Page 75 of Shiny Things

Dad nodded. “And it was my idea even though I didn’t know about their connection at the time. He’s been chief of the fire department for over a decade.”

“Clarence Grimes is her father?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Well why is she working at the diner then? Why isn’t she at the fire station?”

“Because she loves working at the diner. I’ve already told her she doesn’t have to, but she would miss Gia too much.”

Mom huffed. “No matter how much I tried to discourage it, those two still became friends. And now this. It’s just a lot to take in. Though technically she quit her job last night. I guess now I know the real reason why.”

“Helena,” Dad chastised.

“Who quit their job?” Gia asked as she walked in through the kitchen.

“Kim.”

“Oh please. She didn’t really quit. She loves me too much. She just refuses to work for you and Aunt Ginny again, and quite frankly, I don’t blame her, because you were both way out of line and owe her an apology for that.”

“She’s your brother’s mate.”

Gia didn’t react, and Mom’s face scrunched up in frustration.

“You knew? Am I the last person in this family to know about this?”

“Know about what?” Dean asked as he walked down the stairs. He looked around noting both me and Gia were there and then pulled out his phone and shot off a text. “No one told me we were having a family meeting. I sent a text to Ryan to get over here. So what’s going on?”

“Elias found his true mate,” Dad said.

“Cool. Congrats.” Dean hugged me, but then noticed the tension in the room as he turned slowly to look around. “No good? Oh, let me guess. Kim Grimes?”

“Why would you guess that?” Mom huffed.

“Well, he’s been pining after her for years and I saw them making out in front of her house the other day. Plus, that vein in your forehead looks like it’s about to pop, and I figure a Grimes mated to one of your beloved children would do that.”

Mom glared at him, but she couldn’t deny it.

“Why don’t we take this out of the foyer and into the living room,” dad suggested.

By the time we got settled, Ryan had arrived.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Your brother found his mate,” Mom said flatly.

Ryan looked around. “Where is Kim?”

Our mother glared at him. “You knew too?”

“You act like they’ve been trying to keep it a secret. I do live next door to them.”

Mom’s jaw dropped as she glared at me this time. I was starting to get a headache and just wanted this all to end so I could go and check on Kim. My raven had been on edge since she left, and I didn’t know if she was still waiting outside or if she flew home.

“You moved her in with you?”

“Not yet. But she does stay over there sometimes.” Once, last night, but I didn’t admit that.

“Oh Elias. People are going to talk.”

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