Chapter : 896

Gavin yawned.

“Let’s figure it out in the morning, and then we will decide the next steps,” he tells

me.

I nodded in agreement, feeling my body relaxing against his and sleep taking over. It didn’t take long before I was falling asleep in his arms.

We woke the next morning to the sound of light chattering in the kitchen and the smell of bacon and eggs. My mouth watered at the scent, and my stomach growled. I loved it when my mother made breakfast growing up, and it brought me back to my childhood.

I had a really good childhood, and I had my adoptive parents to thank for that. I knew they were protecting me and I couldn’t be upset with them for that. However, I also knew that it wasn’t right for them to take me away from my birth family just because they were trying to protect Meg’s baby.

“I should talk to my parents today,” I told Gavin as we finished getting dressed. “I don’t want to leave things off on a bad note, and I think I should hear them out.”

Gavin nodded.

“I think that’s a good idea,” he told me, a small smile ghosting his perfect face.

I nodded, letting out a breath as I followed him out of the room. He took hold of my hand, entwining our fingers, and I felt complete. We made our way down the stairs and into the kitchen, where the chattering grew louder.

Everybody was already awake; Irene was seated at the table with my father, and Matt was helping my mother cook pancakes.

“It smells good in here,” I say as we enter.

My mother and father stopped what they were doing to look at me, and I felt the tension simmering in the air. I offered them both a small smile, hoping to make some kind of peace. I was still upset with them, but I was willing to work through it.

“Good morning,” my mother said, warily. “Did you sleep well?”

I sucked my bottom lip into my mouth.

“Yes. Thank you again for letting us stay here,” I told her.

“This will always be your home, sweetie. No need to thank me.”

Her words warmed me and I felt a bit guilty about our argument last night.

“Do you need any help?” I asked, changing the subject to a lighter note.

My mother cleared her throat and then turned back to her pan, looking around at all the stuff in front of her.

“I think Matt and I can handle it,” she said, peeking down at Matt, who stood proudly beside her. “Isn’t that right?”

Matt nodded, looking boyish, and made my heart swell.

“Yeah, we got it,” Matt said, agreeing with her and making her laugh lightly.

“How about you both go sit at the table with your father and Irene, and we’ll finish getting breakfast ready made some decaf coffee for you Judy, in the red coffee pot. The black coffee pot is regular coffee for

“

anyone else who’d like a cup. Cóntent

Gavin kissed my cheek.

“I’ll get you some coffee,” he tells me before he goes over to the coffee pots.

I lowered myself into the seat.

“Lila is posting all over social media,” Irene said, crinkling her nose. “She’s throwing

a huge party tonight, and can you believe she dared to send me an invitation?”

Irene rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“She invited you?” I asked, my brows raised.

“Yup. And she’s hosting this party in neutral territory, so she’s not

breaking any rules. Noah and

Emmet will be there as well, as

backup. Also, everyone is talkie

about how Daisy Baldwin has hit rock bottom and looks like a complete mess lately. They’re also saying she’ll be working the event because she has no money and is desperate for pay. She looks ridiculous with these recent photos they took of her.”

Irene crinkled her nose as she scrolled through the photos the media had taken of Daisy. I felt bad for her, from what I knew… she was anchored to Noah Blackwell, and he wasn’t releasing her I had a feeling when rumors were true, though, that she was going to be at that party working as the Blackwell slave because that’s pretty much what she was doing.

“I’m not going to be able to break up a party that’s not on my territory,” Gavin said, putting a cup of decaf coffee in front of me.

It wasn’t the same as the real stuff, but it still tasted delicious, and he knew exactly how I liked my coffee made. I took in the scent of the hot elixir before bringing the cup to my lips and taking a deep sip.

“Then I guess we will have to come up with something different…” I say, looking around at the table, and then a smile tips the corner of my lips.

“What are you thinking?” Gavin asked, searching my face as if the answers were right there.

“I’m thinking…” I say, turning to look at him. “That we are going to crash a party.”