"You both cling to old hurts," she said. "You clung to what he did in high school, him to his mom's passing." She held up a hand before I could respond. "I'm not saying it's not legit to hold on, but he needs to talk about it, and you…"
"Need to get over it?" I suggested. "Trying to get his attention at that first interview was so stupid. If I'd been professional, none of this would have happened. I might have gotten past the past by now." All my ideas lately seemed to be fumbled catches. Maybe I should stop having them.
"Honestly I feel so silly being angry at him for so long. I should have realised he had stuff going on in his life that made him act that way."
"Firstly," Grace said slowly, "you had teen hormones too. Secondly, they don't excuse being a jerk. Neither do adult male hormones. You were doing what you were told. If you hadn't, things would have been much worse for him. I mean—" She paused. "This Harvey guy might have made it look like Hawk's mom met with a 'nasty accident'." She curled the fingers of one hand into quotes. "Just a hint would be all it takes to raise eyebrows and start people asking questions."
That was exactly something Harvey would do. Not enough to be sued, but he'd suggest Hawk and his family kept the matter hidden, which they had. Point a few vague fingers and let the rumour mill do the rest.
"He might still do that," I said.
"At least Hawk will know you have nothing to do with it."
"Which won't matter, because he'll never speak to theNational Dailyagain. He'll never have to see me, so he can lay all the blame he likes." I swallowed a big gulp of wine and mentally cursed Ed. I had the sinking feeling this could turn ugly, no matter what I did. All I knew is that I didn't want anything to do with it when it did. I had to protect myself now, my job, and most of all, my heart.
"What are you going to do?" Grace asked. She gave me that look as if she thought I was up to something.
"I don't know," I said honestly. "This is all such a damn mess. I should have known better than to get involved with someone I had to work with."
Grace fixed me with a stern look. "The heart wants what the heart wants," she said firmly.
"I know it's bad when you're pulling out that old cliche," I said dryly.
She smiled. "Doesn't mean it's not true."
"Doesn't mean it is," I said.
"But it is," she said. "You fell for him, in spite of that bet."
"Yeah." I sighed. "At least it wasn'tbecauseof that bet." That would probably make me eligible for the dumbass of the year award. Hell, maybe I already qualified.
Grace laughed. "There are worse reasons for falling in love."
"Name one," I said. I arched an eyebrow at her in challenge.
"To spite an ex," she said. "Because a guy or woman has money. Because he looks like your favourite book boyfriend…"
"I feel seen," I muttered.
"Don't we all?" she said lightly. "Hey, have you read the latest—" She launched into an impromptu review of the latest book by her favourite author, including details of the 'hot smut' as she called it.
I only half-listened, partly to avoid spoilers and partly because I had a lot of thinking to do.
