Read Gabe (Steele Brothers #6) for Free Online Page B

we were best friends as adults.
    “Not really,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “I like having Mommy all to myself, but it’d be nice to have someone to play Barbies with.”
    “Yeah, I guess it would,” I said, shaking my head. “But you have Max, right?” I said, referring to Liz’s daughter. “Isn’t she your best friend?”
    “Yeah,” Char said, shaking her head. “But if we move back in with Daddy, I won’t get to see her as much. A sister moves with you.”
    I tried hard not to react to the mention of her father, but every time she mentioned Jason, I felt a stab of guilt mixed with sadness. I wanted his life: his wife and daughter, and I knew that made me a lousy friend.
    “You’re still hoping your mom and dad will get back together, huh?” What child of divorce didn’t pray for that? As bad as my old man had been while we were growing up, I still prayed he’d come back every time he left.
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I miss him.” She looked over her shoulder at the house her grandparents owned. “But I like living here. I like Max and you and Poncho. I’d miss you guys if we had to leave.”
    “We’d miss you too,” I said, patting the dog, who was now sprawled out at Char’s feet. “But you could come and visit us.” If her parents did reconcile, I didn’t want to give the little girl any reason to be sad about it.
    “I’d like that,” she said, smiling. “But it wouldn’t be the same. We couldn’t come to the park or on walks with you anymore.”
    She was so mature for her age, probably because she’d had to deal with some pretty grown-up problems in her short life. She’d just started first grade, yet instead of worrying about art projects and making new friends, she had to wonder whether her broken family would ever reunite.
    “I’m sure we could work something out,” I said, ruffling her hair. “We’re friends, right? Friends don’t just bail on each other.”
    She smiled up at me, making that sense of longing surge yet again. “I guess you’re right. If you come to the zoo, who’ll take care of Poncho?”
    “Your mom’s going over to find out if he can hang out with Liz and the kids today.”
    “They’d like that,” Char said, shaking her head emphatically. “Max says her mom’s going to let her get a puppy.” She sighed. “I wish I could have one too.”
    “Maybe you can someday,” I suggested, trying to ease her sadness. “But in the meantime, you can come over and play with Poncho whenever you like.”
    “Not when you’re not home,” she argued.
    I smiled, thinking how much she reminded me of her mom sometimes. “Maybe I could give you guys a key to my place. Sometimes I have to work late, so you could come over and check on Poncho for me, if it’s not too much trouble.”
    “That’d be great!” She jumped up, along with the puppy who was wagging so excitedly his tail was thumping Char’s leg. “Guess what, Mommy?” she said as soon as Kendra returned to my yard. “Gabe’s gonna give us a key to his house so we can check on Poncho when he has to work late!”
    I winced when I realized how presumptuous that must sound to a woman who had enough on her plate without having to worry about someone else’s pet. “Uh, just the rare occasion when I get stuck at work,” I said, trying to soften the request. “And only if it’s okay with you, Kendra.”
    “Of course it is,” she said, bending to scratch the dog behind the ear. “We love this little guy, don’t we, honey?”
    “We sure do,” Char said, giggling when he rolled over for her to rub his belly.
    “And apparently, we’re not the only ones,” Kendra said, looking up at me. “Liz said she and the kids would love to hang out with Poncho today. In fact, they were just going to go to the park in a bit, so they can take him along.”
    “Great.” I jumped up. “I’ll just grab his stuff.” I glanced at my truck, which should have been hosed off for a second time and