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Grace
“Mom?” I gently tugged her blouse. “Can I meet you back at my dorm? I’m cold and need to get a jacket.”
“Sure, honey. I’ll be there in a bit.” She kissed my cheek. “Take Lexi with you because it’s getting dark.”
Her worrying made me laugh. “Okay, Mom. I’ll get her.”
Purposefully not making eye contact with Henry, I walked away to find Lexi.
“I can’t believe he did all that, G!” Lexi said when I told her what happened. “What a frickin’ jerk!”
“I know, right?” I let out all my breath. “Ugh. He was supposed to be different.”
She put her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, G. He is different. We just need to figure out what those Brixton guys said to make him act that way.”
“No, Lexi. There’s no excuse.” I shook my head, holding back tears. “I thought leaving for six weeks would suck, but now it feels like the best Christmas present, ever.”
“It’ll all work out. I know it.” Lexi opened the door to our building.
By the time my mom showed up, my eyes were puffy and pink. I told her as much as I could fit in before she had to leave for the train to get home.
“I wish you didn’t have to work tomorrow because we could ride back together.” I said, hugging her.
“Me, too, sweetie.” She leaned back and ran her fingers through my hair, brushing my bangs away from my eyes. “There’s more to the story with that boy, you know that, right? From what you’ve said, he likes you enough to hang out and do math in a basement. For a kid who travels by helicopter, that’s saying a lot if you ask me.” She nuzzled my cheek. “I know I’m the last person you want relationship advice from, but go easy on him, Gracie. And yourself. If you really like him, give it a chance.”
I nodded and exhaled all the breath I felt like I’d been holding onto for hours since I last saw Henry. “You’re right, Mom. I know that.”
She picked up her purse. “All I’m saying is maybe he came into your life for a reason? You’ve never really allowed yourself to let many people in, you know? I don’t blame you, of course. It’s not like I’ve been the greatest role model.”
“Mom, don’t say that.”
She kissed my cheek. “You’ve been my role model, Gracie. I’m just sorry I’ve made you afraid of love.”
“I’m not afraid. But I’m also not in love with Henry.”
“Or deep like.” She rolled her eyes. “I just wonder if it’s better to feel something than avoid love all together and feel nothing.”
My mom comforting me was something that didn’t happen often because it was usually the other way around. I liked not knowing the answer for once. And looking to my mom to find it made me feel like a little kid, again.
After she left, I checked my phone to see if Henry texted me. He hadn’t. Maybe that was it? I thought to myself. Mixing our worlds turned out to be a chemistry experiment that blew up in our faces. I changed out of Lexi’s dress and into sweats before climbing into bed. I decided to tell Ms. Martin I wanted to stay in the library during class tomorrow because then I wouldn’t have to see Henry before I left on the train.
5
Bad Boy Billionaire
Henry
I hadn’t slept at all, knowing I’d crushed Grace with how I acted in front of the guys. I didn’t text because there was too much to say. Anxious to talk to her, I got to trig fifteen minutes early.
Not seeing her, I turned to our teacher. “Ms. Martin, have you seen Grace O’Connell this morning?”
She shuffled the papers on her desk and didn’t look up. “No, Mr. Walton. I haven’t.”
I bit my lower lip, thinking of all the places she might be. The bell rang, and Ms. Martin’s voice stopped me in the doorway before I could leave to find Grace. “Mr. Walton, please take your seat.”
A few months earlier, there was no way a teacher could’ve stopped me from doing anything I wanted, but Grace changed all that. I cared what people thought of me now, especially my teachers.
I had better grades and was a better Henry because of Grace.
