Page 68 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Riley!” Gabe bellows from behind me.

“Run!” I shout as I begin sprinting. Thankfully, Theo runs, too, and has the car unlocked and the engine running by the time I get in.

“Riley, get out of there, now!” Gabe orders as he bangs on the window.

“Go, please just go.” I plead just as Theo speeds off.

“Wanna talk about whatever the fuck that was back there?” Theo questions as we turn the corner.

“Not really. But thank you for rescuing me,” I tell him with an exasperated breath.

“Didn't seem like I had much choice,” he laughs back. “Who the fuck was that anyway? Boyfriend? Ex-boyfriend? Goddamn psycho, maybe?”

“All of the above,” I laugh, shaking my head.

Gabe

Imake my way back inside to grab my jacket and keys so that I can go after her. Fuck this shit, she needs to hear me out! On my way back out, I can't resist grabbing a bottle of vodka that was sitting there ripe for the taking.

“Woah, what happened?” Nate asks when he sees the murderous look on my face.

“Who the fuck is the asshole with the red Audi?” I snap.

“What's Theo done?” Tucker smirks. That’s right, fucking smirks like this is the funniest thing ever.

“Theo, is that the asshole's name? Where does he live? Where can I find him?” I snap as I debate beating that asshole's face in because I'm pretty sure it will make me feel better about the fact he just left with my girl.

“Well, here I guess?” Tucker laughs.

“Theo is Tucker’s brother. What the fuck happened?” Nate questions.

“Not here,” I grumble as I motion for Nate to follow me.

I take a few steps away from the group, enough that they can't hear us talking, and then ask, “Are Riley and this Theo fucking?”

If I find out they are, I’ll fucking kill him.

“For fuck's sake, Gabe, no they’re not even DATING as far as I'm aware. He’s more like a big brother. He's known the whole group since they were kids. Plus, he's like twenty-five, why?”

“Because he just stole Riley from me and drove her away in his fancy-ass car,” I huff.

“Pretty sure he didn't steal her. What happened? What did you do?”

“Why do you assume it's me, that I did something wrong?” I snort.

“Because I know you, Gabe. You act first, think never.”

“I did fuck all wrong, well, except maybe punch some kid who was checking her out, but that’s all. Then Riley got all pissed, stormed off, and demanded Captain fucking America take her home,” I explain.

“For god's sake, Gabe, why can't you just tell her you like her and wanna date her, like a normal fucking person, instead of going all alpha asshole on her ass?”

I round on him stating, “I don't wanna date her!” How many times do I have to explain that not everyone needs some fairytale romance like he has?

“Whatever you say. You can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me. I've seen the way you look at her. You care, even if you refuse to admit it.”

“Fuck you!” I toss back as I skulk away. Why the fuck is everyone so adamant that I have to share my feelings like some pathetic, lovesick teenager. Just because I think she's hot as fuck, feel all fuzzy whenever she texts, and the fact that I wanna murder every guy who even looks at her, it doesn't mean I have feelings for her. Does it?

Throwing myself back down on the chairs, I reach for the bottle realizing I'm too drunk to ride my bike around town looking for Riley and her ‘knight in shining armor’, even if I wanted to.

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