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Shay hoisted herself on top of the desk. “That’s a good decision. You don’t want to blow up her phone when it’s obvious that she needs time to process.”

Gabe tightened the knot in the balloon ribbon, let it go, and watched it float toward the ceiling. “But I can’t just let her go, Shay.” She pulled her phone from the pocket of her cargo pants and stared at a screen void of messages.

Shay gently took the phone from Gabe’s grasp and placed it on the varnished wooden surface. “You’ve got to let Lori have the power, buddy. I get that this emotion shit is all new to you, but you have to let it be and let it hurt. She won’t ignore you forever.” She gestured to the Brewster in the back with the new tarp covering it. “The auction isn’t far away, and then there’s Max.”

Gabe blew out a short breath. “I hope I haven’t fucked that up too. She wasn’t there when I saw Max yesterday. The last time we talked, she said she’d start the adoption process with me and that they wouldn’t go advertise that Max was available. What if she changes her mind?”

Shay wrinkled her nose. “Nah, she’s not that kind of woman. She knows Max is going to be better off living with you, and she wouldn’t sabotage that just to punish you.”

Gabe frowned. “You think she wants to punish me?”

Shay grasped Gabe’s shoulder and squeezed. “I have no idea what Lori wants, but I’m pretty sure she’s not a vindictive woman scorned. She’ll talk to you eventually, and you’ve got to wait patiently—because she’s worth waiting for, right?”

“God, yes.”

“And you’re prepared to wait as long as it takes, right?”

Gabe nodded. “That had been my plan until I found out about the cheating ex. I told you Lori wouldn’t react well to my history with the Nelsons.”

“Maybe it’s that, or maybe she’s so pissed because you didn’t tell her after she’d spilled her guts about the ex-wife. If you remember correctly, I told you to tell her about Cynthia.”

“You also said that I didn’t need to.” Gabe shrugged. She didn’t have Lori’s memory for detail, but she did remember that. “I was too worried that it would ruin the friendship.”

“So it’s out in the open now, and you have to figure a way forward, hopefully together.”

“I guess… For someone who’s never had a serious relationship, you’re pretty good at navigating them.”

“You have to be when you’ve got as many brothers and sisters coming to you for advice as I do.”

Gabe gave a rueful smile. Shay had so many family responsibilities, but she handled them quietly and never made a big deal of any of it. “How is the family?” she asked though Shay often didn’t want to talk about them either.

“Which one?” Shay waved her hand as if flicking the inquiry away. “They’re all…still there. You know what they’re like; they’re still asking for advice and then doing the exact opposite.”

Gabe shook her head. “I don’t know how you keep your patience with them all.”

“Who said I did?” Shay jumped down from the desk. “But what am I going to do? They’re family. For better or for worse, they’re mine.” She motioned across to the back entrance. “Speaking of which, Solo just arrived.”

Gabe clenched her jaw and her fists. She hadn’t heard from Solo after she and Shay had left the restaurant, and Gabe had written and deleted several texts before sending nothing after deciding she’d rather confront her face-to-face.

Shay stepped in front of her. “Solo was a jackass on Saturday, but she was drunk, and she didn’t know anything about Lori’s past or that you hadn’t told Lori about Cynthia.” She took Gabe’s fists and unfurled them. “In her head, it was a compliment.”

Gabe raised her eyebrow. “How was telling everyone that I fucked up my career by fucking the sergeant major’s wife a compliment?”

“Not that bit,” Shay said. “The bit about you being a five-star general. You know she hero-worships you. But we’re a family, Gabe, and every family has at least one mouthy brat. Solo is ours. But she is ours, and we chose her. Remember that.”

Gabe rolled her eyes and nodded. “And every family has a wise woman,” she said and pulled Shay into a full hug. Over her shoulder, Gabe saw Solo offer a weak wave. She released Shay and jutted her chin toward Solo. “I’ll go clear the air then.”

“Good idea. Maybe consider telling her what’s going on with you and find out what’s happening with her too. I think there’s trouble in paradise.”

“You do?” Gabe asked.

Shay laughed gently. “It was obvious, but you were otherwise occupied with Lori and pretty oblivious to everything else going on around you. Which is as it should be when you’re in love.” She patted Gabe’s bicep and headed into the office.

“Wait—what?” How did Shay know Gabe was in love when she’d only just realized that herself? But Shay didn’t turn around or respond. Of course Shay would know; she knew Gabe better than anyone, even herself sometimes. She looked back across the garage to where Solo was still apparently waiting for permission to enter. “Hey.”

“Morning.” Solo shifted from foot to foot and looked at the ground. “I was expecting a less friendly greeting.”

“Oh, yeah? What were you expecting?”