Page 21 of Fierce-Gabe

“Yeah,” he said. “He was supposed to be here yesterday but got held up doing something. He’ll be here this afternoon I’m sure. Early enough to spend time with my parents.”

His parents would leave before his brother showed up. He’d leave too. Jayce was going to text when he was leaving his house so then Gabe would know he had time to get home and let his brother in.

“It’s always great when the kids are home. My youngest, Ryder, went to Greenville with Marissa and her family and Cody and Raina. They will be back tomorrow though. It’s hard when they’ve got to split their time with other families that don’t live close by.”

“I’m sure,” he said. It was nothing he’d dealt with. When he’d been in relationships it didn’t seem as if he was serious enough around the holidays to worry about those things.

“I know you know almost everyone here,” Diane said. “I’ll let you go mingle.” Diane’s eyes were moving around the room and landed on Elise’s. She was waiting for him to comment, but he wasn’t going to.

“I think I’ll go check out the food,” he said.

“We’ve got plenty there,” Diane said. “Help yourself and have a Merry Christmas if I don’t get to talk to you again today.”

“You too,” he said.

All the food was set up in a room off the side. He bypassed it and got a beer instead. He didn’t want to take his eyes off of Elise and she’d just moved out of his view.

He shifted around and saw her over by her brother and Chloe. He could be ornery and go there but why put her in a mood when he saw her smiling. It was better to just see her relaxed from here.

When her eyes lifted to his, he winked and he thought she was going to scowl. He laughed and moved away.

There had to be something twisted in him that he found enjoyment in that.

He hated to think that he was just so weak that the sight of that smile brought back memories and he caught himself winking like he had that fateful night years ago.

Thirty minutes went by and he decided to get some food. Jayce had just texted he was leaving so he had ninety minutes or so to get home for his brother.

“Jayce is on the way,” he said to his mother as he passed her.

“Oh,” his mother said. “When did he leave?”

“A few minutes ago,” he said. “You’ve got time. Relax. You know he’s going to my house first and Jocelyn said she was cooking tonight.”

His sister enjoyed cooking and told his mother to enjoy herself here.

“She is. I hate she is doing most of it, but I did put together a few things before I came here.”

“Of course you did,” he said. “I’m going to get a few snacks now, but I’ll save room for Jocelyn’s food.”

“I hear she’s been feeding you at work more,” his mother said.

“Staying on my good side and having my back,” he said, smirking.

When he got to the room off to the side with the food, he saw Elise standing there with a baby in her arms. She was holding a plate with the same arm that had the baby.

“Need a hand?” he said, moving closer to her.

“I’ve got it,” she said.

“I’d offer to hold the baby, but I’m afraid I’d break her. I’ll just grab your plate.”

He pulled it out of her hand before she could say no to him. He could see she wanted to argue but didn’t. “Thanks.”

He put a few things on his plate quickly while she was making up her mind. He was going to comment on her being fussy but then she just picked up a few pieces of cheese and crackers withthe utensils and placed them on the plate he was holding, did the same with some other hot snacks, then she grabbed the plate out of his hand and moved off quickly.

So much for talking to her. He supposed that interaction was better than some of the other ones they’d had in the past.

After another forty minutes of chatting with more people than he wanted to, he had his fill and took off. He saw his mother dragging his father away from Grant and Garrett when he waved to them.

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