Gavin''s POV


    "Tell me again why you dragged us to the gym so early in the morning?" Irene asked as she rested her head against the weight machine.


    Matt was practicing his aiming at the archery station, and I was lifting weights, seated next to Irene.


    "Family bonding,” I said with a grin. "You wanted to get your mind off your failed engagement, you can''t do that cooped up in the suite all day."


    She rolled her eyes in a typical Irene fashion.


    "The sun isn''t even up yet," she murmured. We already went outst night as a family. Do we really need to spend the morning together, too?"


    "Thest day of thepetition is today so I won''t have a lot of timeter," I exined, grunting as I lifted the weight, my bicep bulging.


    She sighed and continued to lift her dumbbell.


    "So, how was your date with Daisy Baldwin?" Irene asked, smirking.


    I froze for a moment and looked at her.


    "It wasn''t a date," I muttered.


    Ireneughed and waved off my concern.


    "I''m just kidding, Dad. Obviously, it wasn''t a date. I mean, you got back way too earlyst night. Like super early. We had time to not only go swimming, but also get ice-cream after you got back from dinner."


    It was true; it was only dinner. It took a little over an hour and then we returned to the hotel. I barely even said goodbye to her as I went to my suite and then took my kids out for some much-needed family time.


    "So, did you tell Judy you went out with Daisy?" Irene suddenly asked.


    I froze again and narrowed my eyes at her.


    "Why would I need to tell Judy anything about who I went out with?" I asked, my toneing out harsher than I intended.


    She rolled her eyes again and put the weight down, turning to me, giving me her full attention.


    "I''m not blind or stupid, Dad. Neither is Matt. We see the way you are with each other... the way you look at her. You like her way more than you are letting on. Something tells me if she finds out you went out with Daisy, she''s going to be upset..."


    This was a conversation that I didn''t want to have with my daughter, but I knew her... she was stubborn like her mother always was and she wasn''t going to let me get out of this conversation.


    "Judy is aware of the kind of rtionship we have," I told her.


    "Is she?" Irene asked, raising her brows. "And what kind of rtionship is that, Dad?"


    "The kind that''s not your business," I shot back. "Why the sudden concern for me and Judy?"


    She shrugged casually.


    "I don''t want to see either of you get hurt, that''s all. Honestly, Dad. If you have feelings for her, you should tell her. And don''t let her find out about your dinner date with Daisy from anyone else. If I know Auntie Daisy, I know she''ll try something to hurt Judy."


    My blood went cold at her words and Irene could see the realization dawning on my face because she gave me a satisfied smirk, having gotten through to me. I put the weight down and turned to look at her.


    "Will you and Matt be okay here?" I asked. "I have somewhere to be."


    Irene nodded.


    "We''ll be fine," she assured me. "We will meet you in the arenater."


    I nodded and took off without another word.


    Judy''s POV


    My first instinct was to go to the gym this morning, but I decided against it and started to just head towards the arena instead. Maybe I can catch wind on what this next part of thepetition was.


    Tabby and a few others were also in the arena when I arrived and she smiled when she saw me, however her smile faltered when she saw the distant look on my face. I''m sure my eyes were still red and puffy from spending the night crying as well.


    She excused herself from the others and met me the rest of the way.


    "Hey, what''s wrong?" she asked, assessing my face carefully.


    I shook my head, not wanting to get into it.


    "It''s nothing," I murmur. "Any word on what thestpetition is?"


    "Chuck said it''s going to be a fight match," she told me. "ept this time, nothing is off limits."


    I nodded, already guessing as much.


    "Same rules? Fight to the death unless the other person surrenders?"


    She nodded.


    "Are you going to be okay topete? You kind of look unwell," she pointed out, assessing my worn-out features, flushed cheeks, red nose, and puffy eyes.


    "I''ll be fine," I assured her. "I just didn''t get that much sleepst night, but it''s nothing to be concerned about. Maybe I''ll grab an energy drink from the vending machine," I suggested.