Wild Forces: A Friends to Lovers Romance (O-Town Book 2) by Karen Renee (summer reads .TXT) 📕

and then drop out because the structure doesn’t do it for the artistry. And—”

She cut herself short, launching herself out of the bed. A moment later, I heard the bathroom door slam and I ignored her retching.

Her words about Juilliard repeated in my head. Dad had said similar shit when it was going down, and I think it was part of why he allowed for my so-called gap year. When that year turned into six, he gave me some tough love.

“Gabe,” she breathed when she came back in the room. “I’m serious. I’ll be fine. You don’t have to stick around and babysit me.”

I closed my eyes while taking stock of my own stomach. Everything seemed systems normal. I rolled to my side so I could pull out my cell phone.

“Yeah, and my ass ain’t leavin’ until I hear what could possibly top ‘Night Train.’ So, let’s hear it.”

She shook her head as she laid down again. “So as to move this into the current millennium, I’ll switch genres entirely and say ‘The Power of Orange Knickers.’”

I groaned, throwing my arm over my eyes. “You did not just throw out Tori Amos.”

She chuckled, which made me smile. To buy myself time, I moved my arm off my face and texted Vamp to make sure he and Rainey weren’t battling food poisoning, too.

When I was done, I set the phone on her bed. “Okay, ‘Love Song,’ by Sara Bareilles.”

“Ugh,” she groaned. “All right, you win, but you don’t win. Only because I’m giving up since I really don’t dig Bareilles.”

“I don’t know how that is, Daughtry. She oughta be right up your alley.”

She chuckled. “No. She’s up your alley, man. Her songs are upbeat, but full of passive-aggressiveness. You like that kind of thing. Referring to your biological mother as your egg-donor.”

When I spoke to Dad, I didn’t share that it was Cassie who had convinced me to soften my stance toward my mom. And really, I had only softened it outwardly. My bitterness ran deep.

The phone laying on her bed chimed, and I looked to my texts.

I smiled at Cassie. “Well, the good news for the rest of us is that neither Vamp nor Rainey are ill. So, it seems it’s just you, hon.”

“Yeah, not much consolation.”

“When’s Kaylee gonna be home?”

She spied the time on my phone. “Another half hour, probably.”

I nodded. “You really want me out of your hair, then fine. I’ll leave, but you need to lock the door behind me. You got enough energy to do that, Daughtry?”

“Yes, Sullivan. I can handle that. It’s not the first time I’ve had stomach issues. But thanks for sticking around. It was very sweet of you.”

I stood and shoved my feet into my shoes. “You’re welcome. Next time, maybe you’ll get the waffles.”

“Whatever. I know I finally won a round of our sick game seeing as you’ve got to run ‘Blue Monk’ by your father.”

4With You

Cassie

WHY DID I EVER INTRODUCE Gabe to the Bracket Game? He and I became friends, and in doing so, I learned he played basketball. In fact, his studies and entire world went into something of a tailspin during March Madness. So, geek that I was, I mentioned my bracket games.

“You do a bracket for March Madness?” he had asked sounding as though the very notion were madness itself.

“Not for basketball. I’ve followed some blogs and websites which put books into brackets for the ultimate book of all time.”

“Okay,” he drawled.

“My dad and I have been playing a version of this with songs.”

“Songs?”

I had then explained that there were no actual brackets on paper or a website. It was the verbal game we played on my bed.

God.

Gabe Sullivan on my bed.

That man had a way of topping himself when I least expected it. I thought sleeping in his bed was torture. Nope. Laying on my bed with him sporting that scruff which begged me to stroke his cheek, now that was torture.

Yeah. Except I wasn’t known to be a masochist, so it was clear I had to put distance between us.

THE NEXT MORNING I went to campus early to meet DeShawn for an Accounting tutoring session. He and I met because of Gabe, and when he found out I was getting my MBA, he asked if Accounting was my thing or not. He had the basics down, but wanted my help with the more in-depth principles.

I sat down at the table in the library where DeShawn had his books and notes out.

He looked up. “You certain you’re not contagious?”

My eyes widened. “It was food poisoning, and it was nearly twenty-four hours ago. I’m fine. Yes. I’m sure I’m not contagious. Gosh. Didn’t know you and Gabe were so damn chatty.”

He shrugged a well sculpted shoulder. “We aren’t. He mentioned it when I called him yesterday for a pick-up game, but he had plans.”

I nodded and pulled out my notebook so we could get to work.

An hour later, and we both had to get to our classes.

As we exited the library, DeShawn asked, “You comin’ to our game tomorrow?”

I opened my mouth to answer but took a deep breath instead. Then I looked up at him. “I’m gonna have to pass on this one.”

His brown eyes narrowed on me. “You sure you’re okay? Something about that answer isn’t right, Cass.”

I tilted my head momentarily. “I wouldn’t say that. There’s just stuff going on in my life.”

“Like that asshole shovin’ you around last week?” I made a face. “Yeah. Sullivan told me about that. And for real, you coulda called me, too. You need to take care of yourself, girl.”

I nodded. “You’re right. It’s also why I won’t be at the game.”

His head reared back. “Say what? Sullivan do somethin’ to you?”

I shook my head. “No. It’s like you said. I have to take care of myself. Gabe and I are just friends, and I need to... take care of that, I guess.”

He whistled. “All right. And I won’t share this shit with him.”

I