Lying With Temptation (14 page)

             
He finally does, but he can’t help snickering, but I don’t care.  I’m stretched out with my feet on the coffee table and Gabby is leaned back into my chest with her legs stretched out on the couch with my arm around her shoulders. 

             
All of a sudden I hear a
click
like a camera, “What the hell was that?”

             
Russ chuckles, “I’m sending this pic to Anna, we’ve had a bet going.”

             
Gabby throws a pillow at him, “
Asshole!”
 

Chapter 18

Gabby

             
Sitting here wrapped up with Linc on the sofa is like a dream come true almost.  Even if Russ did walk in on us getting pretty hot and heavy in our make-out session.  Then I hear my text alert.

             
Anna:  Finally jeez!

Me:  How much money did you make off of me tramp?

Anna: None it was more of a non-monetary bet.

             
Me: Ok I just threw up in my mouth a lil.

Linc looks down at me, “Would that have been Ms. Anna?  Giving you grief?”

             
“No see here’s my message.”  I hand him my phone.  He looks at it and laughs.  I look over at Russ, “So dill weed what kind of bet did you make with my sister….I’m almost scared to ask, because she said it had nothing to do with money?”

             
“Oh it just had to do with streaking…thanks to you guys the next time she’s here or if we go there I have to run naked through a public place.”

             
Linc and I are both laughing so hard we barely breathe.  “I’m just glad my sister won because I’m not sure I could let her streak.  Especially in front of you…you closet Baptist.”

             
My phone chimes another text…I’m still laughing when I pick up phone too look at the text.
             

Reece: CALL ME ASAP!!!!! IT’S IMPORTANT
OR I WOULDN’T BOTHER YOU.  CADE WON’T

             
REPLY TO ME…SO CALL ME!!!!!

Me:  Okay give me like ten minutes I can’t talk.

Then I scroll to Cade’s number.

             
Me:  I need u ASAP Reece just text me.

             
Cade:  Yeah, I didn’t answer his text yet,

             
Just got out of the shower.

Me:  Please come over here…I told him I would
              Call him in ten.

             
Cade:  Okay on my way.

I sit my phone down and I guess a look is worth a thousand words because Linc and Russ are beside me now.  Linc pulls my face around, “Gabby what’s wrong?”

              “Reece text me to call him ASAP said he’d tried to get ahold of Cade too.  That he had to talk to one of us…It sounded important.  Then I text Cade to come over.” 

             
About that time Cade and Daria burst in the door.  I sit down at the table with Cade…

             
I look at him, “What do you think he wants…I have this fear in my stomach right now…”

             
              “I don’t know, but it sounds important. So I guess we should call him.”

             
              “Well let’s put him on speaker so we can both talk.”

             
Ringing…ringing…

             
“Gabby?”

             
“Yeah, well it’s me and Cade.”

             
“Um…ugh…” I can hear him sniffle.

             
“Reece what’s going on man, you are scaring Gabby and I both.”

             
“Well, Elle and Leslie were in a wreck tonight…Leslie didn’t make it… Elle is…it’s not looking good.” His voice cracks and I hear him crying, “I know you guys pretty much wrote all of us off and I really can’t blame you, but I’ve also known both of you forever and I know you didn’t completely write them off.”

             
I’m crying…Linc has his arms around me.  I can’t speak…Cade finally chokes out, “Thank you for calling man…we um…will probably be on our way soon.”

             
“Okay guys be careful.  See you soon.”

             
I’m sobbing at this point, I look up at Cade who has tears streaming out of his eyes.  I hear Russ’s cell ringing.  “Anna….Yeah….that guy Reece just called them…I think they are going to leave soon….Gabby can you talk to Anna?” I just shake my head I can’t form words right now.  Cade takes the phone, “Yeah sweetie… we’re gonna leave here as soon as we can…let the parents know…yeah both yours and mine…we will…see you soon…” 

             
Daria automatically heads to my room and starts pulling out duffle bags I hear her putting things in them and heading to the bathroom and gathering things.  I notice Russ has went into his and Linc’s room, Cade is still sitting across from me with his head in his hands.  Daria comes back in, “Baby, we should head over to your room and gather you up some things to take with us.”

             
Russ walks out of his and Linc’s room and tosses two duffle bags on the couch beside the two I now notice Daria has sitting there.  I look over at Linc who still has his arms around me, “What’s with all the duffle bags?”

             
He gently wipes a tear from my face, “Sweet girl, you didn’t think we’d let you face this alone did you?”

             
I start crying again…
I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve the friends I have now, but I love them…and I’m starting to fall head over heels for this guy holding me.

             
I look over at Russ texting like crazy on his phone, “Russ, how was Anna?”

             
“She was pretty torn up…she said your Mom is taking it real hard.”

             
I swallow, “Yeah Elle pretty much grew up in my house…”

             
“She is going to keep us posted while we travel.”

             
I look up at Linc, “What vehicle are we taking?  None of us really have one big enough for all of us?”

             
Russ looks at me, “Oh I’m borrowing Zack’s Tahoe, he’s going to use Linc’s car.  I already told him what’s going on he said to let him know when you are back in town…he’ll let your regulars know you had an emergency.”

             
I wipe my nose, “You guys really don’t have to do all of this…Cade and I can go…”

             
Linc cuts me off with a kiss on my lips, “No, we are here for you.  This is how Russ and I do things…we are a team…You need us…Cade needs us.”

             
I sniff, “You guys are the greatest.”

             
Russ is steady on his phone, “Hey Gab, what’s the closest hotel we can book around your place?”

             
“You’re not going to…you guys can crash at Cade’s Mom’s and Daria can stay with me or whatever.”

             
Linc puts his lips to my forehead, “Are you sure?”

             
I nod as Cade and Daria come back in, “Alright Gab lets go I gotta get gas…”

             
Russ stops him, “No we are taking Zack’s Tahoe that way all of us can ride together.”

             
Cade looks around, “You guys are going?”

             
Russ puts his arm around Cade, “Man it’s like Linc told Gab, we are a team and you guys need your team with you.”

             
Cade hugs him like a brother….I look at Cade, “Hey I said the guys could crash with you and Daria can crash with me…well if my parents don’t get on my nerves and I end up crashing at your house too.  Lydia would be cool with that right?”

             
He nods, “Yeah my house is empty besides her and she works all the time.  How’s Anna have you talked back with her?”

             
“No, Russ said she’s trying to hold it together, but my Mom is taking it pretty hard. Also Anna will keep us updated on the way down there….speaking of I guess we should head out.”

             
When we pick up the Tahoe Russ climbs in the very back seat, “Russ I can sit back there so you can sit up here with Linc or so you can drive.”

             
“Nah its cool if Linc needs me to drive I’ll move up, lay back and rest.”

             
Linc chuckles and I flash him a smile, “What?”

             
“Well Russ isn’t the greatest driver so we’re a lot safer with me driving.”

We all laugh for a few minutes and begin our seven and half hour drive to our hometown.  “Hey Daria I guess you get to meet
Lydia sooner than later?”

             
I hear her grown, “Gabby I’m nervous shut up about it.”

             
I hear Cade kiss her, “Babe you have nothing to worry about.  My mom will love you.”

             
I look over to Linc, “Are you sure you are going to be okay to drive?”

             
“Yeah lay back and rest.”

             
“But you don’t know where you are going?”

             
“You know that’s the great thing about GPS….put in your address.”

             
I smile, “Okay” After that I’m pretty sure I fell asleep about 20 minutes later.

Chapter 19

Linc

             
For most of the trip Gabby slept, I know with everything that’s been going on she’s exhausted. But just watching her sleep I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.  I just hope when we get there it isn’t too much for her. She’s finally working past all of the bull shit from the last run in with these people. She wakes up when we are an hour away.

             
She stretches, “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”  She looks at the clock, “Oh my God!  I really slept, you didn’t need to drive all this time, you just got knocked out today.”

             
I smile, “Yeah, well they say you don’t need to go to sleep for a while after a concussion anyway…so it’s okay…technically I’m following doctors’ orders.”

             
“So I guess everyone else passed out too huh?’

             
“Yeah, Cade was still kinda upset and I know Russ is just tired.”

             
“Well, we should be there soon.  Has anyone talked to Anna?”

             
“Yeah Russ talked to her a couple of hours ago to let her know where we were.  She’s waiting on us at your house.  It looks like it’ll be about 1am when we get there.”

             
“Yeah, I’m gonna try to text her.”

~*~

Gabby

Me: Hey we should be there around 1 or so.

Anna:  Okay great I’m here at the house, Mom is still at the hospital with Elle’s parents, Dad is over at Leslie’s
Dad’s house.

Me:  Oh yeah they were college buddies right?

Anna: Yeah, they’ve just recently started playing golf together again.  So he was worried about him.

Me:  Are you okay?

Anna:  yeah it just doesn’t seem real.

Me: I know what you mean see you soon.

Anna: K

             
Just as we predicted here it is almost 1am and we are pulling into Cade’s driveway.  His mom Lydia must’ve seen the headlights because she comes running out the front door and pulls us both into a giant hug.

             
She pulls back, “Oh I’m so glad to see you two.  This just all seems so unreal.”

             
About this time I hear Anna, I turn around as she and I run into each other’s arms. “Gabby I think you should probably go down to the hospital, Mom just called.  Elle’s out of surgery but she’s still real critical.”

             
I could feel the soft sobs coming out of my chest, “Um… okay… can you drive me, so these guys can get some rest?”

             
She nods, “Yeah sure let me grab my keys.”

             
I turn around and see Cade still hugging Lydia, I walk over and pull Daria with me.  I hug Cade and Lydia, “Guys I’m going to the hospital with Anna, Lydia this is my very wonderful roommate Daria, and she is also the light of your son’s life.”  Lydia automatically pulls Daria into a hug.