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Jace gave a sigh of relief when it was finally over Ash packed up his shit and walked out of Gabe’s office, never once speaking to Jace Real mature Jace shook his head and prepared his own exit He was already thinking ahead to where he wanted to take Bethany for dinner He’d call her on his way out and give her a heads-up so she could get ready

"Jace, a minute, if you don’t h Jace’s thoughts He frohen he saw Gabe’s expression

Fuck

He wasn’t down for a come-to-Jesus moment with Gabe Why the hell couldn’t his friends just back the fuck off?

Even as he thought it, he acknowledged that he wouldn’t do the saotten into Gabe’s face plenty during his tioddamn it, Mia was Jace’s sister He had a vested interest in Gabe’s treatment of her Bethany had absolutely no connection to Gabe or Ash Well, not unless you counted the fact that she’d fucked Ash, but Jace was trying his best to forget that fact

The ie of his best friend with a woman Jace considered his was burned into his ht of Ash’s mouth and hands on her skin

"Make it quick," Jace growled

He stood, refusing to sit, because sitting gave leeway for this to becos to do Like take his woman to dinner and then take her ho on with you, man?" Gabe asked softly

Jaceon with me"

"That’s not what Ash says"

"Ash needs to keep his fuckingon with you and Ash? This isn’t like you Ash is as tight-lipped as you are, but it’s obvious you’re pissed at each other He said you’re all sorts of fucked up over a wo you want to talk about?"

"Bethany is not up for discussion," Jace said in a frigid tone "Besides, if there’s anything you want to know, I’ossip between you two"

Gabe’s expression turned from concern to pissed off in two seconds flat "What the fuck is up your ass, Jace? I’oddaround check I don’t even knoho the hell Bethany is and I’ about her with Ash Ash hasn’t said fuck-all either, for thata dick He kneas a flaet aith the shit he was pulling But he was still pissed at Ash for trying to warn him off Bethany And if he were completely honest, he was still pissed that Ash had fucked her Maybe he’d never forgive Ash for that even though Jace had gone along with it Even with his instincts screa like a oddamn minute of it, but he’d still let it happen Maybe he hated himself most of all

"Bethany is so himself to speak calmly "That’s all you need to know She needs help-- my back on her"

"Do you need my help?" Gabe asked

And there it was The unconditional friendship that had existed since they were in college Always there, at each other’s backs They’d taken some knocks, no doubt Gabe’s relationship with Mia had been the most recent threat But not even the fact that Gabe was fucking Jace’s baby sister and that he’d broken her heart in the process had been able to destroy the bonds of friendship that existed between theht with Mia He’d hed and then his hands relaxed, his fingers uncurling froht fists they’d formed

"No, man, but I appreciate it," he said in a low voice "I’m not crazy I’m not obsessed" Okay, maybe he was, but it sounded a hell of a lot creepier than it was in reality "This is so I have to--need to--do Bethany’s different She’s special And I don’t even coed Everything changed And I have to go with it now or spend the rest of et that," Gabe said slowly "Believe uess you do Mia," Jace said by way of saying he understood

"Yeah Mia"

"Then you get why I just need some space and time to deal with this et it Ash would too, if you just explained He’s pissed, Jace Not because of Bethany Not because you’ve seees He’s pissed because he’s worried about you and you’ve shut hioddamn world for you"

Jace briefly closed his eyes as guilt sludged through his veins "Yeah, I know"

Fuck it all He hated it when Gabe was right Slint in his eyes

"I gotta get out of here I left Bethany at the apart Mia’s old place"

Gabe lifted an eyebrow in clear confusion "Surprised you didn’t lock her up in your place Ash said things were prettyintense"

"How the fuck would he know?" Jace ive her some space Some time to adjust before I just take over And you know that’s ill happen Me taking over It’s inevitable and I want her secure and confident in herself--inelse entirely"

Gabe nodded Yeah, he’d understand better than anyone Except Ash The need and desire for control was a trait all three shared Not just in certain aspects In everything In and out of bed But yeah, especially in bed

Bethany had seen nothing of the way things would be with hiile, so damn unsure of herself and her place in the world, that Jace was extres too fast If he scared her shitless and she ran, he’d never forgive himself

"Work this out with Ash," Gabe said quietly "You know it’ll eat at you both until you do And before you bitch because I’ too personal, this affects the business too We can’t afford fuck-ups because you and Ash are at fucking odds And if you won’t think of me, the business and your own self and the fact that you’ll feel like a co friendship, think what it will do to Mia She loves you both Think what it’ll do for Bethany if she ever finds out she drove a wedge between friends and business partners"

"Jesus, you’re a ust

Gabe’s mouth quirked up at one corner "Mia has said that about me a tied the subject because he was tired of having his personal life dissected by his best friend

"Decided on a wedding date yet?"