Page 136 of Fierce-Gabe

“What about when the Fierces wanted to set Gabe and me up?” she asked.

“I told them the same thing Jim and I laughed about. You didn’t care for Gabe. I did tell them multiple times that you didn’t want to be set up. I’m not lying.”

“But they did it anyway,” she argued.

“Elise. I can’t control other people. They didn’t set you up. They like to say they did, but you and I both know sometimes they don’t do much more than put bugs in people’s ears. It’s up to those people to pull those bugs out and squash them or let them live inside until they decide what they want.”

“That’s a gross thought,” she said.

“It is,” her father said. “But it’s what I’ve got right now. You used to love bugs as a kid. That wouldn’t make you squeamish before.”

“I’m not a kid anymore,” she snapped.

“That’s right,” her father said. “You’re not. So stop acting like one and open your eyes. You found a man you love and could have a great life with. You have to decide if being pissed off at everyone else is going to get in the way of that or not. But it’s on you, no one else.”

Her father turned and left.

He never did that before to her and she wasn’t so sure how she felt.

He normally was there and supportive. Now he was giving her tough love.

It kind of sucked.

Sucked so much she found herself at Royce’s house later.

“Listen, Elise,” Royce said. “We’ve all been in your shoes. Don’t be pissed at Gabe for something he didn’t start.”

“You don’t know that,” she argued.

“We’ve been in your shoes,” Chloe echoed. “No one likes to feel as if they are being manipulated.”

“Which is why you took the first step with Royce,” she said.

“That’s right,” Chloe said. “I did. I even told your brother, who was clueless like you. Does it run in the family?”

She grinned when Chloe said that. “I guess it does.”

“It’s funny,” Royce said. “There have been enough setups over the years that Dad has talked about. You should have known it was coming regardless of the fact that you told him to tell them no. You also know that Dad played a part in mine. Why do you think he wouldn’t have with yours? I think the bigger issue is the fact you got played and you don’t like that.”

Her brother was right. “Maybe,” she said.

“Again, not Gabe’s fault,” Chloe said. “Don’t you think you should cut him some slack?”

“I’ll apologize to him. It’s my fault. You know my temper gets the best of me,” she said to Royce. “He knows that about me too.”

“Which is probably why he let you walk out the door last night. Are you going to talk to him today?”

“Maybe,” she said. “I’m still trying to figure out what to say.”

“Aren’t you the one that said the more you think of those things the worse it is?” Chloe asked.

“No,” Royce said. “When she’s spontaneous is when she makes a mess of things. Like what she said to Gabe last night andthen walked out on him. The same with Dad this morning. Elise needs to plan everything out in her life and that doesn’t always work.”

“Life isn’t that neat and tidy,” Chloe said. “You’re talking to two people who were having sex and fun and then comes baby.”

“I knew I loved you before that,” Royce said. “I had to get you to see it.”

Elise looked at Chloe and maybe saw a bit of herself there. “Seems like the same situation with Gabe and me.”

---