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Nate guided me out with his hand at my elbow. “What did you say to her?” he asked. “She’s like a different kid from the one we brought in.”
I shrugged. “We found common ground.”
He arched a brow. “Oh?”
“Mm.” I wasn’t going to share the details. No way.
He cocked his head, and the look in his eyes—fondness and something deeper, unfamiliar—made my tummy flutter. “Well, okay, then. Keep your secrets this time, Gracie. But just so you know, you’re incredible.”
I turned to face him, realizing too late how close together we were standing. All it would take was a slight shift from one of us, a sway toward the other, and we’d be kissing. I held my breath as his head dipped closer, wondering if it was finally going to happen. If Cissy had been right, and after all this time, there was still hope. But then he straightened and cleared his throat.
“I’ll finish up here and come over soon to pick up Tess.” His voice was hoarser than usual—or was I imagining that?
Don’t be ridiculous, I told myself.You’ve had a lifetime to get used to the fact that he only sees you as a friend.
I forced myself to smile. “I’ll take her to your place so she can go to bed. It must be about that time of night.”
“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.”
25
NATE
By the timeI parked in my driveway, exhaustion weighed on my shoulders like a cloak. A light glowed from the living area, and my heart overflowed with gratitude as I let myself in. I detoured up the hall to check on Tess. My daughter was asleep in her bed, her eyelashes dark against cheeks that were pale in the light cast by my phone screen. Something eased inside of me at the sight. No matter what happened, my little angel was home, safe and peaceful. Nothing could be more important than that.
Grace was in the living room, her legs stretched along the sofa as she stared intently at the screen of her e-reader. Emotion caught in my chest. She looked perfect there. As right as Tess had looked curled in her bed. Grace belonged here with me. She was part of our family, official or not.
She raised her eyes and smiled, but I could see her weariness. She started to move so I could sit beside her, but I gestured for her not to bother. I lifted her legs and rested them across the top of my thighs, relaxing back onto the cushions.
“Thank you.” The words gusted from my mouth on a heavy exhale. “I don’t know how, but you always seem to know exactly what I need.”
A smile started to curl her lips, and I could already see her gearing up for a gentle rebuttal. She honestly didn’t realize how much I relied on her and how much it meant to me to be able to do that.
“Let me finish.” I raised my hand. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You make my life better.”
Emotion shone in her eyes. I couldn’t tell if it was what I’d hoped to see there or not, but whatever it was, she felt it intensely. My throat tightened. How had I been blind to Grace as a woman for so long? She was beautiful from the inside out, and I’d never doubted that. For some reason, I’d just never let myself go there since those first curious wonderings in high school. She’d become my trusty best friend, and I hadn’t looked beyond that.
Could I do it now? Would I be worthy of her? Or would I let her down the way I had Maddy? I gritted my teeth. If I hurt Grace like that, I’d never forgive myself. Was it worth the risk?
“You’re my friend,” Grace replied. “You’ve always been there for me. That’s just what we do. I’m glad I was able to help.”
I felt a pang of guilt. I hadn’t always been there for Grace. I’d failed her before. She hadn’t even felt able to tell me she’d gotten married.
“Besides,” she continued. “I love Tess and so does Desdemona. Spending time with her is no hardship.”
“I know you do.” Seeing that love made me want to gather her in my arms. “Gracie….”
She glanced down at my hands, and I realized I’d begun rubbing her calves.
I stopped and mentally fortified myself. “Have you ever wondered if things could be different between us?”
Her expression froze, and I caught a flicker of something in her face that reminded me of a cornered dog. Wide-eyed and panicky. She masked it quickly. “How do you mean?”
Her tone was all careful politeness. It made me wary. I tugged my lower lip between my teeth, realizing I was going to have to spell it out for her.
“Have you ever thought maybe we could be more than friends?” I did my best not to sound as edgy as I felt.
Grace stared at me, that cornered dog expression on full display. “I, uh, um.” She jolted upright, swinging her legs off my lap, and backed away several paces. “I just remembered that I left the pantry door open. I need to make sure Duke hasn’t got into it.”
