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“I talked with her about a week ago. She’s bought a house in Florida. Looks like she’s moving on without Hawke.”
Hell, how did smart people get so stupid? Hawke and Olivia loved each other with a fierceness he’d rarely seen in real life. If they couldn’t get it right, what chance did the rest of the world have?
“And Hawke’s just going to let her go?”
“Not sure about that. From what I can tell, he’s in Florida, too.”
“Good. He’s a stubborn ass, but maybe he’s finally seeing the light.”
“We can only hope.” Ash nodded toward Eve’s office. “And you guys are going to make a go of it?”
“I’ve loved her forever.”
Spilling his guts wasn’t Gideon’s thing, but Ash knew him better than just about anyone. Besides, when it came to his feelings for Eve, he was an open book. She was the only one who’d never seen his devotion to her for what it was.
“She know that yet?”
“We haven’t exactly gotten to that part, but I’m more hopeful than I’ve ever been.”
“Guess she got over her mad?”
“Not sure ‘mad’ is the correct word, but she’s forgiven me, and that’s more than I thought possible a few weeks ago.”
“Care to share what happened?”
“I don’t mind, but most of the story belongs to Eve. It’s up to her to tell it, when and how she wants. Just know it’s not pretty.”
Ash nodded his understanding, and Gideon knew he did indeed understand. He’d been there and done that. Knew all about past trauma and what it could do to a soul.
“Understood.”
Eve emerged from her office. Sometimes, like now, it struck Gideon how incredibly lovely she really was. It wasn’t necessarily her outward appearance, though she was stunningly attractive. It was more her presence and grace. She walked with an elegant ease that defied description, her fluidity of movement like a slow, supple dance. Her black hair, so lustrous and silky, flowed like a dark waterfall over her shoulders. She had delicate, feminine features, and someone who didn’t know her might think she was fragile and easily broken. He could attest to the fact that she was just the opposite. He had never met a more fiercely independent or stronger individual.
She had fascinated him from the moment he’d watched her face down men with chain saws without flinching. In the decades that followed, his feelings had changed, but the fascination hadn’t. He knew it never would.
“Serena told me you guys can’t stay the night,” Eve said. “I was hoping you could meet my father. He’s not available until tomorrow morning.”
“Wish we could, but I need to get back to Jules and Joshua,” Ash said.
“Understood. Speaking of, I can’t believe I haven’t seen even one photo of that kid since you arrived.”
“Let me take care of that now.” Grinning with pride, Ash pulled out his phone. “I only have a couple thousand.”
* * *
Hours later, after a good meal, two glasses of wine, and lots of laughter, Eve sat with Gideon on the sofa. She knew her friends had questions. They hadn’t pressed her to tell them why she had hidden her identity, which was one of the reasons she loved them so much. She knew that even if she didn’t explain things, it wouldn’t change how they felt about her one iota, nor would it affect their willingness to help her. But it was time. Not only were her life and heritage front and center to her request for help, but she also didn’t want to hide anymore. At least not from her OZ family.
She started from the beginning—a beginning she hadn’t known existed until recently. “Gideon and I grew up here, in Amelie.”
“So you knew each other as children?” Serena said. “That’s so cool.”
“Not exactly.” She exchanged a smile with Gideon, who sat beside her. “It might be easier if you start.”
Taking her hand in his, he squeezed gently, as if once more offering an apology. “We didn’t meet officially until years later, but I was twelve and Eve was eight when it all started.”
As he went on to describe how he’d been walking home from work when he’d noticed the crowd on the palace grounds, Eve listened as if hearing the story for the first time. In a way, she was. The first time he’d told her, she’d been too absorbed in her own hurt to really consider all the nuances of their first encounter. But listening to him now, she was swamped with emotion. Gideon had been by her side for over a decade, but in truth, he’d been with her for much longer.
While he described his reasons for not becoming a royal guard, Eve’s heart hurt for him. Not because he hadn’t been able to become her guard, but for what he’d gone through. No fifteen-year-old who had already lost one of the most important people in his life should have to take over the care of his siblings. She had never met his brothers or sister, but she had no doubt they were phenomenal human beings in large part because of their big brother.
