Page 31 of Freeing Souls

“I–I do. This was years ago. Like four or five years, I think.”

We sit in silence for a moment as I ponder over how to ask and say what I want to say without coming off as pushy or overstepping. After a few minutes, I glance over at her again. “Can I ask you something?”

Carly nods.

“If there has been something between you and Gabe for so long, why have you guys not given it a shot? It’s clear as day you both like each other. Colton has mentioned a few things before, but why haven’t you just tried going for it?”

“It’s surprising the amount of power fear can have over you when you refuse to face it, even when it’s right in front of you.” Her eyes track Gabe as he laughs with some of the other guys on the other side of the fire. “When there's so much at stake, you succumb to that fear and let it hold you hostage until one day, you don’t even recognize yourself anymore.”

“You love him?” I ask softly.

She nods, not taking her eyes off him. So many emotions seem to stir in her eyes--sadness, joy, worry. But mostly, her tight drawn features show how conflicted she feels.

“Allowing myself to build a relationship with Gabe has been one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, and that is saying something after everything. But Carly…” She finally looks away from him to meet my gaze as I finish. “It’s worth it.”

She smiles sadly at me. “You are his daughter. There was never a doubt for any of us that he would accept you. It was clear he loved you and cherished you from the moment you got here.”

“Carly, that man loves you more than I think any of us even understand. Rejection should be the last thing you are worried about. If I have learned anything since being here, it’s that you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, so take the chance. I feel like we all spend too much time thinking about how something may happen or end rather than just living and enjoying every experience as it comes, good or bad.”

“When did you get so wise?” She chuckles as a shadow falls over us, and Gabe takes a seat across from us.

“Are you guys alright?” He furrows his brows, glancing between us.

I grin widely and look over at Cade, who is trying to hide in the corner but seems to keep getting dragged back out by a drunk Ryker. “Oh, I have to go check on them. But you guys chat.”

I jump up and leave them alone, heading over to the guys. Stopping next to Grayson, I ask, “Is he drunk?”

“Yeah, he is. But he’s really fucking happy.”

Ryker spots us together and drops what he was doing to come straight to us, wrapping us both up in a hug. “Fuck, you two are so hot. I’m a lucky bastard.”

Laughing, I pat his back and say, “Maybe it’s time for bed?”

Ryker stumbles slightly but still manages to smirk and wiggle his brows. “Oh I like what you’re thinkin’, good lookin’.”

I burst out laughing as Cade walks over, and we manage to somehow get Ryker inside, mostly by the promise of sex, but as soon as we make it into Gabe’s house and get Ry on my bed, he passes out. It takes all of us to get him stripped and situated before we can squeeze in to go to sleep.

Cade pulls me on top of him and grumbles, “You need a bigger fucking bed.”

Chapter Ten

Cayden

“Rise and shine, bitches!” a very annoying voice hollers. I roll over and crack an eye open to find Harley missing from the bed but Ryker and Grayson are still asleep.

The light clicks on, and Ryker groans, “What the fuck?”

“Wake up! First full day as prospects, and I can’t fucking wait,” my brother says with more enthusiasm than he should have early in the morning.

We all slowly rise to find a smirking Noah standing at the door. “God, this year is going to be the best year of my life, getting to torture the shit out of you three.”

“Fuck off,” Ryker snarks, clearly grumpy.

“Rage is going to be gone most of the day with Harley, so you are my bitches today. Get ready and come over to the club, sleeping beauties.”

“Why are we doing this again?” Ryker asks. Neither Grayson nor I answer as we all go about getting ready for the day and then finding Harley, Rage, and Sugar in the kitchen.

Ryker beelines for Harley, wrapping himself around her like a koala, “Why weren’t you still in bed?” he whines. Grayson rolls his eyes while getting coffee for us.

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