“A man called.” She flashed her eyes at him in a look that only couples could truly understand. “Well, it was a number first. Your phone kept ringing and the same number kept showing up. The caller was so persistent. He wouldn’t leave a message and then I thought he must really want to talk to you or he’s in immediate danger.” She looked at Jaden apologetically. “I wasn’t sure what to do when I couldn’t find you, so I answered the call for you.”
She tried to hand over the cell in her hand that was flat against the blue blanket. The baby in her arms stirred and Lauren started gently rocking the bundle.
An image of Gabriel’s high school sweetheart all grown up now with their baby in her arms struck from out of nowhere.
It was being around this atmosphere that was causing his mind to play tricks on him, to reach back to the past and remember. That, and guilt for the fact that he’d always felt like a jerk for the way his relationship with Kinsley had ended.
Curiosity had Gabriel wanting to see the baby wrapped up in Lauren’s arms, and maybe get a hint of why those little things enamored people so much. Gabriel didn’t get the kid thing. There’d only been one woman in his past that he might’ve considered worth slowing his life down to the point of stalled out in order to go down that boring road. He couldn’t imagine life with Kinsley Greer ever feeling that way.
He reminded himself that they hadn’t seen each other since senior year of high school, since that horrible accident and the hospital room that he’d been told to stay away from by her insistent father. Months had passed and Gabriel had tried every way he could think of to get to her. Anyone aside from family had been banned from the hospital except her best friend, Lainey, who’d been clear that she didn’t much care for Gabriel.
Even he could admit that his relationship with Kinsley was improbable. They were complete opposites. She came from a wealthy, stable family. Whereas, he’d grown up in foster care at what he and his foster siblings had dubbed, “Camp Slave Labor” for the long days and hard work they’d put in. His fosters had been extremist bordering on militant.
Living with Sherman and Rhonda Bushnell had made boot camp feel like summer camp. Transitioning into the military had been a no-brainer after living with those two. Don’t get him wrong, he was grateful for being given a roof over his head and three squares a day. Make no mistake about the fact that he’d earned every one. He used the lessons of hard work and self-discipline to his advantage. Life wasn’t going to hand Gabriel Cooper a dime. Lucky for him, he had no qualms against working for his keep.
Gabriel had written to Kinsley after signing on with the military. He’d penned a note every Sunday for two years even though after six months he was certain she ripped them up before reading them. The two had never officially broken up but her lack of communication was all he’d needed to know that it was over. If Kinsley had wanted him around, she would’ve figured out how to get word to him in two years.
And yet, how many times since that day had he wondered what their relationship could’ve been?
Seeing the interaction between Jaden and Lauren hit Gabriel in that rare place that had him wanting to look Kinsley up. But to say what? It was probably just a bruised ego that had him wanting to, a need for closure that he’d never received. That felt like a lifetime ago.
He, Jaden and Daniel had bonded while working together. There were a few other people they’d met along the way. A former D-Force soldier who went by the name Bear for one. Tate “Bear” Parker had been medically discharged from the Army. Now, he started worked for some Brotherhood Protector agency in Montana. Bear had lost most of his men when an Iraqi informant double crossed them. The way Gabriel had heard it, if air support hadn’t been close by, Bear wouldn’t be alive right now. He took a pretty bad hit to his leg. Gabriel scanned the area to see if Bear had made it. He was probably still ‘nesting’ with that screenwriter he’d found. What was her name? It came to him. Mia. Gabriel glanced around unsure of what in the hell had possessed him to show up at Daniel Damon’s wedding. Maybe Gabriel just needed to see that his old buddy was okay. Daniel had lost so much.
Seeing him alive again, smiling, looking happy was good for Gabriel. They’d been talking for a few minutes, long enough to realize he was done.
Gabriel had seen what he came to see.
He turned, ready to make his way back through the woods surrounding the lake.
“Where you running off to?” Damon’s voice boomed from behind.
“Arctic Circle.” Gabriel hated to admit it, but his friend got the drop on him. He turned to face Damon.
“You must like the cold,” Damon said with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Sure beats the jungle.” Gabriel took the offering. “Good to see you, man.”
“Good to be back.” The comment could be taken on a whole host of levels.
“What’s next?” Gabriel motioned toward the wedding setup. “After marital bliss.”
“Stick around. Do some good for other people,” Daniel said.
“Superhero stuff?” Gabriel shot back. “Too bad I forgot my cape.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Damon’s eyes lit up. “You could come to work with me again. Take Orchard up on his offer.”
“It was a joke.” Gabriel cut the thought off before it could gain steam.
“Orchard has the right idea here,” Damon said.
“So does Bear in the wilderness. Those are probably good for someone—”
“Just not you.” Damon finished the sentence. His friend shot
