Carly wanted to forgive him just then, to tell him she didn’t care what had happened—she loved him. That a part of her would always love him. She was just about to shift into her human form and do so, too, when a rustling in the trees stole her attention.
Gabe lunged in front of her, a low growl in his throat. She sensed that whatever was in those woods would have to go through him first, whether or not Carly wanted it that way. He had been her protector from the beginning, and no matter the status of their relationship, he always would be.
Gabe leaned forward on his paws as a massive brown bear lumbered through the trees, the magnitude of Abel’s primary form nothing short of intimidating. He stood on hind legs, holding up his front paws as he let out a rumbling roar. Abel’s dark gaze landed on Carly as he shifted human, the amethyst skull tucked in his palms.
The skull and the shifter holding it faded from her vision as consciousness pulled Carly from the recurring dream. She’d seen the sequence of events many times before, but the images had never been this vivid. They’d never felt so close to being real.
Carly had to let Gabe know she’d had the dream again. Maybe if she explained how detailed it had been this time, he’d be able to offer some insight he hadn’t before. Maybe he’d agree that the dream had to be a foreshadowing for something neither of them could predict.
Carly shivered as she remembered she wouldn’t be talking to Gabe any time soon. She’d broken up with him, which meant he wasn’t her boyfriend or her friend. And unfortunately, there was no way to make him one without the other. Not anymore.
Carly had been a fool for dating him. Now more than ever, she needed a best friend to confide in. Now more than ever, that best friend couldn’t be Gabe.
Carly’s bedside phone rang, dragging her from her thoughts. She grabbed the receiver and wished she had a cup of coffee. “Yeah?”
“Yeah?” Crystal mocked in a huff. “Carly, do you have any idea what time it is?”
“Not really. Why?”
“It’s almost two o’clock in the afternoon! You were supposed to be here two hours ago.”
“Be where?” Carly asked, reaching for the alarm clock on her nightstand. 1:48 p.m. How was it possible she’d slept so long?
“Please don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the dance,” Crystal sighed. “Carly, you know how important this is to me.”
“I’m sorry,” Carly mumbled in apology. She hadn’t been looking forward to the dance at all, but Crystal had—and Carly hated to disappoint one of the few friends she had left. “Really, Crys. My sleep has been sporadic since I started shifting, so I can never predict when I’ll wake up. That, and I keep having all these strange dreams. I didn’t mean to sleep in, really.”
“It’s okay,” Crystal replied. “Now that I know you’re awake, I need you to grab your dress and head downstairs. Abel should be there any minute.”
“You sent Abel to pick me up? Really, Crystal?”
“I didn’t send him; he volunteered. I told him to bribe you with coffee, and I promise I’ll have a fresh pot waiting here for you. Oh, and don’t forget your shoes.”
“I won’t forget my shoes,” Carly promised as the doorbell rang. “I think that’s Abel.”
“Then I’ll see you soon.”
Carly hopped out of bed, threw her cell in the pocket of the sweatpants she’d slept in, and pulled a hooded sweatshirt over her rat’s nest of sandy blonde hair. She grabbed her dress and shoes from the closet before scrambling down the staircase for the foyer. The doorbell sounded again just as she reached for the handle, and Carly found an impatient Abel on the other side, holding a cup of coffee.
“Did I wake you?” Abel greeted her with a grin, handing over the cup.
Carly took a gulp of what tasted like a vanilla soy latte. “Something like that. Thanks for making my coffee dreams come true.”
“You’re welcome for making your coffee dreams come true. I can wait while you get dressed.”
Carly took another drink. “Not necessary. I’m all ready to go.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s not like I’m wearing this to the dance,” Carly told Abel as she discarded her dress and heels in his arms. She slipped into a pair of flip flops, and added, “Unless you think I should.”
“I think you look great no matter what you wear,” Abel said as he carried her things to his car. He tossed the heels in the backseat, but took more care in stowing the gown. “Although, I must admit, I’m curious to see you in this dress.”
Carly didn’t know what to make of his flirting, if that’s what it was, and pretended to ignore it as Abel joined her in the car. “Thanks for coming to pick me up. I didn’t set an alarm because I didn’t think I’d need one, and then I slept in… Anyway, I’m sure Crystal’s on the verge of killing me, so you’re probably saving my life.”
“I’m glad I could help,” Abel replied as he turned over the engine. “You’ll more than make up for it when I get to see you in that dress tonight.”
“If you keep teasing me, I’m just going to wear what I have on.”
“We both know Crys would never let that happen.”
“Speaking of Crys, you’d probably better get me to her house,” Carly advised, reaching to turn up the stereo. She was both surprised and impressed that Abel had selected the latest album by The XX. “Apparently, she needs all day to get me dressed.”
“That’s because Crystal lives for dances and parties and anywhere she gets to dress up and have everyone adore her. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but she’s really looking forward to this dance. It seems to mean a lot to her that you’re going tonight. And if I’m being honest, Carly, it kind of means a lot to me, too.”
Carly stared down at her coffee cup. Yeah, she’d been spending a lot of time with Abel, but they were just friends. He knew they were just friends, didn’t he?
“I think it’s cool that you girls are all getting ready together,” Abel added as he headed down the driveway to the main road leading to Sterling.
“What do you mean, you girls?” Carly asked, leaning against the passenger door as she turned to face him.
“You know—you, Crys, Esther and Sharla. You girls. Who else would I mean?”
“Esther and Sharla are going to be there, too? Esther, who doesn’t want to speak to me, and Sharla, who pretty much hates me just because?”
“I take it Crys didn’t tell you?”
“No,” Carly confirmed, taking a drink of the latte. “No wonder she had you bribe me with caffeine. I knew going to this stupid dance was a bad idea. Look, why don’t you just turn around and take me back home? Please?”
Abel grinned. “Crystal warned me you might say something like that.”
“She did, did she?”
“Yes, she did. And I am on strict orders to disregard any such pleas. My instructions are to deliver you to her house, intact, dress in hand, and that’s what I intend to do. I hate to break it to you, Carly, but you’re kind of stuck with me.” Abel reached over and rested his hand on her shoulder, a shock waving through his fingers onto Carly’s skin.
She shrugged him away. “Sorry, I… You scared me. Sorry.”
Abel drew his hand back to the wheel. “There’s no need to apologize. I was kind of hoping that in exchange for the coffee, you’d consider sharing your first dance with me tonight.”
“Oh,” Carly said, bringing the cup to her lips as she stared out the window. It was an innocent enough request, yet she couldn’t bring herself to answer.
“Don’t feel pressured to make up your mind just yet,” he said. “I’ve got plenty of the day left to convince you.”
“Really? Does that mean you’re getting ready at Crystal’s, too?”
“There’s not much else to get ready. I pressed my suit this morning.”
Carly smirked. “Sounds like Crystal’s not the only one taking this dance seriously.”
“Am I not supposed to care about how I look just because I’m a g
uy?” Abel argued.
“I never said that. It’s just, most guys don’t.”
“Well, I do.”
“I can tell,” she said, peeking at his perfectly styled blond hair. “Do you know who else is going to the dance?”
“If you mean Gabe, I don’t know if he’s planning to attend or not. But if he does show, I’m pretty sure he’ll be there all by himself.”
“I figured he might take Sharla or something.”
“Sharla?” Abel chuckled. “Trust me, Carly, if he wanted to make you jealous, he wouldn’t go after Sharla. Even Hutchinson knows better than that.”
“And who exactly do you speculate he would go after?” Carly dared, attempting to list off the girls at school who might be capable of getting Gabe’s attention. Would he date someone who wasn’t a shapeshifter? Maybe at this point, he was so heartbroken it didn’t matter.
“I don’t know,” Abel replied. “Drew Barrymore?”
“Drew Barrymore,” Carly echoed with a smile. “Well, now I know who you’d take to the dance if you could.”
“But only when she has blonde hair. There’s just something about blondes…”
Carly hated that he had her blushing, and hid her face in her coffee cup as the outskirts of Sterling sped into view. She reminded herself that she was doing this for Crys, for her friend, and it was only one night. She could handle one night, as long as she got another cup of coffee soon.
“I know for a fact that Crys has coffee waiting,” Abel spoke as he parked in front of her house. “I’ll grab your things and walk you to the door—Crystal’s instructions.”
“You don’t have to,” Carly told him, and climbed out of the car. “I’m pretty sure I can make it twenty feet on my own.”
He gathered her things from the backseat. “I know you can, but I’ve come too far to screw this up now. And I don’t exactly want to spend my evening getting lectured by our friend in there.”
“Maybe you don’t realize this, Abel, but you’re pretty whipped considering she’s just your friend.”
“I don’t mind being whipped, as long as it’s by the right person,” he informed her, and stepped up on the porch to ring the bell.
Carly pored over the angles of Abel’s face until he met her gaze. She flinched, and mumbled, “Thank you for the coffee. And the ride and everything, too, but especially for the coffee.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a secret that it’s your weakness. I’ll stop by to pick you guys up at five, if you think Crys will have you ready by then.”
“You’re picking us up? I figured we’d meet you there.”
“Carly, if I’m escorting the two most beautiful girls in school to this dance, you’d better believe you’re getting first class treatment all the way. My dad’s letting me borrow his Escalade, so I hope that’s cool enough for you. And I have your favorite table reserved at the resort restaurant. We’ve got a five-thirty reservation, so we’ll be able to take our time before the dance.”
“It sounds like you went to a lot of trouble,” Carly noted.
“Maybe I did,” Abel admitted, capturing her gaze. “But it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, or so I hear.”
“Finally,” Crystal sighed as she threw open the front door. Her hair was wound into curlers atop her head, and she was batting blood red fingernails at the air. Her lips faded into a frown as she glanced from Abel, to Carly. “You haven’t even showered yet? Do you have any idea how much work I have ahead of me?”
“Give her a break, Crys,” Abel said. “She had a rough night.”
Crystal locked eyes with him, and they exchanged a look Carly couldn’t interpret.
“You said something about coffee?” Carly mentioned as she stole the high heels from Abel’s fingers. Her thumb rubbed up against his, and the spark that ignited was enough to steal his attention.
Abel’s gaze shot to Carly as he handed over her dress. “Have you made up your mind about that first dance?”
“Yes,” Carly answered, licking her lips as she stared back at him. Abel had stepped up and become a real friend just when she’d needed one most. It would be best to keep things that way.
Abel raised his eyebrows as he peered down at her. “Well?”
“Well, I’ve made up my mind—but that doesn’t mean I have to tell you what I’ve decided. Later.” Carly didn’t regard him any further as she stepped past him and slipped into the foyer.
“You’re here,” Crystal spoke as she closed the front door behind them.
“Crys, I really am sorry I’m late,” Carly replied as Crystal took the dress from her hands. “It shouldn’t take that long for me to get ready anyway. I’ll just put on some lip gloss or something.”
“Put on some lip gloss or something?” Crystal mocked, holding up the dress so the hem didn’t drag on the floor. “Carly, maybe you don’t realize it, but you actually have someone who cares what you look like tonight. Why not try to impress him? After all, not all of us have so many admirers.”
“I don’t even know if Gabe will show tonight.”
“Yeah, because I must have meant Gabe.”
“What’s taking you so long, Crystal?” Sharla asked from the top of the staircase. Her blonde locks were pinned up in rollers matching Crys’s, and her oval face was covered in some sort of green goo. “Is it okay if I wash this stuff off now?”
“Carly’s here,” Crystal said, nodding toward her. “And yes, you can wash off the mask.”
Sharla’s narrow eyes fell to Carly. “You look like you just crawled out of bed.”
“I did just crawl out of bed,” Carly yawned. “Crys, is it okay if I grab a cup of coffee?”
“It’s in the kitchen,” Crystal answered. “And then we’re getting to work.”
* * *
“How did you do that, Crys—with my hair?” Carly asked as she stared over her reflection late that afternoon. The intricate weave of fishtails and braids left Carly both looking and feeling like some version of herself she didn’t quite recognize. If she’d been hoping to get Gabe’s attention, this would probably do it. “It looks so, just…”
“Perfect?” Crystal provided as she examined her masterpiece. “Just like that dress of yours. That icy blue sure is a great color on you.”
“Thanks,” Carly muttered, gawking at her image once more. She’d never looked this pretty in her life, and wished her mother were here to see her.
Crystal leaned down and whispered, “You bought it for him, but wear it for you. I’m guessing your mother would say the same thing.”
Carly blinked back tears as she reached for Crystal’s hand. “Thank you.” I needed that right now.
“That’s what friends are for,” Crystal replied with a wink.
“Crystal, you said you’d fix my tiara,” Sharla groaned from the vanity across the room. “The guys are going to be here any second, and I’m not even close to ready yet. I have to look perfect, and I won’t until you fix my tiara!”
“Calm down,” Crystal urged as she walked over to rest her hands on Sharla’s shoulders. “It’s okay if you make Kyle wait a few minutes. That kid could use a lesson in patience anyway.”
“You’re going to the dance with Kyle?” Carly asked, watching as Crystal fussed with Sharla’s hair.
“It’s not like I was left with much choice,” Sharla replied, piling on another coat of pink lipstick the same color as her dress. “Everyone else was taken. Except Gabe. But I asked him, and he said he wasn’t planning on going.”
Carly’s heart fell to the pit of her stomach. She’d gone to all this trouble just so Gabe could see what he was missing and he wasn’t even going to show. She’d gotten all dressed up for nothing, but maybe that was for the best.
“Earth to Carly!” Crystal called. “Do you mind getting the door?”
“Oh,” Carly said. “Did the doorbell ring?”
“Yes, the doorbell rang. Jeremy and Esther disappeared hours ago, and I have to finish Sharla’s hair. T
hat leaves you, if you don’t mind. Besides, something tells me Abel will be happy to see you.”
“Yeah, sure,” Carly agreed, her mind a jumble of thoughts as she hurried downstairs to the foyer. But all that was forgotten as she opened the front door and found Abel waiting on the porch.
He was dressed in a black suit, black shirt, and black tie, and his blond hair was perfectly in place. Abel was hot as hell—definitely someone Carly would want to share her first dance with. If not her second and third.
Legends: Bloodline Book 2 Page 7
