"About all of it, son," Elias said -- and almost fondly. Almost. "Especially about how you really felt about her. And that it was her birthday. I don't expect she's one to enjoy a great to-do -- yes? But I'd like to get the day right, at least. When is it?"
The more Elias considered Rylee's previous reaction, the better he liked him for Charlie. The girl was a firecracker and wouldn't do well with a weakling. But Rylee had just shown that, when push came to shove, he was not weak. Perhaps brash. Perhaps too easy to anger. But not weak. An ex-Marine to boot -- perhaps there was true strength in him.
And tenacity. If there were those two things, coupled with sincere caring for Charlie, then... Yes. Yes, Elias was most pleased with this thought. If it bore out, then he would next have to remind Charlie to be kind to the lad.
His lips curved again into that smile that seemed so very strange on his typically stoic face. Charlie probably wouldn't like that, either.