“I’m serious, Nash. I don’t want to scare her, and I don’t want to open up her view of the world. I like her as she is.”
“We run a campground that’s always filled with human campers. I think things will be fine, but I’ll let Liam know so he can tell the others if it makes you feel better.”
“It does. Thank you,” I said. “I’ll see you soon. Tell Gran I’m on my way.”
“I will. Drive safe.” There was hesitation in his tone before he hung up. It was almost as though there was something else he’d wanted to say.
Did he want to tell me that he loved me?
It had been over a year since I’d heard those words from him. My heart skipped a beat at the thought, sending sadness spiraling through my bear and me.
I pocketed my cell and continued speed walking in the direction I’d been going without realizing—Karen’s place.
Chapter Ten
I stared at Karen’s apartment door, debating what reason I should give for needing a ride back to Gem Creek. How could I explain how I’d gotten here without pulling her into shifter stuff or having her call the cops on Damon?
I squeezed my eyes shut tight. I should have thought this through more.
Karen wasn’t the best choice for this situation. I should have reached out to someone from the Maverick Crew instead.
What was I thinking?
I pulled my cell from my back pocket and started walking toward the elevator.
“Sam?” A voice called from behind me. “What are you doing here?”
I spun around, wide-eyed. “Karen. Hey. I was, um, coming by to say hi.”
“No, you weren’t.” Her brows pinched together. She always had been able to read people so well. It was how she knew instantly whether someone actually liked a piece she was showing them or if she was wasting her time. “Is everything okay? You look a little flustered.”
“I am.” I deflated. There was no point in trying to pretend. She’d see right through it.
“Is your granny okay?” Her voice was soft, and I knew it was because she didn’t want to upset me.
Karen was a true friend. That was why I’d come here and not to one of the members of the Maverick Crew. I hadn’t connected with any of them, not in the way I had with her.
“No, she’s not,” I said.
“Then, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with her?”
Legit questions. One’s I wished I could give her real answers to.
“Let’s head inside,” she said, motioning for me to follow her inside her apartment.
“Wait. Weren’t you just leaving?” I asked, remembering.
She waved my words away. “You’re way more important than the guy I was supposed to meet for a drink. Honestly, you probably did me a favor by intervening. He seemed like a real bore. I just haven’t been out in a while, so I figured I’d take him up on his offer even though we don’t have much in common.”
I smirked at her. The reality was, she probably would have found something wrong with the guy within the first two seconds anyway. She always claimed I was picky, but she was the picky one.
“So, tell me what’s up,” Karen said as she closed the door behind us and flipped a few lights on.
My face scrunched up. “I need a favor. Well, a few favors.”
“Anything. You know that. What do you need?” Her eyes filled with concern.
“I need you to give me a ride back to Gem Creek. Like right now,” I said. “Please.”
“Oh. Um okay. Did your car break down or something?”
“No. I didn’t drive here. Which brings me to my second favor—please don’t ask me any questions about how I got here.” I knew one question would lead to another, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to answer any questions she had about the pickle I’d somehow gotten myself into.
It was best if she knew as minimal an amount of information as possible.
Karen’s face grew serious. “Sure. I can do that. No questions. Well, just one. Are you sure you’re okay?” Her eyes bored into mine.
I loved her for being so concerned.
“I am. Or at least I will be once I get back to Gem Creek,” I insisted, smoothing a few stray hairs away from my face.
“Should we leave now?” Karen asked.
“If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Road trip!” She shouted as she kicked off her heels and headed to her bedroom.
Twenty minutes later, Karen had packed an overnight bag and changed into some comfy driving clothes. She’d gathered us some healthy snacks and each a bottle of water while I cleaned myself up in the bathroom before we left.
When we arrived at Gem Creek a few hours later, I directed Karen toward Gran’s cabin. She pulled in behind my SUV but didn’t say a word about why it was here or ask how I’d gotten to Denton without it.
“Looks like you have a lot of people eager to see you again,” she said, nodding to them. “Is one of them the guy you were so heartbroken over?”
Nash made his way down the steps toward Karen’s car before she came to a full stop. His brows were pulled together, and every muscle in his body seemed tense and tight as he walked. I knew it was partly because he was trying hard to rein in his bear and not let his eyes flash.
“That would be him,” I said, my gaze never wavering from Nash.
“He looks like the type to break hearts,” Karen gushed.
My bear grumbled. She wasn’t a fan of others ogling Nash. He was hers.
I popped open the car door and slid out. Nash scooped me into a hug. My bear sighed with relief. This was where she wanted to be—heck, it was where I wanted to be—in Nash’s arms and in Gem Creek.
“I was going fucking insane not knowing where those pricks took you.” He grumbled in a low tone so
