Oh, shit, indeed. Eden was starting to get the gist.
“So Caitlynn said to you...”
“That you were lying about who my father is!”
“Andthat’swhen you hit her?”
“I told her she was a liar for calling my mom a liar. She got mad and pushed me a little.”
“Andthat’swhen you hit her?”
“I didn’t hit her!”
“But—why are we here?”
“I swept her legs,” Annelise said with matter-of-fact resignation.
Caitlynn nodded confirmation of this.
A startled silence ensued.
Gabe pressed his lips together. “Your first move was to sweep her legs?” He actually sounded a little curious.
“Bam, down I went,” Caitlynn added, just as matter-of-factly. Sounding, in truth, impressed.
Another silence ensued, involving the adults.
“Her... her Uncle Jesse taught her that last Christmas,” Eden said. Somewhat apologetically.
Gabe looked at her. And regardless of all that had happened between them, she could tell he was struggling not to laugh.
“Useful to know in some circumstances,” he said mildly enough. “We were taught how to do that sort of thing when I was a SEAL. But it’s not a move typically used on school playgrounds by fifth grade girls. It seldom seems necessary.”
That was so dry it almost made Eden laugh.
“Well, after that, Caitlynn jumped up again and pulled my hair. And then I think we hit each other but not on the face.”
“Caitlynn could have been badly hurt!” Jan was practically quivering.
“Kids get hurt, Jan,” Eden defended, irritably, though truthfully she was mortified. “Theyplayrougher than this all the time with each other.”
“But this wascombat.”
“Jan.” Gabe’s voice was a little bit too quiet, and the little hairs rose on the back of Eden’s neck.
It got Jan’s attention for sure. She went as still as if Gabe was a predator.
“You know I was actually in combat, right? Please. I understand your outrage, but let’s try to keep to the facts. Hyperbole isn’t useful.”
Jan pressed her lips together, took in a long breath. Then gave a short nod.
Annelise’s head shot up alertly, and she stared at Gabe. Then she ducked it again.
“H-y-p-e-r-b-o-l-e,” Gabe repeated patiently. Because he knew exactly what she wanted.
Eden stared at him. An epiphany arrived with a throat lump, when she thought,That’s why I’m in love with you, you asshole. Right there.
He knew her. He knew Annelise. And he gave Annelise the gift of a new word.