“Liar.” She snorts. “It’s been going on this whole time, hasn’t it?”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“Okay, but ithashappened, though, right?”
Jesus, I feel like I’m being interrogated by the feds.
I breathe out a deep sigh, holding Grace’s gaze as I contemplate what I should tell her. On the one hand, I’ve got half a mind to shut the conversation down completely. But on the other, she’s right; Charleyisher best friend, so maybe she’ll have a little insight into her that I’m not seeing. Maybe she’ll somehow know what last night meant, if it meant anything at all. What happened when Charley got home from work was incredible. It was something I had hoped would happen, but wasn’t entirely sure if it would. Hearing Charley utter the words,“I need you,”was everything. But Georgia picked her up this morning before I woke up, so we haven’t talked about it.
Blowing out a breath, I admit, “We had sex once since Charley moved in. Last night.”
Grace’s eyes widen as she covers her smiling mouth with her hand. “Oh my gosh, Graham! How did this happen? Who initiated it? Have there been, like, moments of tension between y’all before last night? Tell meeverything!” She snorts, then adds, “Well, within reason. You are my brother, after all, and I don’t need to hear about…you.”
My palms are suddenly slick. I probably should’ve asked Charley before telling Grace this, but it’s too late now. “I think, technically, I initiated it.”
“What do you mean, you think?” she cuts in, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Either you did, or you didn’t.”
I laugh, feeling a little ridiculous for how all this sounds. “Charley seemed off last night when she got home from work, but she wouldn’t tell me what was wrong. I knew something was bothering her because she’s been in a pretty good mood everyother day this week, even though I’m sure she’s been exhausted, so I pushed a little harder for her to tell me.”
“And?” Grace pushes.
“And she told me all the pregnancy hormones were making her…horny,” I say. “So, I told her I could help with that.”
“You did not!” Grace chuckles. “How gentlemanly of you. And that worked? I still need to know if this came out of nowhere or if there have been moments.”
“There have been a couple almost kisses, but that’s it. Charley made it clear she wanted this to be platonic when she moved in.”
“But you don’t?” she asks.
Scowling at her, I say, “I never said that.”
“Yeah, okay.” She snorts. “What did she say about last night?”
“She left early this morning before we had a chance to talk. So, I have no idea where her head’s at. I don’t know if it was just a one-time thing to scratch an itch, or if she wants it to happen again, or if she even has feelings for me.”
“Oh my gosh, Graham,” Grace interjects.
“What?”
“You aresodown bad for your baby mama!”
“Don’t call her that,” I mutter. “And no, I’m not.”
“Oh, yes you are. It’s so obvious.”
I scoff. “How?”
“Come on, Graham,” she deadpans. “You’re a man—no offense—and men do not wonder what a hookup means unless they feel something. If it was just a one-time thingto you, then these thoughts wouldn’t even cross your mind.” Then she adds, “Besides, you act like I don’t know you, and know you had the biggest crush on her when we were kids.”
My heart stutters. “What are you talking about?” I didn’t tell any of my sisters about my feelings back then, and as far as I knew, they were none the wiser.
She rolls her eyes. “Knock it off, I know you did. And to be honest, I kind of think Charley liked you too. I half expected y’all to announce you were dating for the longest time, but then you got together with Megan, and that was that.”
Gritting my teeth, I don’t say anything. I really thought they had no idea. Why did none of them say something back then? Why didn’tGrace?She was the biggest busybody, even back then.
“Does she know how you feel?” she asks when I don’t respond.
I exhale harshly through my nose. “I’m sure she has some idea, but I haven’t come out and said it.”
