About That Night (29 page)

She looked at him sharply. “I told you, this isn’t a game or a plan. It’s not a test. Do you really think I care if you can assemble furniture? Because I can do that myself. I didn’t ask you here because I
need
your help. I asked you here because I want your help.”

“There’s a difference?”

She huffed out a breath. “Of course. I can do most things on my own. I’ve had to learn to be self-reliant, and I know that’s hard on you, but I can’t change who I am. Not completely. But I can try to accept help, to accept the fact that I’m not alone anymore.”

“Because of the baby,” he said.

“Because of the baby,” she agreed. “But also because of you. I’m not going to quit working at O’Riley’s, and I’m sorry if that bothers you, but I need the job there. I need to take care of myself. That doesn’t mean I don’t trust you or that I don’t want you to be a part of the baby’s life.” She swallowed. “It doesn’t mean I don’t want you to be a part of
my
life,” she said softly.

He was stunned. Could only stare at her as he tried to understand what she was telling him. She wanted him in her life. She wanted to trust him.

All of the tension, the tightening in his gut, which he hadn’t been able to get rid of since leaving her in Kane’s bar last week, dissipated.

She was going to give him a chance. She was going to give them a chance.

Grinning, he leaned forward. Pressed a warm kiss on her mouth, one she reciprocated with such sweetness he couldn’t help wrapping an arm around her and kissing her again. And again. When he broke the kiss, she was smiling.

“I take it you’re done being mad at me?” she asked.

“For now. But don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll do something else to piss me off soon.”

She laughed. “You know me so well.”

He hoped that was true. Wanted it to be true. He handed her the screwdriver. “Now show me how to put together a crib.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“
A
RE YOU MAD AT ME?”

Gracie glanced at Luke as they walked down the sidewalk. He’d invited her to get a coffee after work, and she hadn’t been able to say no. Hadn’t wanted to say no. They’d barely spoken since she’d left his sister’s house last week, and though she knew it was stupid of her, she’d missed him.

“No,” she said. And she wasn’t mad. She was confused and so scared of falling for him when she had no idea what he thought of her. “I thought you were mad at me. You didn’t call or text me.”

“Yeah, I thought maybe you didn’t want to talk to me because of...because of the kiss.”

He blushed, and she wasn’t sure what he was embarrassed about.

“I do want to talk to you. I did,” she said.

“Good. That’s...good.”

He held the door for her, and they went into the coffee shop. Though it was Saturday afternoon, there were a few empty tables. Luke excused himself to use the restroom, and she sat near a large window overlooking Main Street. Gracie fiddled with the strap of her purse.

“Can I get you something?”

Gracie looked up and frowned to see Kennedy wearing a waitress uniform, a pad in one hand, pen in the other, her long, red hair pulled back. “Oh, Gracie. Hi,” she said with all the warmth and enthusiasm of someone greeting her own executioner. “I didn’t realize it was you.”

“Hello, Kennedy,” Gracie said, refusing to be rude just because Kennedy didn’t have any manners. “How are you?”

Kennedy rolled her eyes. “I’m just fine.” She flicked her gaze over Gracie’s hair. “I see your hair’s gotten bigger this summer.” She smiled, as if she was teasing, just being funny.

Gracie clenched her hands so she wouldn’t touch her curls. “Yes.” And Gracie saw that Kennedy was still a bitch. “I’ll have an iced coffee, please. Do you have soy milk?”

She shrugged. “Anything else?”

“That’s all for me, but the person I’m with will be right back.”

Kennedy’s eyes widened. “You’re not alone? That’s a surprise. Don’t tell me—one of your little friends from the band is joining you?”

A few of her friends were in the marching band at school, but that was nothing to be ashamed of. Though some popular kids like Kennedy thought it was. “Actually—”

“I’m joining her,” Luke said as he brushed past Kennedy and stood there as if he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to sit or not.

Kennedy’s fingers turned white on the pen. “Luke. You’re with...her?”

He nodded. Took his seat. Kept his gaze on the table. “I’ll have a blended caramel macchiato.”

“I know what your favorite drink is,” Kennedy said, looking like she was about to cry. “I know everything about you,” she whispered.

His hands fisted on top of the table and he kept silent until Kennedy finally left.

“I’m sorry,” he said tightly to Gracie. “I didn’t know she was working here.”

Gracie wasn’t sure she believed him, but she hated to think that he’d lie to her, especially about something like that. “It’s okay. Do you...do you want to go somewhere else?”

He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “No. I’m not going to let her get to me.”

But tension emanated from him, and whatever he’d wanted to talk to Gracie about would obviously have to wait. They sat in silence for ten minutes until Kennedy came back with their drinks. She set them down with more force than necessary.

“Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked, though her lips barely moved.

“No,” Luke said, still not looking at her, which Gracie could have told him only made it seem as if Kennedy was more important to him than he wanted to let on.

“Oh, Gracie,” Kennedy said, “I heard they’re having a bag sale at the thrift store this afternoon. I’m sure you’ll want to stock up on clothes.”

Gracie refused to let someone so mean and ugly on the inside get to her. She smiled. “Thank you, Kennedy. I would like that, and I’ll be sure to stop by there.”

She always found the best deals at thrift stores, though she preferred going to one in Pittsburgh where there was a bigger selection.

Kennedy made a huffing sound and left. “God,” Luke murmured, “she is such a bitch.”

“She’s just insecure.” Gracie often wondered why that gave someone a free pass to be mean, but Molly always had excuses for people’s behavior, and it had rubbed off on Gracie. “Though I can’t understand why other people don’t see her cattiness is really a cry for help. I mean, she’s nice enough to people’s faces, but behind their backs, she’s constantly bad-mouthing them. I think it’s because she’s pretty. No one wants to believe she’s not as beautiful on the inside, too.”

“No,” Luke said, after a moment, as if he’d been considering Gracie’s words and having some sort of inner debate. “She’s just a bitch.” He took a sip of his drink, then sat back in agitation. “Drew cornered me in the weight room yesterday, said Kennedy came on to him months ago.”

Gracie winced in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Luke.”

He shrugged. “Drew could have turned her down. Could have told me about it. Instead he hooked up with her. But I think he’s regretting that now.”

“Oh?” Gracie asked, wondering when she’d stopped being upset over Andrew being with Kennedy and worrying about Kennedy being free again. Free to get back with Luke. “What makes you say that?”

“He apologized to me. Said he made a mistake, picking a girl over a friend. I just...got the feeling he didn’t know what he was getting into with her and that he might be looking for a way out.”

She stirred her drink with her straw. “How does that make you feel?”

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Luke said with finality, but she wondered who he was trying to convince. Her. Or himself. “I just don’t want him to think we’re going to be friends again, you know?”

Nodding, Gracie took a sip of her drink, only to frown. Forced herself to swallow.

“What’s wrong?” Luke asked.

“Nothing.” But she pushed the drink aside.

“Gracie...”

“It’s no big deal,” she assured him. “They used real milk in my drink. I’m sure it was an accident. I’ll just get another.”

But before she could even lift her hand to get Kennedy’s attention, he was on his feet, motioning Kennedy over, his expression hard.

“Yes?” Kennedy asked in a snide tone.

“Gracie’s coffee has milk in it,” Luke said as if Kennedy had laced it with poison.

Kennedy cocked a hip. “So?”

“She’s vegan,” he ground out.

“It’s really not a problem,” Gracie hurried to say because people were starting to stare. Because she felt as if he was using this as an excuse to get into Kennedy’s face. “I’ll just send it back.”

He whirled on her. “Did you ask for soy milk?”

Gracie nodded. “Maybe she forgot.”

“I didn’t forget,” Kennedy said, tossing her head. “The barista must have messed up.”

Luke shook his head. “You did it on purpose.”

Gracie had enough. “I think you two have some things to talk about, so I’m just going to go.” And because she was miffed at him for making a big deal out of something that wasn’t a big deal at all, she didn’t even offer to pay for her drink. Let him buy it for her. Maybe Kennedy could drink it, since Gracie wouldn’t.

He stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Wait. Don’t go.”

“Oh, let her leave,” Kennedy said. “Can’t you see what she’s doing? It’s so pathetic.” Kennedy turned to Gracie. “Andrew told me how you threw yourself at him last fall.”

Gracie went cold. No matter what she’d thought about Andrew, she’d never expected he’d tell Kennedy about what had happened between them. “What?”

“I knew there was something weird going on when you were talking to him in school that one day,” Kennedy said. “The way you were begging him to sit with you at lunch. God, it was really sad. But he told you he wasn’t interested, and now you think you’re going to...what? Insert yourself into the popular group by getting with Luke?”

Gracie could only shake her head. “You’ve been watching way too many ’80s teen movies.”

Kennedy turned to Luke. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for this dork. I mean...God...look at her.”

Gracie couldn’t breathe. She waited for Luke to say something. Anything. Until he did.

“Gracie and I are friends,” he said, his cheeks red. He wouldn’t look at her. “Just friends.”

“Yes,” she said, her voice unsteady, because no matter how hard she tried to tell herself not to let his words hurt her, they did. “What else would we be?” She faced him, held his gaze. “You’re so much better suited for someone like Kennedy.”

He winced, obviously understanding that she didn’t think highly of Kennedy—or of him.

And then she walked out, her dignity wrapped around her. Her heart breaking once again.

* * *

C
LINTON OPENED THE
door to his room, his carry-on in one hand, laptop case in the other, only to pull up short when he found Ivy there, her hand lifted to knock.

“Hey,” he said, grinning, knowing it was ridiculous to be so happy to see her when he’d just left her apartment half an hour ago but unable to deny it nonetheless. “Everything all right?”

“Fine,” she said, but she was frowning slightly. “I don’t want to keep you from getting to the airport but...” She shook her head. “Sorry. It’s just...I could have sworn I passed Kane on my way here, riding his motorcycle.”

“That was him,” Clinton confirmed. He wondered how long before Charlotte put her foot down about him riding that thing.

“Kane was here?” Ivy asked.

“Surprised me, too.”

The whole weekend had been one shock after another. First, Ivy had come to him for help yesterday. He’d come back to Shady Grove to prove to her that she could count on him. After putting the crib together, she’d had to work at O’Riley’s. He’d gone with her, had eaten dinner there, then spent the rest of the night sitting at the bar with Charlotte, who’d had the night off.

This morning, he’d offered to take Ivy out to brunch, but she’d insisted she enjoyed cooking so they’d spent a lazy day at her place, eating, reading the paper and watching old movies on TV.

And when he’d left to pack before catching his flight back to Houston, she’d kissed him goodbye so sweetly, he’d wondered if she just might miss him while he was gone. Hoped she would.

“Kane was waiting on the porch when I got here,” C.J. told her. “He came to collect the favor I owed him.”

“Ooh, let me guess. He wants you to leave a horse’s head in his biggest enemy’s bed.”

“Nothing quite that bloodthirsty. He asked me to be his best man.”

“Yeah? I guess he likes you more than he lets on, huh?”

C.J. couldn’t help it. He laughed. “I doubt that. Probably Charlotte forced him into it. Kane’s never been the type to have many friends. I was probably the only person they could think of who would say yes.”

“I don’t know about that. You do have two other brothers. He could have asked either of them.”

True. Though C.J. doubted Zach would even show up for the wedding, let alone agree to stand up for one of his brothers.

A family of five walked down the hall and he and Ivy stepped aside to let them pass.

“I’m not sure why he asked,” C.J. said when they were alone again. “But I’m glad he did.”

He and Kane still had their issues, but being asked to be part of Kane’s wedding day made C.J. hopeful they could work through those issues. Eventually.

Though he knew it was going to take a hell of a lot of work on both their parts to get past two decades of resentment.

“Ah, brotherly love,” Ivy said with a cheeky grin. “There’s nothing else like it. Best friends one minute, wanting to eviscerate each other the next.”

“That’s a brutal description. But accurate.” He pulled his door shut. “Are you working tonight?”

She’d told him that she sometimes spent her nights off here doing prep work or trying new recipes.

“No. I was hoping to catch you before you left.”

Shifting his briefcase to the hand holding his carry-on, he laid his other one on the small of her back. Led her toward the stairs. “Why is that?”

“I felt the baby move.” She laughed. “I mean, I’ve felt it before, like a tiny fluttering, but I could never tell if it really was the baby or just indigestion. And this time I knew, for certain, it was the baby.”