Page 40 of Loving Wild

“Ya know, this is the first woman Gabe has been in a relationship with I’ve ever done something like this with.” I turn my gaze from my nails to meet Dani’s.

“Even Lena?” I ask quietly. Dani nods.

“Theirs was a strange relationship.” We both turn our heads and check that Ava can’t hear what we’re saying. “She backed him into a corner, he panicked and ended up married to someone he had no feelings for because he thought it was the right thing to do.” I nod as that’s what I’d got from my conversations with Gabe about his marriage.

“What I don’t get though, is that she went to all that trouble to get him to marry her, and then she brought another man into their home, took him to bed . . .” I refrain from going into detail just in case Ava does hear anything. This isn’t really the time to be having this conversation, but I’m curious about his family’s take on the situation.

“I think she wanted to get caught,” Dani says. “Why else would you take a chance like that? I think she thought if Gabe found her with another man, it’d push him into wanting her.” I again nod slowly.

“And what about his other girlfriends?”

“There are no others. Gabe’s never had a girlfriend as far as I know. He brought Alysa Hawkins to a works do once, but they’re just fuckbuddies . . . At least they were, not now of course.” Her brown eyes widen, and she nods emphatically before shaking her head.

“She called him once when we first got together. What’s she like?” I don’t know why I’m asking, why I’m torturing myself this way. I’m not sure if it’s a woman thing to want to knowallof the things or just amething.

I take in Dani’s face as she considers her answer. Her hair and skin are fair compared to Gabe’s dark, and she has brown eyes, but you can still see a family resemblance. Ava looks a lot like her, except Ava has her dad’s blue eyes and olive complexion.

“I won’t lie, she’s stunning to look at. Her legs are probably as tall as you, but she doesn’t have your curves. Short blonde hair, sharp cheekbones, all of that.” She shrugs. “What can I say, she’s got it going on, and she likes dick. Uncomplicated is the word Gabe always uses—used to describe her.”

“Nothing like me then,” I say quietly.

“Nothing like you, which is obviously why she was never anything more to Gabe than what she was. You, on the other hand . . .” She grins and shakes her head at me. “I’ve just never seen my brother like this, none of us have.”

“That’s because he loves her . . .” My head snaps around to face Ava.

“Have you been listening to our conversation, kid?” Dani asks.

“I’m not a kid, and yeah, some of it.” I sit back in my chair while the conversation goes on around me. As the nail bar worker pulls the toe separators from my feet, Ava looks at me. “My dad loves you, he told me he does. He’s never even mentioned anyone he’s been seeing to me before, let alone introduce me to them, so I knew he loved you before he even told me.”

I should take all of this and wrap myself up in the warmth the words should bring, instead, my first thought is, ‘why me?’

Dani’s hand reaches out and squeezes mine. “He just hadn’t met the right person, Lauren, now he has. He wants us all to know you.”

I nod. This is Gabe’s little sister and twelve-year-old daughter I’m having this conversation with, and I’m unsure what the appropriate response should be.

“Can we get lunch? I’m starving.” Ava saves me from continuing down that track, and we all decide to head to the Mexican next to the nail bar.

* * *

“So,Miss Ava, what’s the LD with you? That Dylan kid still giving you shit?” Dani asks.

Ava sips at her mocktail before shaking her head.

“Nope, he’s found another victim and leaves me alone now.”

“Did you kick him in the balls like I told you to?”

“No, I took a photo of him on my phone, and when he asked if I was going to print it and stick it on my bedroom wall, I told him it was for my older cousins, so they’d know who they were looking for when they waited outside the school to kick his arse.”

“Good girl.” I look on as Dani and Ava high five.

“Did Dad mention Grandpop’s birthday? I know it’s not your usual weekend, but it’s been a while since we’ve all been together.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. My mum won’t care if I have an extra weekend with Dad.”

“When is it?” I ask, wondering why Gabe hasn’t mentioned it to me.

“Next Saturday,” Dani responds. “It’s at Dad’s place in Brighton. I only messaged Gabe about it yesterday, he probably hasn’t had a chance to tell you yet.” I nod, smiling at the prospect of finally meeting Gabe’s dad, his dad’s wife, not so much.