wouldn’t have to put in effort. I could fuck any of these girls without saying a word to them.”
He grins at someone behind me like he’s proving a point and sure enough, I hear the giggling and swooning. It sets my teeth on edge and I snatch the helmet out of his hands, catching myself and pushing the anger down before it becomes too obvious how jealous I am about it.
Gabe holds an arm out to me so I can swing on behind him and he pauses for a second before he starts the engine, just sitting there and staring out across the street before finally shoving his helmet on.
My instincts start screaming instantly. “What’s wrong?”
He shrugs and kicks the stand. “It’s nothing. Nothing you need to worry about, anyway.”
Fuck that, I jab him in the ribs but he’s a wall of muscle and barely reacts as he starts the engine and then we’re off, weaving into the traffic and flying into the night air at speeds that are definitely not legal.
I can’t see anything out of the ordinary without using my gift, which Gabe will without a doubt sense thanks to how close together we are, so I have to just trust him for now.
It’s something I would struggle with even if he didn’t hate me, but knowing how hurt he was by my disappearance? It makes it almost impossible to sit there and know that there’s something going on and I can’t figure it the hell out.
Thankfully, Sage’s house isn’t too far from campus and we make excellent time with Gabe’s reckless driving. It’s in a gated community like North’s and although it’s a little smaller than his, it’s clear they’re also filthy rich.
Most Gifted families are.
It makes sense of course, because there’s usually three or more adults to each Bonded group, all of them working and providing for the family unit. God, the earning potential of my Bonds is unreal to think about, even if the Draven’s weren’t freaking loaded. Six incomes can go a long way and after years of scraping by on the run, that’s a tempting thought.
Then I think about North’s assumption that I’m a gold-digging brat and the whole little fantasy of not starving and maybe having cute outfits just dries up.
I still haven’t really worked out a game plan on what I want to do after college, mostly because I’ve never considered a future where my life isn’t in danger… or the danger.
We pull up at the front of the house and I force my mind to clear because that’s exactly what Gabe had warned me about. Gifted who can read my mind, rifle around in there and pull out all of my secrets until the Resistance comes calling for me.
I swing down from the bike, pulling the helmet off and handing it over to Gabe to shove into the pack. I hesitate for a second before biting the bullet and just waiting for him. I don’t want to cause a scene and have him do something to ruin Sage’s party.
She’s already so nervous about it.
When he’s got everything secured away, he tugs his jacket a little to straighten it and then turns to face me, raising a brow when he finds me standing there. “I didn’t think it’d be as easy as asking you to stay close.”
I roll my eyes at him even as I follow him like some obedient little puppy. “I’m passing all of my classes thanks to Sage and she’s the only reason I’m not a complete fucking nutcase in this stupid place, so if I have to stick with you to get through tonight for her, then I’ll do it.”
He doesn’t knock or ring the doorbell, just pushes the door open and walks in like he’s been here a million times before. I know he’s on the football team with Sawyer but it still feels weird to me.
“Are you sure you’re not fucking her? Nox is—“
I cut him off, “If you want me to stick with you, stop fucking talking about the Draven brothers. North is a controlling asshole and Nox is a complete freaking psycho. You’re at least tolerable when you keep your mouth shut.”
Gabe’s cheeks flush a little underneath his tan and he speaks through his teeth, “You’re such a fucking nightmare yourself, Fallows, you can’t exactly talk. What about Gryphon or Bassinger? Are they tolerable too?”
They’re both entirely unattainable and distant, so they’re safe, but I’m not telling him that. I’m saved from speaking