Page 121 of Gabriel & Skye

“Glad you approve. And you’re right, life is too damn short. Nobody knows what’s around the corner. When I spent time around Skye, I knew the kind of man I wanted to be for her, and it’s exactly the man I am now. I can be myself. I don’t have to change because she wants me. Not the CEO in the suit.”

“You deserve to be happy.” He gives me a small smile. “Even if you annoy the shit out of me.”

I shove him with my shoulder. “Is my pep talk over now, Dad?”

“The family would be horrified if you’d had no backup. I know you can handle it, but it didn’t feel right about you facing her alone. She’s already done so much damage.” I know my brother cares, and I can’t be anything but proud of that fact.

“She’s gone now,” I say. “I’m gonna go collect Trinity early from school. I don’t trust her until she’s out of town.”

He pats me on the back. “I’m proud of you, brother. You’ve raised a child on your own, that’s no easy feat. Everyone in this town respects you. You act like it’s no big deal, but it’s a huge deal. For her sake, she’d be wise to get out of town before the vigilantes come after her.”

I chuckle. “With their pitchforks, I can just see it now.”

The anger has dissipated. All I feel is a tremendous amount of sadness for her because she’ll never know the joy that our child brings. The smiles. The hugs. The kisses. The I love yous. All the times she crawled into my bed and I held her when she was sick or had a tummy ache. All the times she reaches for me and wraps her little arms around my neck. Tiffany is the one who missed out. And for the first time in a long time, I admit to myself that it was for the best.

Closure.

Finally.

* * *

Skye

Three weeks later

“He really is a strapping man,” Dolly says as Aunt May hands her the cup of coffee. “Those Bassett brothers are certifiably gorgeous.”

I bite my lip. Dolly is actually a really nice girl. She just likes to flaunt her breasts in very low tops and laugh in a high-pitched voice. Not that I’m judging; each to their own.

“They certainly struck gold in the family gene pool,” I agree.

“Say, do you think Brooklyn is still single? I haven’t seen him around with anyone lately.”

I know that Brooklyn may still have feelings for his ex, and not just because Gabe told me in confidence, but also because I’ve seen the way he looks at her.

“I think he is seeing someone, but I don’t know who exactly.” I say the last part with haste, before she can jump on me.

“That reminds me, how is the new sheriff settling in?”

I try to hold in my laughter. Since he took over from Hank, he’s been given a home-made quiche, a regular coffee order free of charge from the bakery, and a lifetime pass to the local bowling alley, courtesy of the good women of Stoney Creek.

“Uh, he’s busy. You know, paperwork in this town.”

“I should pay him a visit. I’m sure it’s stressful settling into the job, he could probably do with a massage.”

I hide my smirk as Aunt May hands me a tray with the two cups. Gabe is outside on a call, and Trinity is spending the morning with her Aunt Georgia and Celeste. Freeing me and Gabe up to do whatever we want.

It’s getting colder now. Winter is upon us soon and I’m looking forward to telling my family this weekend that we’re together. We’re going to make it official.

We’ve spent the last few weeks really getting to know one another, and when Gabe told me about Tiffany and the stunt she pulled, I knew he was at breaking point.

None of us are really quite sure what Tiffany had planned, if anything, but her moving to Ireland was the peace of mind Gabe really needed to finally let her go.

Still, the idea she could just come back to town and uproot all of Gabe’s hard work just goes to show that she really isn’t the woman he thought she was.

She gave up those rights a long time ago, and rightly so.

“Thanks, Aunt May.” I smile.

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