Page 70 of Gabriel & Skye

“GB?” Huds and Gray say at the same time.

They both look at each other. “I’m just sayin’ she’s on some pilgrimage to find the right guy. She’s gonna end up a spinster if she keeps fixing everyone else up.”

“Wait, I thought you two hated each other?” Gray quirks a brow at his friend.

“We don’t hate each other. We just often have a big difference of opinions most of the time.” Hudson shrugs.

Gray shakes his head. “I can’t see it, Gabe. Have you been into the Moonshine again, brother?” He looks over at me, chuckling.

I grin. “They say opposites attract?”

Hudson sputters his beer as Gray pats him on the back. “I’m sorry, but your little sister is way too opinionated and way too outspoken,” he says, wiping his mouth. “We’d be clashing on the color of orange juice. The woman would be over with her smudge stick the first chance she got. I don’t have time for that kinda shit.”

“Hey, don’t knock the smudge stick,” Trav puts in. “I could do with some cleansing down at the station.”

I pat him on the back. “I feel for ya.”

He chuckles.

“I love my sister,” Gray goes on. “But if you could get through one date with her without the two of you trying to strangle one another, I’d pay to see it.”

Gray is just as protective of our sister as I am, but he trusts Hudson. Personally, I think they’d be a great match, if they could get over their differences. Gray jokes, but I’m pretty sure he’d snap his legs if he tried anything.

Hudson shakes it off. “It’s not like that.”

“Glad to hear it.” Gray takes a sip of his drink as their eyes meet.

“What’s wrong with me, anyway?” Hudson goes on. “I’m not good enough for Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes Blue belle who rides my ass any chance she gets.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you specifically,” Gray explains. “I’ve just never considered my best friend and my little sister until this very moment. Like I say, you’d need a set of earplugs and a good resting bitch face; one you’ve pretty much mastered over the years.”

“Thanks a lot.” He quirks a brow.

“I don’t know, I think Huds would be a great guy for GB; he’s strong, dependable, he can fix shit,” I say. “We know Georgia can’t even hang a picture frame without injuring herself.”

The guys chuckle.

Huds gives me a pointed look. “That’s fantastic. Any more bright ideas that are never gonna happen, sparky?”

“Can we please shut up about Georgia-Blue? I didn’t come here to discuss my best friend and my baby sister hooking up,” Gray mutters. “I came here to have a drink with my buddies.”

I feel a little warmth in my chest that Gray would include me in the word buddies. It wasn’t so long ago we practically had our hands around each other’s necks.

The jukebox fires up, drowning out any more small talk. I heard its karaoke tonight and I groan internally, knowing our sister will be up there with the microphone. She has zero inhibitions, but she isn’t a bad singer.

Riding the Moose doesn’t kick off until after nine. Hudson will be up there if anyone even comes close to beating his record.

Out of my periphery, I see a flash of red and turn to look over at the bar where I see Skye with my sister and Celeste. I frown a whole lot more when some guys move over to them and start talking. I watch as Trudy walks in, joining them as she hugs the girls and the guys loiter. I don’t know any of them, so they must be from out of town.

Skye looks beautiful, as always; her curls bobbing around her shoulders and her lacey black top outlining her profile beautifully. She’s pretty slight, but has some curves in all the right places.

I look away because I don’t want to get caught staring, and I don’t need to converse with her. We’re both here on our own time. What she does with her friends is none of my business.

It doesn’t take long before Georgia and Celeste get up to dance, leaving Skye, Trudy and the guys who have plucked up the courage to talk to them.

I feel a surge of jealousy as Skye looks around, disinterested in the douchebag trying to engage with her. I watch curiously as he leans in and whispers something in her ear.

She immediately shakes her head adamantly.

---