Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2171

Xavier chimed in, "The most outrageous time, she stuffed a bunch of chocolate bars into poor Wolf's trouser pocket. During practice, it was so hot the chocolate melted. Just when Wolf and Estelle were sparring, Estelle knocked him down. Wolf sat on the ground, and the melted chocolate shot out a yard away. Everyone around was gobsmacked!"

Xavier's laugh was infectious, "Wolf was the butt of the jokes for a whole week!"

“Haha.” Norah burst out laughing, "What about Estelle?"

"She had to do a hundred push-ups, plus wash Wolf's pants for a month!"

Jonathan suddenly looked up, his tone indifferent, "Did she really do it?"

Xavier replied, "No, Wolf was mad, chased Estelle around the training ring for three laps, but he didn't have the heart to actually make her wash his pants."

Mentioning Wolf made Estelle's heart ache a bit. She tilted her head back and took a swig of her beer, smiling faintly, "Back then, I thought training was so tough, but looking back, those were some of the happiest days."

Jonathan took a glimpse at her, his eyes gloomy.

Xavier continued, "That's why Gab has always been reluctant to come back."

If it hadn't been for that mission falling through, he thought, he and Estelle might not have come back either.

Gabriel said, "There’re many reasons I didn't return."

Estelle asked, "But if you had to choose, from the heart, would you stay in Tripe, or come back to C City?"

Gabriel didn't answer.

Xavier calmly said, "He's already made his choice. I bet even during these two months of leave, he's worried about things back there. But it can't be helped; they need Gab too."

Gabriel took a long gulp of his iced tea, "No one is irreplaceable!"

"But everyone in Silver Valley only follows your lead." Xavier pointed out, "Finding someone else who could win them over would be tough!"

Estelle added, "Tough doesn't mean impossible. You could step back just like Alvis did."

Jonathan raised his glass to Estelle, "Thanks for the compliment."

She had nothing to say about Jonathan constantly defending her, trying to boost Estelle's appeal.

Estelle, catching on to Jonathan's antics, served some food to Norah, "Today's meatballs are really good, even better than before."

Norah's attention was quickly diverted as she explained, "Zachary made these meatballs himself."

Xavier watched Norah animatedly talking, remembering Jonathan's “kid” comment, and couldn't help but laugh as he toasted along with Gabriel and Jonathan.

At three in the afternoon, Jonathan and the others left the barbecue restaurant.

When they left, Jonathan didn't ask Norah to come along, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Gabriel drove off alone, bidding Estelle and Jonathan farewell and left first.

Estelle settled into the passenger seat; last night she didn’t rest well, and leaning against the seat back, she felt sleepy from the warm afternoon sun.

Her phone lit up with a new message; she glanced at it - it was from Norah.