AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Most of my life.”
She frowned.
“I’m not saying that to manipulate you.” I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “I can’t take it back, because it’s true, but—”
“Neither of them ever said that. Not Travis or Don. They said a lot of other things—Sawyer said a lot of other things—but they never said… that.”
I tucked her hair behind her ear. “Good. Because you deserve to hear it when it’s real. You deserve the world.”
Evie let out a tiny exhale. “You’re right. We should take the rest of the night off.”
Neither of us said much as we cleaned up, and I drove us to my house. I didn’t know about her, but I wasn’t sure there was a reason to rehash what happened. It would come up enough over the next few days and weeks and months anyway, as we tried to make sense of it.
Because for some reason, somehow, Sawyer had already become that kind of part of our lives.
As we pulled onto my street, Evie muttered, “are you fucking kidding me?” at the same time I saw my ex-wife sitting on my front porch.
Seriously? Now? I parked in the driveway. “I’ll see what Grace wants and she’ll be gone. You can come with me or wait here, it’s up to you.”
“I’m coming with you.” Evie hopped from the truck as she talked.
That was good for me. Grace could’ve called or texted or emailed. Even if this conversation needed to be in person, there had to be a reason she didn’t let me know she was on her way.
What did we have to say to each other face to face anyway?
When Evie and I approached, the look Grace gave her was half disdain, half disinterest. Grace stepped past her, to try to hug me.
I stopped her, gripping her arm and keeping her at that distance. “Why are you here?”
“I just.” Grace’s chin quivered and she bit her bottom lip.
No. I wasn’t up for this any day, but especially not now. “You what?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.” She sniffled and glanced at Evie before looking at me again. “Can we talk alone?”
“We cannot.” I wouldn’t be cruel, but I wasn’t getting sucked into whatever this was.
Grace made a noise that sounded like hmpf. “I miss you, Gage. I never should’ve done what I did. Please talk to me.”
I might’ve felt bad if she was mourning the loss of a family member. Or something actually bad happened to her. But to hear she was here to try to apologize? After all these years?
What. The. Fuck?
“We are talking. Is that why you’re here?” I asked.
She nodded.
“And not because something happened to your housing situation in Idaho Falls?” The realization struck me.”
Her expression wavered, and was back in an instant. “No.”
Uh-huh. “So you need a place to stay, and you thought Gage has been my sucker before?”
“I still have feelings for you.” Grace’s chin quiver was back. “You can’t just turn those off.”
Evie’s arm tightened where it was pressed against mine. I’d hate to see her get in trouble for hitting Grace.
“You’re right, I can’t,” I said. “But I can tell you I don’t feel the same and ask you to leave.” I was surprised at my own reaction. Sure, I’d spent the last few years dealing with what she did to me, and getting over her, but there was nothing inside except a little pity that she thought she could do this.
