“That’s what we just said,” Richie said.
“That thin line between love and hate thing,” Riley said.
“She definitely doesn’t love me right now,” Remi said. “And that’s okay. I deserve some grief over what I’ve done. But it is what it is. I’m making no excuses for it, and if I have to eat a little dirt while Cristie works through everything I made her suffer through, give me a spoon and I’ll start eating. I love her, and even better than that, I like her. I miss her. She’s always been mybest friend. And even if it takes longer than I’m hoping for to get her to even have a conversation with me, it’s okay, because I love her enough for the two of us. I’ll wait until she’s ready.”
“And if she’s never ready?” Riley asked.
“Then I created this situation and I’ll have to find a way to be okay with it. None of this is her fault. If all she’ll give me is half a chance it’s more than I deserve.”
Riley smacked Remi on the back a few times. “I think it’ll be okay, Remi. But like I told you when I granted you sanctuary, it won’t be easy.”
“Wouldn’t be worth it if it was, would it?” Remi asked with a half-smile on his lips.
“Things you fight for are the things that give you the biggest reward,” Riley said.
“Most definitely,” Richie said.
“So, how is everybody?” Riley asked.
“Good. Really good. Daisy and her fiance’ are planning their wedding. They just bought Jobe’s house right down from Uncle Bam’s.”
“Yeah, yeah, I remember that. Bam and Bane are across from each other, right?” Riley asked.
“Right. And I think my sister may have found her mate, too.”
“Angelle? Is that right?! I’m really glad to hear that. She’s such a sweet girl. I always felt bad for her that she just didn’t seem to have a lot of friends, you know?”
“Oh, I know. Me, too. She just doesn’t do well around a lot of different people at one time. Even if they’re family. But guess what… neither does the male I think is her mate. They both are perfectly happy spending time alone fishing and camping and ignoring the rest of the world.”
“Match made in heaven,” Riley said with a grin.
“Match made somewhere,” Remi agreed. “He’s something. But there’s no missing the way they each light up around the other.”
“Who is he? Do I know him?” Riley asked.
“You met Tempest, didn’t you? Brandt’s mate?” Remi asked.
“Yeah, yeah I did. I’m not sure I’ve ever met anybody that threw off the kind of vibes she did. And I’m telling you, when Delilah steps carefully around somebody, that’s saying something. But I like her. I thought she was really nice, and adores Brandt as much as he adores her.”
“Exactly. Well, Angelle’s mate — if I’m right — is her uncle. His name is Boon.”
‘Oh, okay, so an older male. That’s a great thing for some females. They just need that to feel settled and protected, you know? Is he a shifter, or more like Tempest?”
Remi kind of tilted his head back and forth as he thought about how to answer. “Well… he’s related to Tempest, so I guess the answer is more like Tempest, but not. He’s Gargoyle, but he’s got some human features, because his mother is human. He’s actually not a bad looking male at all. He’s just got horns — and wings.”
Richie choked on his coffee. “Did I just hear you say…”
“Yep, you did,” Remi said.
Riley nodded as he thought about it. “So, basically, he’s got to stay hidden, and if I’m reading this right, his kind are grumpy and dislike a lot of attention anyway, and Angelle hates attention, and they just click.”
“Exactly. He’s very smart, and fully capable of defending her, and grins like a loon every time they’re together,” Remi said with a smile as he thought about it. “Neither is admitting anything other than friends, but he sure is spending a lot of time visiting Tempest’s and Brandt’s new baby since he met Angelle.”
“Good for her, and him,” Riley said. “What about your parents and uncles and all?”
“My dad and some of your generation are working at the homeless shelter they opened. I was, too, while I worked on myself and got to the point I was worthy of coming after Cristie. I hated to leave it, but I know it’s in good hands. They got a woman helping them there and she’s taking over some of what I did so they’re not short handed. It’s a really great place with some very good people that just happened to fall on hard times.”
“This world is a hard place, and it just keeps getting harder and harder to make it in,” Riley said. “All it takes is something like a car repair or a doctor’s bill and your precariously balanced existence falls down around you. Working citizens are starving and ending up on the streets and the politicians just keep using their positions to get richer rather than spending their term in office for the betterment of their people the way the public offices were originally meant to be.”
