Page 50 of Gabe (Blue Team #2)

I couldn’t remember a time when there were so many people in my house. And that was because there had never been a time when so many people were in my house. Something about it felt good—made it feel like a home.

But right then my concentration was on Evette and her dad outside on the dock, not on my teammates and their families milling about my house.

“She was worried for nothing,” Jenn London said from beside me, watching her husband and daughter.

Evette had not been wrong; her mother was a ballbuster and bossy as fuck.

But like I’d told Evette in the car ride home, I’d never had a mom look after me when I was sick.

Or maybe I had before my dad died, but not after.

And that wasn’t to say there hadn’t been times when I’d caught a cold or flu, just that my mom didn’t have time to coddle me.

Jenn London had the time and judging by the way she bossed she’d obviously had a lot of practice.

This I didn’t mind.

Like her daughter, she did it sweet-like.

“She was feeling guilty for losing her temper.”

“The two of them are the same. It’s a miracle they didn’t argue more when Evette was growing up.

The thing is, all those years Joe was teaching her how to be strong, loyal, stand up for herself, speak her mind, and to follow her heart, especially when the world around her was pushing her to give up.

So it couldn’t have been a surprise when she grew up to be the woman he made her.

And after what the two of you went through, I suspect you know the woman I’m talking about. ”

“I do,” I confirmed.

“Joe does, too. So what’s going on out there is that a father is not listening to the words his daughter’s speaking.

He’s feeling the meaning behind those words and seeing to the heart of the woman she is—the woman he taught her to be.

He’s reconciling the knowledge that he did his job as her father and his girl didn’t settle for something good.

She held out for something great. Not only that, she was smart enough to see it, believe it, and grab a hold. And she did that without delay.”

A flash of fire licked my skin and something else new I’d never felt rushed through me. Something more Evette gave me through her mother. Something that pierced my heart and mended old wounds I never thought would heal.

She held out for something great.

I didn’t know Jenn London well but I knew, like Evette, she spoke her mind and did it from the heart, and she did it true.

She wouldn’t have said it if she didn’t mean it.

“Thank you for that.”

Jenn slowly turned away from the window and glanced around the crowded room. Then her eyes met mine. And that was when I learned something. Joe might’ve taught his daughter to be strong and loyal. But it was Jenn who passed down the compassion and kindness.

“You doubt the truth,” Jenn returned and tipped her chin down.

Then she bizarrely stated, “You know, in Japan oftentimes broken objects are repaired with gold. This is done not to forget the imperfection. It’s to be seen as unique.

Add to its beauty. The objects with the most cracks are the most exceptional. They’re one-of-a-kind masterpieces.”

“I’m not following.”

“I think you are, Gabe. I think you’re a man with deep cracks filled with gold.

What you don’t see is they make you a masterpiece.

Unique. One of a kind. An exceptional man who would offer his life for the woman he fell in love with.

As the years go on, we’ll get to know each other.

And I’m looking forward to that, sweetie.

So I don’t know why you’d feel the need to thank me for telling you the truth.

But whatever it is that’s inside of you that would make you doubt yourself, I hope you let it go.

But in the meantime, I want you to know I’m grateful for what you did for Evette. ”

The heat that had been building in my chest reached a boiling point and if I didn’t want it to spill over I had to shut it down. So I did and changed the subject.

“My mom’ll like you,” I told Jenn.

“About that. I didn’t want to ask, but…um…where is she?”

I smiled down at Evette’s mom in an effort to soothe her hesitancy.

“My mom’s sensitive and after my dad died she became more so. I haven’t told her what happened and I won’t. Her seeing me like this would lead her down a path of mental anguish. I go to great lengths to make sure she doesn’t feel anything that would cause her harm.”

“That’s a lot of responsibility to take on—shielding her from anything that could hurt her.”

It was a lot. It was also impossible to shield my mom from everything, but that didn’t mean I didn’t bust my ass trying to do so.

“She’s a good woman who even though we had it rough did what she could. I owe it to her to do what I can so I do. After I’m healed, I’ll fly her out here to meet Evette. We’ll make arrangements for a family get-together. But for now, while I’m in this state, it’s not an option to see her.”

Jenn lifted her hand and gently rested it on my cheek, all the while holding my gaze.

“Another plus. A man who loves his mother, shows it, and takes care of her. It’s good my Evette found such a good man.

” Jenn stopped to smile, then she finished with.

“Now, seeing as I’m the only one here old enough to be your mother, I get the honor.

So, back on the couch you go. You’ve been up long enough.

I’ll check in on your guests and see if they need anything. ”

I wasn’t about to argue with her about sitting on the couch. I’d tried that and surprisingly failed. Jenn London was a master manipulator. When the lady bossed it was in your best interest to obey. But that didn’t mean I didn’t have something to say.

“My teammates aren’t guests, they’re freeloaders here for the food and booze and can help themselves. You’ve done enough—why don’t you get yourself something to eat and sit and relax?”

“I think I will.”

“Good.”

Jenn started to drop her hand but I quickly placed mine over hers.

“I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. It’s unfortunate we met under these circumstances but in a way, I’m not sorry. Evette giving up her life in California to be with me hasn’t gone unnoticed. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she never regrets her choice.”

“I believe that.”

“I’m not a man who hesitates nor am I stupid. I’ll be asking Evette to marry me and I’ll be doing that soon.”

“Then I best start planning a wedding.”

The back door swung open and Joe held it open for Evette to precede him.

“Oh, good, you’re back. Take Gabe back to the couch and make him sit down awhile.”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes and only because the movement would likely bring on a headache which in turn would likely move Jenn to new heights of bossiness if she found out.

“You know I can’t make Gabe do anything, right?” Evette returned.

“Nonsense, doll. You go with him, he’d gladly take a load off as long as he’s doing it with you.”

Jenn had a point.

Over an hour ago my house had been overrun.

And in that time I hadn’t had much time with Evette and zero time with her alone.

Thinking on it, being laid up in a hospital bed had its merits.

Hours and hours of just me and Evette alone.

Whispering secrets—that was mostly her. Telling stories about our pasts—that was mostly me.

And making plans for the future—that was both of us.

Evette had emailed her boss to set up a video meeting.

But she’d already told him she was relocating to Maryland and would like to keep her job working remotely.

If the news outlet didn’t allow this, Evette was going to go freelance.

She seemed excited at the prospect of writing articles she wanted to write, how she wanted to write them.

So either way her boss went, she’d be happy.

She’d also called Piper and asked her friend to oversee the movers I hired to pack up her apartment.

From what Evette told me Piper wasted no time enlisting the help of Kalee.

Who then told the rest of the California girl posse which included: Caite, Sidney, Zoey, and Avery.

I’d never met them but I had met their men.

It would be a few weeks before Evette’s belongings arrived, but this had no effect on Evette.

She was easygoing and relaxed. No trepidation.

She’d stated plainly she was happy where she was and she’d get her stuff when she got it.

Though I would be taking her shopping in the interim. I knew myself well enough to know by the time we were done she wouldn’t need any of her old things. I also knew Evette was going to fight me about it. Something I was looking forward to.

“Bossy,” Evette mumbled and separated from her dad. “Let’s go sit down before Mom’s head explodes and she scares the children with her ranting.”

“My head’s gonna explode if you tell me one more time my head’s gonna explode,” Jenn snapped.

“We better hurry, it’s coming,” Evette whispered conspiratorially.

“Go. Shoo.” Jenn motioned.

She did this with a broad smile and wink.

I tagged Evette’s hand and led her into the great room to the couch, where thankfully no one was sitting. I sat and pulled her onto my lap.

“Gabe. ”

“Relax.”

“I can’t. I’ll hurt you.”

“You will if you don’t relax.”

It took a few beats and some wiggling—that did indeed hurt like a motherfucker—for Evette to get comfortable. But when she snuggled close I found I could endure whatever pain I needed to, to get her close.

“Good talk with your dad?”

“Yeah. I apologized for acting crazy and bitchy. He forgave me. Then he told me not to wait to hear what my boss had to say but quit and follow my dreams and write the stories I want to write. He also told me not to waste your money moving my furniture here. One, because your house is—”

“Our house,” I reminded her.