Page 28 of Actions and Reactions
“Hey, Eagle,” Abigail greets me with a surprised but happy smile. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I came in for a workout.”
“You’re not taking more time off?” She frowns.
“No rest for the wicked,” I tell her and nod at the closed, frosted-glass doors. “Is she up for a chat?”
“She should be,” she answers without missing a beat. Abigail is amazing at pivoting. “Wait, where did you take a shower?”
“Yeah, I was gonna ask about the locker rooms. The showers are still working, but?—”
“I don’t think they’ll be working tomorrow.” Her grimace tells me she’s already trouble-shooting in her head.
“No worries at all.” I hold up both hands so she doesn’t try to get us like... portable showers. “We can all shower at home. Just maybe put a sign up or something so no one else goes in there.”
“That’s a good idea,” she mumbles then picks up her phone. “Do you have a minute to talk to Eagle?” she says into the receiver, then nods once. “Got it. You can go in.” She’s once more looking up at me and I smile in thanks before walking away. Before I even open the door she’s already talking to someone else on the phone about getting a sign put up in front of the locker room.
“This is a surprise,” Gab says as she stands. By her smile, I’m relieved to think it’s a good surprise.
“Sorry for not letting you know before. I know you’re busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you,” she tells me indulgently and reaches up for a hug. I kiss her cheeks and smile right back. “How was the week with your family?” she asks as she turns to the couch she has off to the side.
I roll my eyes behind her back, and yes, I’m not brave or stupid enough to do it to her face over something so small, but damn it, of course Mom told her. And now that I think about it...
“Were you feeding info to our mothers, Gabrielle?” I risk my life by calling her by her full name, but I think I get a pass in this instance.
“Ivan Borys Eagle Jankowski, you better watch it,” she throws back.
“Comeon.” The words come out in a groan I can’t and won’t swallow back. “I get to call you Gabrielle if you’ve been conspiring with my mother,” I counter, and honestly, hearing her second-name me is a little funny, especially her addition of my nickname.
“Conspiring.Pfft,” she scoffs, and shakes her head. “I take my jobs very seriously, Eagle. That means conspiring for the greater good sometimes.” She finally sits and looks up at me with eyes full of self-satisfaction. “And I was right, wasn’t I? Last week was the perfect time to get you two back in order.”
I risk my life again and roll my eyes, but...
“You were right,” I admit in a mutter and walk over to take a seat on the armchair opposite her.
“I’ve known you for almost four years, Ivan,” she tells me, her tone more serious this time. “I’ve known your mother for a lot longer, so of course she came to me. She called in a panic right after I hired Silas, and I’m grateful of course. I’ve known Silas only for a few months and I could tell you two just needed the right push in the right direction at the right time. You should know by now that’s my specialty.”
“I do,” I whisper. I have to give her credit there. She might’ve stumbled a bit last year, but not only was her heart in the right place when she hired Charlie “Sweetheart” Heart, but it turns out her instincts were right on the money too.
And this time . . .
Well, she might regret how right she was when it comes to Silas and me.
“Speaking of which.” I clear my throat and shift in my seat, then I cross one leg over the other and take a minute before looking her right in the eyes. There’s no smugness in their blue green now, only curiosity, and that tells me she probably isn’t ready for what I’m about to say to her. An unprepared Gab is an unhappy Gab, so I might be risking my life for the third time. “I thought just now that it might be ... prudent.”God, I’ve never used that word before in my whole fucking life.This is not pleasant. “To tell you that Silas and I have started a... physical relationship.”
“Ewww.” Her immediate grimace is funny as hell, so of course I laugh, and it might come out just a bit louder thanusual because of the relief.So much relief. “I don’t need to know anything about the physical side of it, Eagle! Jesus Christ almighty,” she cries out. It’s always funny when her father’s southern roots come out in her, especially considering that, like me, she was born and raised in freaking Los Angeles. “But you know it’s fine.” She waves a hand by her face. “I obviously have zero issues with it as long as you make sure it doesn’t interfere with the team.”
“Of course,” I murmur.
“Was that all you wanted to talk about?”
“Yes.” I nod.
“That’s a relief. I don’t need any more surprises.” She takes a deep breath and stands. “I’m hoping this makes you happy, Eagle. Both you and Silas are not only important to the team, but to me as well.”
“Thanks, Gab,” I whisper.
