But I was done listening to him. Not after this. I looked at him, taking in his gorgeous eyes for the last time, locked on mine with a determination I didn’t understand.
“Goodbye, Ruston,” I murmured, and before he could reply I was practically sprinting from the room.
The last few weeks had been so intense, part of me had wondered if it was all a dream. Now I knew it hadn’t been a dream at all.
Just a nightmare.
Chapter 3
GRACE
I’d been lying in the fetal position for the better part of the day when my doorbell rang. After a groan of protest, I swung my feet over the side of the bed and forced myself upright.
I shuffled to the front door, finding Wren, Olivia, and Ginnie on the other side.
“We come bearing ice cream and liquor,” Wren said by way of greeting as they breezed past me into the house. As daughters of the Knights MC, Wren, Olivia, and I had grown up together. Ginnie had joined our tribe later but was no less part of the family.
“Come on in, guys,” I replied dryly, watching as they made their way to the kitchen.
“Emmie said you might need some company,” Liv shared, eyeing me with concern. “And judging by the fact that you’re in sweats with no makeup on, she was right,” she deduced.
It was true, only a natural disaster or, apparently, heartache had me forgoing my typical dress code.
“So, which is it?” Ginnie asked, holding up tequila and ice cream.
“The tequila.”
“Shit,” Wren muttered, knowing my response didn’t bode well.
I flopped on the couch, wrapping my throw blanket around my shoulders, eager for any semblance of comfort I could find.
“What happened, babe?” Liv pressed as Ginnie handed me a shot and they situated themselves on the couch.
“Apparently, Ruston has a girlfriend,” I shared, rubbing at my chest in a futile bid to ease the burn saying those words provoked.
“A girlfriend? Are you sure?” Wren demanded skeptically.
“What a fucking asshole. And after you just spent the last two weeks at his bedside!” Ginnie exploded.
“It was my choice to do that.” I sighed as I shot the tequila back, the liquor creating a more welcome kind of burn. Though it wasn’t enough. I wanted to be numb.
“Still,” she huffed. “What did he have to say?” Her tone softened. Despite her tough exterior and often blunt demeanor, she had a huge heart. All my girls did.
“I didn’t stick around to chat,” I scoffed.
The girls shared a look that had me bracing for what they had to say next.
Wren squeezed my knee. “We’re on your side, Gracie. Always. I’m just having a hard time believing there’s another woman with the way he looked at you. It was clear to anyone paying attention that you guys have a crazy connection. Might be worth hearing his side of the story,” she pressed gently.
My thoughts drifted to the leggy blonde leaning over Ruston with such concern and immediately rejected the idea. “I don’t think so. It’s probably better anyway. His life is in Colorado. Mine is here.”
“You never know what the future holds,” Wren replied gently, and I knew she was speaking from experience. “But we’ll stop badgering you. Do you want to watch a movie? Should we order some food?” she suggested.
“What does mama want to eat?” I smiled despite how miserable I felt. Wren had just recently announced she was expecting.
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t let me pick unless you guys want Wheat Thins for dinner. Otherwise, you should do your own thing.”
“Still sick to your stomach?” I asked sympathetically. She’d been suffering from morning sickness that seemed to last all day.
