Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (inspirational novels .txt) 📗

to her original topic was a good sign. She didn't seem as drunk.

“We left because you don't need to be with a guy like Brenden.”

“How would you know who I do or don’t need to be with? And for fuck’s sake, we were dancing.”

I swallowed my laughter.

“You were two minutes away from it not being ‘dancing.’”

“You’re wrong, Sullivan.”

Her calling me ‘Sullivan’ was getting old fast.

Before I could mention it, she asked, “How do you know him anyway?”

“Used to hang with him,” I said to the windshield.

“Now you don’t.”

“Yeah, but I know he’s an asshole.”

She smiled at me and a strange feeling invaded my chest. “Just like you introduced yourself. Maybe he’s just my type.”

I shook my head. “No, he sets the bar for being an asshole, Cassie.”

“You dragged me away all because you didn’t like seeing me with a guy you hate.”

“His daddy made a date rape charge against him go away.”

“What,” she breathed, and I realized the alcohol still had hold of her. After a moment she whispered, “Wow.”

“Yeah, so like I said, he’s more assholish than most.”

“Definitely more than you.”

I didn’t reply to that and we slipped into an easy silence. I parked outside her building and shut down my truck to walk her up.

“I can get in on my own, Gabe. Only had two drinks.”

My eyes widened. “They must’ve been fishbowls then.”

She giggled. I loved that sound.

“No, but they were potent,” she said, angling out of my truck.

I walked behind her into her apartment. After she put her phone on the counter, she turned to me.

“It’s good to know we aren’t some rom-com or something.”

“What?” I barked. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“You know, dragging me away from a man because if you can’t have me then nobody can? I’m glad that’s not what’s going on here. And before I forget, thanks for getting me away from Brenden. You’re a lifesaver.”

Shit. I wasn’t a lifesaver. She hit it right on the head the first time. I couldn’t have her, and I’d be damned if I watched someone else take her.

Cassie

I HAD BEEN SO BUSY that two weeks had passed since I last saw Gabe.

My job at Club Eclectic proved more challenging than I expected, which was good. Nothing notable to report to my dad, though, was bad. Maybe Ryan had anxiety and channeled it outwardly. Yet my dad’s instincts were good, and I had no reason to distrust mine, either. I went to work day in and day out with eyes open for something amiss. I had been pulling overtime, though I was salary, but always left before eight at night.

I’d moved to Saturday morning volunteer shifts at the shelter. Gabe’s schedule kept him from being anywhere before noon. I told myself I didn’t choose this time to avoid him, but I knew it was a lie.

I left the animal shelter a little after three in the afternoon. The lighter traffic on Colonial meant I pulled up to my building in twenty minutes.

My phone rang, and I saw my older sister, Serafina, was calling me. “Now, that’s unexpected,” I muttered as I debated answering.

I shook my head and answered the call anyway.

“Hello, Serafina,” I drawled.

She sighed. “Just Sera works, runt.”

The smile on my face fell. “Any particular reason you called?”

“Wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be dropping by the house. Rafael and I are here, and we’re staying the night. I heard you had to spend the night unexpectedly not long ago, and I need to be sure that won’t be happening this weekend.”

My brow arched. “Shouldn’t matter if I’m there or not, Sera. I mean, you’ll be in a room with your husband, just like any other night, right?”

She paused, and I suspected she didn’t want me to hear her exhale.

“Will you be coming by or not, Cassandra?”

I grinned, but kept my tone neutral. “Don’t want to see me this trip, Sera? I mean, you drove all this way from Miami. Don’t you want to visit with your runt sister?”

“This visit isn’t purely social, Cassandra. Some of us have full-time jobs and other interests to take care of.”

My sister went to the University of Miami, and she had even graduated with a liberal arts degree. But, no two ways about it, she went to Miami specifically to land a husband. Her full-time job was being trophy-wife to Rafael, but maybe Sera had finally decided to branch out.

Rather than rise to her bait about my lack of employment, I answered her question. “No, Sera. I shouldn’t be back at Dad and Mother’s house this weekend.”

“Good,” she murmured.

My lips pulled into a frown. It never failed. Every time I took her calls, I thought, hoped, prayed our relationship would change. That my big sister would see me as an adult and someone she could talk to, at the least. Our conversations always ended the same, with animosity or distant tolerance, which left me disappointed and sad to my very marrow.

What the hell I’d ever done to her, I would never know.

“Is there anything else, Sera?” I asked.

“Actually, yes. There is.”

13 How Are We Friends, Again?

Gabe

I WOKE UP AT QUARTER to noon with major morning wood. It was a serious injustice that I couldn’t remember the dream which caused it.

Aside from a quick lay or my fist, my only relief would come from a good workout.

After using the bathroom, I dragged my ass out to the living room.

Brock stood at the breakfast bar with his phone to his ear. “Yeah. Otero sent me that stuff. I start my probationary period Monday.”

He listened for a moment and I mouthed the word “Clint” at him.

Brock nodded at me.

“Yeah, uh, Gabe just got up. You still hittin’ the gym?”

“I’ll be there in half an hour,” I said, loud enough Clint should have heard me. Brock nodded at me again.

“I would, but I’m not a member.”

Pause.

“Whatever. I start earning real money, maybe I will.”

Another pause.

“He’s never been too smart.”

The tone and smile on Brock’s face told