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She sniffs, and it tugs at my heartstrings. It’s all I can do to keep quiet and not offer to take care of her problems.
“But, on the bright side...” she says.
That makes me laugh. “Of course.” There’s always a bright side for her. I love that.
“I’m no longer unemployed, so there’shope. I can make a payment on tuition, and I won’t have to sweat like hell when I get that hefty medical bill. I’m moving in the right direction—and I’m doing it on my own. Take that, Mom and Dad.” She beams.
God, she looks so proud of herself that guilt pricks me in the chest. Lifting my glass, half-full of the chardonnay she chose to have with our dinner, I stare into it. “Actually, you won’t be getting that medical bill.”
Our eyes collide. The kitchen goes quiet.
I rub the back of my neck. “I took care of it. Also, I took care of your tuition problem. I meant to surprise you with that tonight.”
Grace still doesn’t say a word, and the silence gets awkward.
“When did you take care of that?” she asks. “I checked with accounts at the start of the week to beg for an extension and no one said anything.”
“Well, it was taken care of just yesterday. My new assistant handled it.”
Her gaze falls away from mine, but I saw the disappointment in her eyes.
Now I feel like I’ve fucked up. I really thought she’d be relieved to have two things less to worry about.
She pushes her chair back, stands, and whispers, “Excuse me.” Wheeling around, she storms out.
“Grace, come on. Get back here.” When she doesn’t stop, I call, “Grace!”
Looking skyward, I blow out a long, tired breath. After my hellish week, what I don’t need is a fight—and before we’ve even gone on a proper date, no less.
“Fuck.”Throwing back the rest of my wine, wishing it was something stronger, I go after her.
Chapter 3
Grace
“You can’t move. You’llnever make it in California.”
