Page 122 of Fierce-Gabe

“Gabe, you are getting on boggy ground here and you know it. You said you love her, which I’m thrilled to hear. She lovesyou too. What’s the big deal if she knows the Fierces had you guys put together?”

“She is the type to rebel for that reason alone,” he said.

“Before, but not now,” his father said.

“You’re probably right, but at this point, I’m kind of hoping everything fades away.”

“With the Fierces,” his father said, “don’t bet on it. Better figure it out.”

He sighed. His father was right.

“I’ll deal with it,” he said. “If it becomes a problem.”

“Let me know if I can help.”

“No. This is getting out of hand. You’re right.”

“So you’re going to tell Elise?” her father asked.

“No. At least not tonight. But it’s done at this point.”

He hung up with his father.

The Fierces didn’t have anything to do with this and he had to remember that.

What he and Elise had started long before the Fierces even began this game of theirs. He’d make sure Elise knew that too, when the time came.

Just not now.

36

HER RELATIONSHIP

“Thanks for inviting us along,” Elise said to Chloe ten days later.

“You’re always welcome. Royce said you’ve made a few comments about double dating and I thought this would be great. Your dad was thrilled to take Willow for the night and we can have some fun and relax.”

She, Gabe, Royce and Chloe had just arrived at a pub. They had reservations for ten people. Raina, Cody, Megan, Jonah, Roni and Trent were joining them.

Royce had commented on it a few days ago and she’d just offhandedly said that would be fun. She knew Raina and Megan were Chloe’s friends and people that her brother had gotten close with too.

She’d been shocked that Chloe didn’t want those girls in the wedding, but then she understood the fact of keeping it small. Royce also told her that Chloe couldn’t pick between Megan and Raina even if they only wanted to have one more person each.

“He’s going to have a ball with her. Don’t be surprised if she’s holding onto a hammer when you pick her up. Just a plastic one.” She laughed when she said it.

“I heard your father got her a little play tool kit like he did Elise,” Gabe said.

“My mother was so annoyed with that thing,” Royce said. “I remember. She took it away.”

“And I just went and played with Royce’s,” she said, nodding her head.

Elise wasn’t even upset her mother’s name came up. It was like none of it bothered her anymore.

Had she grown that much?

Or did she need to find someone in her life to make her feel good about herself and not doubt all the negative things her mother put in her head?

She was thinking it was the second.

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