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“I just don’t understand why you couldn’t come live with me.”
“I need to be in Vancouver in a few weeks,” Grace explained. “Texas is a little out of the way. Listen, I should go—”
“No! You haven’t told me anything!”
Grace winced in guilt.
“Please tell me what happened. You were trying to get organized so you could get work at L.A. Fashion Week. Then all of a sudden you were leaving town.”
“Nothing happened,” she lied. “I lined up this job in Vancouver and then my aunt offered me the apartment, so I decided there was no point hanging around L.A. That’s it.”
“Grace.” Her flat voice made Grace’s throat burn with shame. Merry knew it was a lie, but Grace couldn’t tell her the truth. She just couldn’t.
“I’m good,” Grace said. “Really good.” That might be an exaggeration, but she embraced it. “In fact, I’m on my way to a saloon to celebrate the new job.”
That distracted Merry, as Grace had known it would. Merry loved shiny things,
and a saloon was awfully shiny. “What?” she chirped. “A saloon? You’re lying!”
“I’m not. It’s literally next door to my apartment. There are cowboys in it.”
“In your apartment?”
She laughed. “No, not at the moment.”
Merry missed that little hint, and Grace couldn’t help but grin. If she knew Grace’s new neighbor was a sexy hot cowboy with thighs of steel, Merry would squeal loud enough to break the cheap phone. Grace was going to save that little tidbit for a day when she needed cheering up. Merry’s joy was medicine for Grace. Something she needed to take like a vitamin when she was feeling low.
“All right,” Merry huffed. “Go flirt with some cute cowboys for me. But call me soon, okay? I miss you.”
Grace was smiling as she hung up. Merry had wanted Grace to stay with her, but Grace had stayed with her twice when they’d both lived in L.A. Accepting help once was too much. Twice was unbearable. A third time? No. Never. She’d rather sleep in the bus station.
In fact, she had slept in the bus station. But only for one night. Before that, she’d managed to find an old friend who’d owed her a favor. Unfortunately, staying at his place had been the worst mistake of all. He’d had an insane party, and someone had stolen her purse and everything in it, including Scott’s money.
Why the hell had she taken it? She should’ve just walked away with the lie that he didn’t owe her anything.
She’d really screwed herself over now. But she couldn’t tell Merry this time. At some point, Merry would decide Grace was a loser with too many problems who needed to be ditched.
Merry didn’t need someone like Grace hanging around, after all. Her name actually matched her personality. She was sweet and happy and kind. And a little awkward in a cute way. But for some reason, she loved Grace. In fact, aside from Grandma Rose, Merry was the only person in the world who loved her, and Grace would be damned if she’d ever do anything to damage that. Ever.
Grace tucked her phone away and walked over to the saloon. She didn’t plan on having a drink. But Jenny offered her a celebratory shot of tequila. And then a beer on the house.
“I can’t,” Grace protested.
“Come on. It’s not every day I find someone a job.”
Grace started to shake her head.
“And it annoys the hell out of Rayleen when I give away beer.”
“Well, in that case.”
Jenny laughed and slid her a beer. “I’m so happy for you.”
“You don’t even know me!” Grace said, shaking her head in exasperation.
“Of course I do. You’re Rayleen’s grandniece, Grace.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she said, but she took the beer. “Thank you. Really.”
