Page 93 of Fierce-Trent

“Who ratted me out?” his brother asked.

“Drake,” Diane said. “He came over and told me that you two were getting sloppy.”

Garrett looked at his brother and they both dropped their shoulders. It did seem to get harder and harder lately.

“I thought we were doing well,” he said. “We keep bringing their names up around each other, but no one is biting. That she was talking to Megan helped and you know it. I just wanted to see if we could catch anything being said.”

“Everyone is too good to slip,” Carolyn said. “But the fact that Roni was with Megan for a good portion is saying something. Not only that, Drake came over to tell on you. Don’t you think there is a reason for that?”

“No,” he said.

“You don’t know your kids as well as you think you do,” his wife said.

“Do you think something is going on and they are keeping it from us?” Grant asked.

“It’s possible,” Diane said. “I watched Roni more than talking to her. She was pretty comfortable with Megan. If Raina was here, that would have said more. I expected Roni to be talking more with Chloe or a few other people here.”

“I guess I didn’t think of it that way,” he said. “Roni wouldn’t have a lot of reason to talk to Megan unless it’s a question about rent in the building for someone. So they do talk.”

“They do,” Carolyn said. “Again, you have to watch more rather than push. We let you guys take the reins at times, but you get careless.”

He didn’t think he was careless, but if they could get help with their wives, more power to them. “Fine, there might be something going on with Trent and Roni. What’s your opinion on Elise and Gabe?”

“That one is rough,” Diane said. “I can say that Elise was avoiding Gabe at all costs. She was keeping her distance and he wasn’t even trying to get near her.”

“I’m not sure who Elise was trying to get away from more,” Grant said. “Gabe or the four of us.”

“Well,” Garrett said. “She is onto us. Richard did warn us. She means business. I’m not sure if she knows it’s Gabe we have lined up or not, but something is going on there between them that no one can seem to figure out.”

“Let it play out,” Diane said. “When there is smoke, there is fire. Remember, Ella and Travis were like this too. Look at how well that turned out. It was the very first setup for the family that Gavin did.”

“And it took the longest of the kids,” he pointed out. “I hope Richard is patient.”

“He’s got Royce settled and a granddaughter. He’s happy for now,” Grant said.

“Then let’s just bask in our successes as I said. Looking around today, you can say we do good work. Next week is Julia and Flynn’s wedding and another one that gets a check on the box.”

“You two men have to pump yourselves up to keep going,” his wife said, smirking. “Diane and I, we just keep plugging along knowing we’ve got this. Stay positive, boys, it always works out.”

30

Basket Of Drama

“How did it go?” Trent asked Roni a few hours later as they sat on her sofa near the Christmas tree.

“Not bad,” she said. “It could have been worse. Megan stayed by my side most of the day. I’ll thank her for that later on. Or you can do it for me tomorrow at your parents if you want. I was surprised she was there so early too.”

“They probably left shortly after you. They do Christmas Eve at Megan’s parents’ house with her siblings.”

“That’s nice,” she said. “That everyone can move around and make it work. I’ve never had that before. I mean with Jax being single, it didn’t matter. It’s more about working around when I have Eli.”

He knew this was her first Christmas Eve alone. Ever.

Not that she’d said it, but he’d figured it out.

She’d lived at home except when she was in college but was home for the holidays. Then when she moved out, she was living with Jeff and Eli. Then went back home with Eli.

She only moved out with Eli earlier this year.

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