Page 54 of Gravity

“You go take a shower. I will clean up here for you.”

“If you’re sure.”

“Very.”

“Okay,” she smiles flatly, lifting her hands so they cover mine. “And thank you for being with us today. With me.”

“Stop thanking me. It’s fine.” Kissing her on the forehead, I hold my lips there for a moment, needing this form of comfort from her that I believe she needs, too. “Go freshen up. Take your time. I’ll be right here.”

She nods before heading upstairs.

Where she now has control of her tears and is putting on a brave face, I’m losing her in another way and she’s slowly becoming subdued. I don’t want her to feel she has to be like that with me. I don’t want her to hold back what she’s feeling around me. In normal circumstances, I know she wouldn’t, but this is different. Things like this can change a person, no matter the reasons for it, and with Nora, she’s suddenly got no control over anything. She makes everyone’s problems her own and carries them on her shoulders to support them, but when it comes to things like this, she withdraws. And I hate seeing her this way.

After clearing up in the kitchen and packing up Pete’s jigsaw, I pour myself another whiskey, this time pouring one for Nora. Leaning against the kitchen island, I take a moment to absorb the silence, surprised at how much I have missed it, even though I get fucking loads of it at my place due to the fact it’s only me and my two cats. But I’ve missed this. The form of silence that somehow makes you feel at home. It’s hard to describe, but this place compared to my own feels warmer. I feel at home here. My place is just full of ghosts, be it Mom’s or Dad’s.

“What’s on your mind?”

Looking up, I find Nora leaning against the doorframe, and a spark of electricity races through my veins at the sight of her. Now in her yellow bed shorts and a white tank top, her long damp hair hangs in waves over her shoulders while her face seems a little brighter than it had been earlier. I have to force my eyes to stay latched on hers because they are itching to fall to her nipples that are playing games with me under the fabric.

“I was just thinking how silence can make you feel so many different things depending on where you are.”

“How do you mean?” She comes to stand in front of me, and I hand her the drink that is waiting on the counter.

“Like when I’m here in this house, even if no one else is here, I feel at home. When I’m in my own place, it just feels… cold. Empty. Like I don’t belong there anymore.”

“It’s bound to feel strange. It’s only you there now,” she says in a soft tone before taking a sip of her drink.

“And the cats. They dart around the house like I’ve got kids.”

“I’m not going to lie, I thought you’d get rid of those.”

“Absolutely not. They are my girls.”

“And here I was thinking that the only girl in your life was me. Do I have to compete with fur-babies?” She grins now, coming to stand at the side of me.

“Oh, of course. You need to up your game, Shortcake. Those cats don’t fuck about. And they’re bald.”

“Challenge accepted.” She chuckles. I’m glad her sparkle is back for the time being, even if we are just talking about nothing of importance. “Although, I’ve already won after giving you treats, so it’s a no brainer: I’m the best.”

I laugh. “I can’t argue with that.”

“You can’t argue with me anyway.” She nudges my arm with hers. “We all know short girls have an attitude the size of Mount Everest.”

“And yours is twice over.”

“Asshole.”

I grin, linking my arm over her shoulder and kissing her head. “I’ve got my Shortcake back. I lost you for a while today.”

“Yeah,” she exhales, looking up at me. “I know I’ve said it already, but I’m grateful you were with me.”

“I was with you because I care, Nora. I couldn’t let you go it alone, even though you had your family with you; even if it hurt like a bitch being back there. I knew you’d need me.”

She holds my gaze, and that flicker of fire between us ignites. But it’s her words that follow that have the fire roar through me, and I can’t work out why.

“She’d be proud of you, Grayson. Your mom. She’d be proud to have you just like I’m honored to have you as my friend.”

My jaw tightens as I struggle to fight the shame I feel inside. She shouldn’t be proud of a man who fed his mother’s habit. She should be turning her back and not want me to be a part of her life at all. Mom may have drunk the alcohol, but it had been me who handed her the bottle when she begged.