Page 34 of Revamped Rucking Reaper

I’m careful not to splash too much. Although I’m wearing flippers, the water is shallow, and I don’t want to scare the fish. Technically, I don’t need toswim. I could just walk and stick my head into the water, but being totally immersed, I’m able to see the fish close up, as if I’m one of them and I belong.

“Are you even listening to me? I know my problems aren’t important to you—”

“Gemma, I’m sorry. Of course I’m listening. You feel like he’s not paying attention to you.”

She shakes her head, “That’s not what I said. Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I get my things.”

“Gemma,” I reach for her hand as she stands. “I’m sorry. I was a little distracted. Give me another chance. There’s nothing more important than you.”

My daughter takes her time sitting on the couch and looking me up and down to see if I mean what I said.

“I love him. I want a life with him, but Teddy loves rugby. He wants to go pro.”

“I see.”

“No, you don’t. You don’t understand the game. You probably think it’s like baseball, where there’s a team in almost every big city.”

“You’d be surprised. I know there are only twelve or thirteen pro teams in the US.”

She looks surprised. “I told Teddy I’m not going overseas. I mean, I lost Dad, and I want to be here in case anything happens to you.”

“Come here.” I wrap my arm around Gemma’s shoulder. Personally, I think you’re too young to make decisions about the rest of your life.” She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her. “But I’m here to support you no matter what. If you feel you need to go with him, I won’t like it, but I’ll accept it.”

She pulls away slowly and looks me in the eyes. “Do you mean in?”

“Yes. You’re my little girl.” My eyes fill with tears, the realization hitting me in a different way. I was only a year older than she is now when I had her. “You’ll always be my little girl, even though you’re all grown up.”

“Thank you.” She says, her eyes falling.

“Gemma?”

“I don’t think you understand,” she says, sniffling. “I don’t want to go far away from you. An hour, sure, but overseas or across the country, it’s too far.”

I take my little girl in my arms, understanding what I need to do to make my little girl happy. To make us all happy.

Chapter 22

Tate

Iglance at the long-stem roses lying on the passenger seat of my car. I can’t wait to give them to Eve. I haven’t seen enough of her this last month. She’s been busy with her secret project, but when we’re together, nothing else exists.

“You’re right. I should have told Gemma,”she’d confessed the day after we returned from our trip.“She came home, and I wasn’t here. She spent the night and saw the flowers. She’s definitely suspicious.”

“You didn’t tell her?”

---