“I know.” His lips twitched. “It is kinda funny, though, watching you guys scramble with excuses. Gabriel told me you weren’t answering my calls because you forgot your phone in the car. Which is about as likely as you leaving your arm behind. He dried his hair so fast the back was sticking up. And then he scarfed down half the food I brought for lunch. I’ve never seen him eat like that.” He smiled. “But I do appreciate he’s being circumspect.”

“He’s not going to wave it in your face.”

“No, but we are talking about Gabriel, who never goes out of his way to cushion anyone’s feelings but yours. He’s being very thoughtful. It’s sweet. Just don’t tell him I said that.”

“I won’t.” I finished applying the concealer. “Better?”

“Yep.” He leaned over for a better look and then stopped. “Is that a bite on your collarbone?”

“Shit! No. Damn it.”

Ricky laughed as I frantically applied more makeup.

“I’m sorry. I’m really—”

“Stop. If it’s not obvious, teasing you is my way of dealing with it. Honestly? I was afraid that part might be a disappointment for you. Because, well, it’s Gabriel. In the four years he’s been the Saints’ lawyer, I’ve never known him to as much as date. But bad sex isn’t going to make you come running back to me. It’d just make you less than totally happy with him. Happy is good. Hickeys are good. Even bite marks…” He shook his head. “Nope, not commenting on the bite mark. But at least now I know where that cut on his lip came from.” He exhaled. “Can we change the conversation now?”

“Pretty sure I didn’t start it. Or prolong it.”

“Yeah, like I said, I’m trying to deal. But that’s enough. Now, before we go in, let’s take a minute, so you can tell me how you really feel about what your dad said.”

—

Apparently, my makeup fix didn’t hide the bruise enough to escape fae detection. Ioan’s gaze went to it almost the second we were seated. He smiled. I was in his living room with Ricky, who’d been home from Miami less than twenty-four hours, and I show up bearing a sign that sex had been had. Obviously, we’d come to our senses and reconciled.

Fortunately, Ricky didn’t notice. He was too busy giving Ioan shit for not telling me Todd had been the one to summon them. As my Cŵn Annwn parent, though, Todd was their secondary champion, and Ioan had wanted to do nothing that might strain our relationship. I understood that.