Heap of Trouble (Trouble, Tennessee 2)
Page 12
“Okay.” Gabe laughed. “Once upon a time, there was a vixen modeling a bikini and stilettos at a local fashion show…” He deliberately let his voice trail. “She was seventeen.”
“And?”
“And she was seventeen. I found out before anything happened between us, and that’s it. The end.”
Harley stuck his finger in the air. “So wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You’re carrying a torch for a gal—a young woman who is Bradley’s siste
r I might add—and you’ve never so much as kissed her?”
“That’s right,” Gabe said, ducking under a low branch and traipsing ahead.
“That’s just fuckin’ wrong, man.” Harley caught up to him.
“What’s wrong about it?”
“She was like a daydream. You never had her?”
“No, Harley. Never.”
“And you’ve been hung up on her for the last four years?”
“Yep.” Gabe realized how lame he sounded. “Might as well say it. Everyone else has. I’ve spent my prime waiting on a woman.”
“I don’t get it.”
“You wouldn’t,” Gabe said, grinning. “You’re the man who shares a woman with a whole team of players.”
“Now that’s definitely wrong,” Harley said.
“And true.”
Harley laughed. “Don’t knock it, man. You’ll see. It’s not a bad situation for the guys on the team.”
“I’ll bet.”
“I know.” He looked all lovesick then and pulled out his phone. After looking through pictures, all of them decent from what Gabe could tell, he returned his cell to his pocket.
“Got it bad for her, do you?”
“Yes I do,” Harley admitted.
“And how’s sharing work out for you?”
“Ah so you’re curious. Must mean you already know what the future holds.”
“The only thing my future holds is Heather. Now if that comes as a package deal, I’ll peek inside the box and take a look then, but I’m hoping it doesn’t.”
“Based on what I know?” Harley paused. “It might.”
“Do you know something I don’t?” Gabe asked.
“You know, or at least suspect. You just don’t want to believe it’s true.”
“Justin and Curt.”
“Yep,” Harley replied, taking longer strides as the terrain shifted and seemed more uneven.
“Hang on.” Gabe threw his arm sideways and stopped Harley. “How long have we been out here?”