The motorcycle roared to life and quickly zipped past us. Luke saluted Gabby with a grin then disappeared from sight.
Sam stood on the porch, his gaze locked on us.
We need to talk to her, son.
She doesn’t want to talk.
I waited for a reply, but none came. A relieved sigh escaped me. Gabby didn’t notice.
She laid her head back, closed her eyes, and fell asleep. She didn’t stir the whole way home or when I pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. I sat for a moment, watching her.
She still had dark circles under her eyes, she hadn’t eaten, and she hadn’t told me what exactly had happened when she’d touched Luke. Hopefully, the next time she woke, she’d eat then start talking.
Chapter 20
I didn’t get my wish. Gabby woke just a few hours after I put her to bed.
Since Rachel was home, I was back in my fur, lying in my usual spot, when I felt Gabby move. She reached for her phone and checked the screen. I knew what she’d see. Sam had called it twice since we’d left.
“Crap,” she mumbled when she squinted at the display.
I thought she was referring to Sam until she left the bed saying, “I’m going to be late.”
Did she seriously think she was going to school? I hopped off the bed and planted myself in front of the door.
She didn’t notice as she grabbed clothes. When she turned and saw me, she paused.
“Clay, I have to pee so bad it hurts. Can you move, please?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. Did she really think she had me with that? Although I couldn’t hear a lie, I knew her well enough to guess what she was doing. I stepped away from the door, letting her believe she’d fooled me, and watched her grin and leave.
As soon as she’d closed herself in the bathroom, I hid her keys in the towel drawer. She needed more rest to recover, not a day on campus.
When the bathroom door opened, she didn’t walk into the kitchen as I’d expected. Instead, she went to her bedroom and brushed out her hair. It took her awhile, and I regretted not brushing it for her after her shower. I watched from the doorway. Each stroke moved slower than the last. She was so tired. Why was she so determined to leave?
She set the brush aside and left her room. In the kitchen, I heard her pause. I took my time joining her. She turned to glare at me as soon as she saw me.
“Clay,” she whispered. “Give ‘em to me.” She couldn’t yell because Rachel was still asleep.
I sat down in the archway.
Gabby sighed and looked around once more. I wanted to shake her. Gently. Instead of looking for her keys, she should eat something. Then, go back to bed.
“Please, Clay. I think I’m figuring out what’s going on with me but won’t know for sure until I talk to Nicole. At school. I need the keys.”
I remained mute and unmoved. She could ask Nicole tomorrow. Meanwhile, I could hear Rachel stirring as Gabby continued to stare at me. I knew it wouldn’t be long before Rachel would be coming into the kitchen.
“If I can’t find my keys,” Gabby said, “I’m going to walk.”
Rachel passed behind me just as Gabby finished speaking.
Gabby’s expression was hilarious, and I almost laughed.
“Gabby, you need to get out more and stop talking to the dog,” Rachel said, closing herself in the bathroom.
Gabby glared at me; and I sighed, knowing I’d lost. I didn’t want her walking. Standing, I went over to the drawer, shifted my hand, and grabbed out the keys.
“Thank you,” she said.
Then she left.
I considered following her but Rachel was still in the bathroom and would notice if I was missing. So, I heaved a sigh and lay on the floor by the door.
It didn’t take Rachel long to finish her morning routine, which still included touching me way too much, before she then headed out the door. Once she left, I shifted and dressed for work. Gabby would be at school already, and Dale was probably wondering if I’d show up today.
A chill wind whipped around me on the walk to the shop, and I hoped Gabby had dressed warm enough. The right bay door was half open. Ducking under, I found Dale working on a single car. He didn’t hear me, so I went to the desk to look at the orders. There were more than usual. It meant that my absence had put him behind.
I picked the hardest one left over from the day before and grabbed the keys.
“Didn’t know if I’d see you today,” Dale said from across the shop.
“Gabby was sick.”
“Ah. Yeah, well, I’d want to take care of her too...if she were mine.”
He turned back and started working on his car before I could decide how to take his comment. Brushing it off, I went to get the first car. I had other wolves to worry about. I couldn’t start worrying about human men, too. But I did. All morning, and all afternoon. Gabby was run down. Would she be able to fend off men like she usually did? Wait...would she need to? She’d said she lost her pull the last time this happened.
After finishing the jobs left over from the day before, along with half of the current day’s jobs, I decided I’d done enough. I looked around and noticed Dale was sitting in his chair, filling out his last order. Perfect timing.
“Need to head out,” I said, returning the keys to the rack behind the desk.
He glanced at the clock, then opened his cash drawer.
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “We’ll settle tomorrow.” I just didn’t want to wait for him to figure out how much to pay me.
He stopped and glanced at me.
“She that sick?”
I shrugged.
“Go. Take care of her, man. You two call me if you need anything.”
I nodded then hurried home. The house was empty. Gabby would be home in an hour, and Rachel might not be home at all. It’d give me enough time to clean up and make something for dinner.
I grabbed some fresh clothes and went to shower. While the shower still ran, I heard the back door open. A grin spread on my face. Good thing I came home early. I quickly shut off the water, dried, and dressed. When I stepped out of the bathroom, the house was quiet. She was probably putting away her books. I went to the kitchen and opened a cupboard to see what I could make for dinner. We had some onions and potatoes on the bottom shelf. I grabbed an onion just as I heard her walk into the kitchen. I turned with a smile on my face. Then froze.
Rachel and I stared at each other.
Shee’t. Busted.
My smile fell, and I started to panic. I hadn’t been in my skin around her since...I struggled to think back. She glanced at my hand; and slowly, she started grinning at me. That worried me more.
“Making dinner?” she asked, looking at the onion I held.
Was that bad? I gave a single, hesitant nod.
Her smile broadened. “I’ll help.”
Help?
“What are we making?”
My panic skyrocketed. If I spoke, she’d say something to Gabby. I went to the freezer, pulled out our bag of frozen chicken, and held it out to Rachel. She took it.
“Chicken, then?”
I nodded again.
“What do you want me to do with it?”
I pointed to the microwave. Every time I pointed or nodded, she grinned; and I realized my muteness amused her. She started to defrost the chicken while I quickly diced the onion. With the onion browning, I got out four potatoes.
“What’s next?” she asked, turning with the thawed meat.
Trading the potatoes for the chicken, I pointed at the table. She sat and started dicing. I seasoned and sliced the chicken.
“So is Gabby feeling better?”
I shrugged.
“It’s sweet of you to come here and make her dinner. Are you here often when I’m not home?”