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Gunner’s jaw was clenched after that admission. Hallie slipped her hand into his and squeezed. Fuck. What a heartbreaking admission. Her eyes were burning with tears. She could tell Gunner really felt something deep for these people, but it was beyond her grasp what separating from a Crew meant. Was it like losing a family?
He swallowed hard. “I don’t need your forgiveness. I just needed you to hear the truth in my voice when I tell you…I’m sorry.” Gunner lifted his gaze to Lucas, and his voice dipped to a whisper. “I’m so fuckin’ sorry. For everything. You were trying to help me, and I burned you for it.” He made a clicking sound behind his teeth and tugged at Hallie’s hand. “The park looks good. Things will be easier for you now.”
He led Hallie back toward his truck, which still sat idling with the lights on.
“It was nice to meet you all,” she said over her shoulder. Her heart hurt so badly, but she didn’t understand why. It was as if she was feeling Gunner’s emotions or something.
This wasn’t her story, but she felt a part of it now.
Gunner opened her door for her, waited for her to climb in before he shut the door, then strode around the front of the truck.
She watched the others talking by the firepit, and she imagined how much that had to hurt Gunner. He used to be a part of this, right? He was part of a tight-knit group of friends? And now he was on the outside.
It had been heartbreaking to watch, but she was really proud of him.
Gunner opened up his door to get in, but a loud, booming word echoed through the clearing. “Wait.”
Gunner jerked his attention to Lucas, who was striding toward him.
A growl rattled Gunner’s chest as he stepped out from behind the open door. “What?”
Lucas came to a stop in the bright beams of the headlights. He cast a glance back at the others, who seemed to be waiting. His broad shoulders lifted with his inhalation. “Look, I don’t forgive you…” Lucas hung his head and shook it, hooked his hands on his hips. “You and your lady, come get a beer.” Lucas turned and strode back to the firepit. Gunner just stood there frozen with this look on his face that was half wanting to run, half hope.
“I’m thirsty,” she said quickly before he could hop into the truck and zoom them back toward Laramie.
Gunner glanced at her, and back to the Warlanders. Slowly, he leaned inside, turned the truck off, pocketed the keys, and made his way around to her door. When he’d helped her out, she snuggled tighter into her hoodie and walked beside him toward the firepit.
This introduction was different. Now, the Warlanders lined up and introduced themselves. Cadence, Jenna, Lucia, Landon, Kru, Lucas. The last one was Lucas. He reintroduced himself as Alpha of the Warlanders while Landon pulled a couple extra chairs up to the fire.
Cadence and Jenna showed her an old blue cooler of iced-down beer, and she got one for herself and one for Gunner before she settled into a chair between Lucia and Cadence.
“You’re really human,” Cadence said softly as the men all stood around talking on the other side of the firepit.
“Unfortunately, yes. I have no superpowers,” she joked.
“It’s not all it’s cracked up to be for some of us,” Lucia muttered.
“Gunner has said very nice things about you,” she said to Lucia.
“Bet he didn’t say anything nice about me,” Cadence said.
“He told me about when you were kids, but he didn’t say anything bad about you. He takes the blame.”
Cadence frowned and fidgeted with the tab of her beer can. “He’s told you a lot then.”
“It’s safe with me,” Hallie assured her.
“Truth,” Jenna said. “I’m gonna say it.”
“Jenna,” Cadence said.
“What? We’re all thinking it.”
“Say what?” Hallie asked.
“Well, we all just figured if Gunner ended up dating someone, she would have to be like a dragon or something.”
“Or a hellhound,” Cadence added.
