreed. It was really hard being around Gabe, but it was also really hard being away from him. She figured some one-on-one time wouldn’t mean the end of the world.
“Great,” Crystal said, shoving Gabe’s clothes into his arms.
“Thanks,” he replied, and led the way to his Jetta. He dressed while Carly settled in the passenger seat. She thought Sharla might try to sneak in with them, but they were alone as Gabe started the car and headed back to Sterling.
“You know, if I were you, I’d be freaked out, too,” Gabe confessed. “All that talk of werewolves and ruskahs and crystal skulls—that’s a lot of supposed fairy tales to accept as reality. And then there’s me. I mean, I’m your best friend, and I’m not even human. You were just so cool about everything. You sure put up a good front, Carly.”
She fed Nada Surf’s sophomore album into the stereo, her gaze landing on Gabe. A week ago, she’d only seen a friend, but now, she saw a world of possibilities. Maybe even a future.
“I’m sorry I pestered you today,” he apologized. “I just knew something was up, and I wanted you to talk to me. Whatever you and Crys talked about at lunch is totally your business. I don’t have a sister, but Crystal’s probably the closest thing to it. I’m glad you two are getting to know each other better.”
Carly focused out the window. “Crystal’s really cool, and Esther and Sharla are great, too. You’re lucky to be surrounded by so many beautiful women. Shifters, I mean. Whatever you guys call yourselves.”
Gabe let out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess I’ve never thought about them that way.”
“You’re kidding, right? They’re three of the hottest women I’ve ever seen. Seriously, they could make their own swimsuit calendar.”
“That’s just shifter blood, Carly. It makes people beautiful whether they realize it or not. And it’s something you’re born with, so there’s no getting around it. If anything, it pushes me to be more than just the first impression I make.”
Carly wasn’t sure what to say to that, so she opted for nothing at all.
“You’ve got shotgun on our trip tomorrow if you want it,” Gabe offered. “Unless you’d rather ride with Abel, which is cool, too.”
“Why would I want to ride with Abel?”
“I don’t know, I… It just seems like you might like him. Which is great if you do, because he’s a cool guy.”
“What exactly makes you think I like Abel?” Carly wondered.
“The way you act around him,” Gabe answered, scratching at the back of his head. “I don’t know, it’s like you’re frustrated with him, but only because you can’t admit how much you like him. Don’t worry, I won’t tell him or anything.”
“You assuming I like Abel is just as ridiculous as…”
“As what?”
“As people assuming you and I are, you know, whatever just because we hang out all the time,” Carly blurted out.
“You don’t like him then?” Gabe asked.
“I don’t know him well enough to like him. I actually need to get to know someone before I realize I have feelings for him. It’s a process for some of us.”
“Oh.”
Carly decided to change the subject before she said something she might regret. “What kinds of snacks should we pick up? I’m not used to a shapeshifter appetite, so you’ll have to g
ive me some pointers.”
Gabe flashed an adorable smile. “It just so happens, I’m an expert.”
sixteen
Carly didn’t see her father again until she stepped into her kitchen late Saturday morning. Gabe would be arriving any minute to pick her up, and she hoped it was a valid excuse to skip any real conversation.
“Carly, good morning,” Howard greeted her from his spot at the table.
She walked over to the fridge and pulled out a can of Coke. “I’m leaving soon, and I’ll be gone until tonight. I figured you’d be slack on my curfew since, you know, you embarrassed the hell out of me yesterday.”
“Carly, I am so sorry about that.”
“Are you?” she asked, spinning around to glare at him. “Why didn’t you just talk to me yourself?”
“I realize now I should have,” he replied. “It’s just… That was your mother’s department—boys and sex.”
“Dad, please don’t say sex.”
“I just want you to be safe.”
“Do we have to talk about this right now?” Carly whined, glancing at the clock. “Gabe’s on his way over.”
“About Gabe—”
“There’s nothing going on between us.”
“I believe you, Carly,” Howard said. “Even so, I think it would be best if he didn’t stay overnight here anymore.”
“That was your idea in the first place,” she reminded him.
“I know, and I made that decision because I was desperate. I can’t lose you, too, and Gabriel is the only way I know to keep you safe. But not at the expense of… Well, of…”
“Dad, I’m not a little kid anymore. I know that’s hard to accept now that it’s just you and me, but it’s true all the same.” The doorbell rang, and Carly let out a sigh of relief. “That’s Gabe.”
“Carly—”
“What?”
Howard pulled out his wallet and wrapped his fingers around a stack of twenties, handing them to her. “Have fun with your friends today. I won’t wait up for you. Well, I will wait up, but I’ll pretend that’s not what I’m doing.”
Carly managed something close to a smile before she took off for the foyer. She folded the twenties in half as she opened the front door. She’d determined last night that she wasn’t allowed to like Gabe, but that was before the dream she’d had about him this morning. It hadn’t been nearly as innocent as all the others.
“Gabe, hi,” Carly said, and reminded herself to act normal.
“Are you ready to go?” Gabe asked, glancing down at the wad of cash in her hand. “You’re ready to do some shopping, I see.”
She shoved the cash in her jeans pocket, but didn’t take her eyes off him. “Yeah.”
“Shall we?”
“Sure,” Carly agreed, and followed him out to the Jetta. She was surprised to find Crys and Esther in the backseat, leaving the passenger seat vacant. “I thought Sharla would be riding with us.”
Gabe walked to the passenger door and opened it for her. “Their car’s leaving later. Crystal and Esther wanted to ride with us so they’ll have more time at the mall.”
“Makes sense,” Carly said as she settled in the car.
“Carly, hey,” Crystal spoke as Gabe joined them. “Are you excited for the show tonight?”
“Sure, it should be fun.”
“Well, I can’t wait,” Crystal announced as Gabe headed away from the house. “The headlining band is from Minneapolis, and the drummer is, I swear, the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m going to track him down after his set and, I don’t know, see what happens.”
Carly giggled. “You’re serious?”
“Hell yes. It’s not like there’s a wealth of hot guys around here. No offense, Gabe.”
“None taken,” he said.
“Good luck with that,” Carly told her, her eyes falling on Gabe. How could she have gone all this time without making out with him? Stop, she scolded herself, and focused out the window.
“Are we going to play some music or what?” Esther asked as she kicked at the back of Gabe’s seat.
He handed his phone back to her. “Knock yourself out. When do you have to be home, Carly?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Carly said. “Just whenever we get back.”
“Good, because it might end up being pretty late. Especially if Crystal back there is actually able to make this guy fall for her.”
Crystal gave a playful slap to the back of his head. “You did not just say that.”
“Hey, don’t hit the driver,” Gabe grumbled.
“Don’t make fun of me, and I won’t have to.”
“I wasn’t making fun of anyone.”
“Yeah, right. There’s more than one sexy woman in this car, whether or not you see it. Carly, I hope you’re ready to do some serious shopping, because I have my mom’s credit card, and I can’t wait to use it.”
“My dad gave me some cash, so yeah, I guess I am,” Carly replied.
“Nice,” Esther said as Pearl Jam blasted through the speakers. “Have we decided where we’re going for lunch? I’m already starving.”
Carly laughed to herself.
“What’s so funny?” Gabe asked.
“Nothing, it’s just, you guys eat so much.”
“We can’t help that we’re perpetually hungry. You’ll see.”
Carly got a flashback from her dream last night: Gabe walking out of the water without a shirt on—without anything else on either. The blush on her cheeks was too much to hide. This was going to be one hell of a long day if she kept torturing herself like this.
* * *
“We can’t leave yet,” Crystal insisted as The Futura Collective ended their set late that evening. “They’re going to do another encore, I just know it—and then we’ll go talk to the bands.”
“They already did a second encore,” Gabe reminded her as the house lights came on. “Show’s over. I know you’ve got a crush on that drummer or whatever, but some of us have curfews.”
“And some of us have feelings, Gabe. Besides, you don’t have a curfew, neither do I, and neither does Carly. Let’s just stay. Please.”
“I do have to be home soon or my mom will kill me,” Sharla piped up. “Why don’t you guys stay? Gabe could drive the rest of us home now.”
“That might work,” Gabe said. “Except Carly’s riding with me. We can’t be too careful after dark.”
Crystal batted her eyelashes at Abel. “Can we please stay for just a little bit? Pretty, pretty please?”
“Fine,” Abel conceded, shaking his head. “But you owe me.”
Crystal threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll try to remember that.”
“If Carly and Sharla ride with me, I have room for one more,” Gabe said. “Who else wants to tag along?”
“I’d better,” Kyle spoke. “My dad said I’m grounded if I’m out later than two.”
“All right then. We’ll take off and see the rest of you tomorrow.”
“Good luck with that drummer,” Carly told Crystal. “Not that you’ll need it.”
Crystal winked. “You have a fun ride home, Carly. We’ll talk soon.”
Gabe led the way out into the cold night, scanning every dark corner as they reached the Jetta. Sharla slipped in next to him as he unlocked the passenger door.
“Is it okay if I take shotgun?” she asked, resting her hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “I get sick otherwise.”
Gabe glanced past her to Carly. “Yeah, sure.”
Carly took the seat behind Sharla, convincing herself it wasn’t because it gave her the best view of Gabe’s face. She looked at Kyle as he fell in the seat beside her. “That was some show, huh? I still can’t get over that guitar solo during the second encore.”
Kyle ran a hand through his shoulder-length blond hair. “I guess Gabe wasn’t kidding when he called you his music superior.”
“Did you, Gabe?” Carly asked.
“Sure did,
” Gabe confirmed as he started the car. “I figured you’ve earned your title.”
“We should go to shows more often then,” Kyle said. “The other girls usually need a little more convincing if there isn’t a hot drummer involved.”
“That’s not true,” Sharla argued. “I love all kinds of music. Gabe and I talk about it all the time.”
“Well, I definitely don’t need a hot drummer to get me to a show,” Carly noted as Gabe pulled out into the street. “Doesn’t hurt, though.”
Kyle chuckled. “How are you liking Sterling so far, Carly? Is it everything you’d hoped it would be and more?”
“It’s certainly more than I’d hoped for, but I’m slowly starting to think of it as home.”
“I’m sure the whole shapeshifting thing can take some getting used to, but once you start, you won’t be able to stop. It’s a total addiction. I’m assuming you haven’t shifted yet. At least, no one’s said anything to me.”
“Nope, not yet,” Carly sighed.
Legacy: Bloodline Book 1 Page 16