Page 46 of Griz's Edge

“What are you talking about?” I ask, furrowing my brow.

“Sweetheart, this is a small town, and I hear plenty of things. Even when I don’t go to town, I hear them. Old biddies sure do like to gossip.”

Oh, dear lord.

“How did you figure I’d get with Griz?”

“Because I knew he was just your type,” she says, straightening. “That being said, I’d have at least liked to have not gotten the call I did, however, it did get my daughter back home.”

“Mom,” my mom snaps. Looking at her, I don’t miss the frustrated expression on her face. “We’re not here to discuss that.”

“Oh, pish-posh.” Grandma waves a hand and rolls her eyes.

“Can we get on with things?” Dad grumbles, taking a step forward. Where Mom was looking at Grandma, Dad was looking at the way Griz was holding me to his side.

“Dad,” I murmur in greeting and look past him to Marshall and Marla. “I see you brought everyone with you.”

“Family meeting,” he mutters as he meets my gaze briefly and shifts toward Griz. “Mind lettin’ my daughter go so we can have that family meeting.”

“If it involves any of the shit she’s been through lately, then yeah, I mind, sir.”

Dad narrows his gaze on Griz and takes him in for a moment.

“You’re Gael Holland’s son, aren’t you?” my mom speaks up, coming up next to my dad.

“Yes, ma’am,” Griz confirms for Mom, surprising me with the way he answered this.

“Your mom, she’s . . .”

“Dad’s high school sweetheart, Erica Holland,” Griz finishes for her, and I don’t miss the pain in his voice when talking about his mom. “She passed away when I was ten.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I remember the two of them together. They were both a couple grades ahead of me, but you never saw one without the other.”

“That’s what my dad’s told me.”

“Does Gael’s brother, Dallion, still own the diner in town? I remember him and his wife bought it a long time ago.”

“Yeah, they’re still running it.”

“We’ll have to stop there to eat while we’re in town.”

“Again, can we get back on topic,” Dad demands.

“Michael, you need to calm down,” Mom tells him, swatting at his chest.

“I’ll calm the fuck down after I can assure myself my daughter isn’t hurt.”

“Dad, I’m fine,” I tell him, holding his gaze. “I would have told you that myself if I’d spoken to you.” I shoot Griz a knowing look as I say this. Turning back to Dad, I give him a smile I hope he doesn’t see through. “You didn’t have to come all the way here.”

“Yeah, we fuckin’ did,” Marshall snaps, stepping forward, glaring at me. “Why the fuck do you think we’re here for a goddamn family meeting, Marley? You had to bring up the damn past for Mom and Dad, and now here you are, nearly getting blown up on us.”

“You need to step back and calm the fuck down,” Griz snarls, pushing me slightly behind him to face off with my big brother. “You’re not gonna come into my clubhouse and start in on your sister, who happens to be my woman, without thinking you can get away with it. Tellin’ you now, man, it ain’t gonna happen.”

My heart tumbles in my chest. I love my brother just as I love my sister. They’re amazing siblings, but like I told Griz before, we’re like oil and water.

“Marshall, calm down and take a seat,” Mom states firmly, using the mom voice we all knew to listen to or all hell wouldbreak loose. “All of my children sit down so we can get this over with.” Mom looks to Griz, hands going to her hips. “Since you’re with my daughter and adamant about her not being involved without you, then you sit your carcass down as well.”

I struggle not to laugh and nearly choke as my mom says this to Griz. The look he casts in my direction is one that I think I’ll never forget. I don’t think anyone has ever spoken to him that way. At least not since he’s been an adult.

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