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Jace frowned It was evident he didn’t quite s Gabe’s explanation It didn’t ith Ash either, but Gabe’s face was i it was a business decision was bullshit It was personal Ash didn’t knohat the hell had gone on in Paris, but whatever it was had turned Gabe solidly against Charles Willis Thecut loose froed All he cared was that they’d salvaged the whole bloody otten Gabe’s underwear in a knot over the whole thing It was behind them No harm, no foul

"Noe’re done, I’d really like to get home to my future wife," Gabe drawled

Gabe rose and Jace followed suit Christ, they really were getting old It wasn’t even ten yet, and they were already folding up the tent for the night and schlepping hoo hoer to spend a night out with friends either

He walked out with theot into his car Jace turned to Ash "Want a ride back to your place or is your driver on standby?"

Ash hesitated He wasn’t in the mood to talk, and, no doubt, after Gabe’s questions, Jace’s curiosity would be piqued But if he refused the ride, Jace would be evenhim It would be better if Ash just sucked it up and took the ride

"How’s Bethany doing?" Ash asked, when they’d gotten in He figured if he got Jace talking about Bethany, he wouldn’t pry into Ash’s business

Jace’s expression eased into a s to school"

"What’s the latest on Kingston? He still being a duston was Bethany’s foster brother He was also the man who damn near killed Bethany and was currently in rehab Personally Ash thought Jace had gone far too easy on the other man Ash would have beat the shit out of him and then nailed his ass to the wall, but in an effort not to hurt Bethany any et a plea bargain that included rehab and probation

"We don’t hear froood with that," Jace said

Ash arched an eyebrow "But is Bethany good with it?"

Jace sighed "She has good days and bad When I can keep her focused on ood When she has time to think, she worries She knows he fucked up, and she hasn’t gotten over that I doubt she ever will But she still loves him and is sick over what he’s done"

"That sucks," Ash murmured

"Yeah"

They pulled up to Ash’s building, and Ash was relieved that Jace hadn’t had time to pry into his head Because he would Just like Ash would do to hi he’d do the sa up to have Jace do it to hi hypocrite, but oh well

"See you tomorrow, then?" Jace asked as Ash started out of the car

"Yeah, wouldn’tMia down the aisle?"

Jace’s face softened "Yeah"

"Shouldn’t we have had a rehearsal or some shit like that?" Ash asked

Granted, his experiences eddings had been confined to Gabe’s first, but rehearsals were nors the scale of Gabe’s and Mia’s, surely

Jace laughed "Yeah, ht You didn’t show Not that you have to do anything but stand there with Gabe Mia’s going to give you shit about ducking out I covered for you and said you had shit ork and that you stayed so Gabe could make the rehearsal That appeased her"

"Christ," Ash said "I feel like an ass now I swear I didn’t re was tomorrow if I hadn’t seen Gabe at the office earlier"

"You haven’t been aroundokay with you? Work hasn’t been that bad, unless there’s sos have been pretty da worked out before he left for his honey deal"

Jace leaned forward before Ash could close the door "Look, I know things have beendifferent Ever since e, Ash You’re fae," Ash said softly "Nothing to be done about it I’ Don’t make it an issue that it isn’t, Jace Be happy and make Bethany happy"

"Are we cool?" Jace asked "Because you’ve been off lately And it’s not just "

Ash cracked a soddaoddamn tuxedo Only for Mia would I do this shit"

Jace laughed "Yeah, tell "

"Set a date yet?"

While Jace and Bethany had becoed at Bethany’s twenty-fourth birthday party, they hadn’t set a date, at least not to Ash’s knowledge But then, he’d been so far out of the loop lately that it was possible he just didn’t know about it

"Not yet," Jace said "Was waiting until this shit with Jack blew over I don’t want that hanging over her head e get ets his shit sorted, I’ll plan a trip soet reat See you tomorrow, okay?"

Ash closed the door and slapped the side to signal the driver to pull away before he turned and walked into his apart

Once inside his apartaze fell on the painting the art dealer had pulled from the back The one that was still wrapped and not on display