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Meaningless talk. Now they were going to walk on eggshells with her. She’d confessed every dirty detail, and this was what their relationship had boiled down to.
Juliet’s phone rang. She picked it up from the table, groaning. “It’s Marcy. I love that woman, but I swear she calls me every weekend with some issue at the cafe that’s not an issue.”
She stood up from the table, answered the call, and entered the house for privacy.
“It looks like it’s ready,” Bryce commented, staring at the grill, the charcoal aroma brimming in the air.
“Let me go grab the steaks.” Griffin pushed back his chair. “Do you need anything to drink, Eve?”
She shook her head, clasping her hands in her lap. She had no appetite for anything. She was afraid if she ate or drank it would come right back up. Sick to her stomach didn’t begin to describe the turmoil going on inside her.
“I can leave if it’s weird me being here.”
Her eyes popped to Bryce, who wore a tender smile. “I would never ask you to do that.”
“Juliet told me what happened and not to say anything to you, but the tension is thick in this yard. It’s worse than the humidity. I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable.”
Oh, this family. This wonderful, kind family. How had she gotten so lucky to move to a small town right next to the perfect man whose whole family welcomed her with open arms?
“I want you to stay. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Bryce’s smile widened. “The same could be said about you. You’re a wonderful addition to the family.”
“Well, I—”
Bryce shook his head. “Nope, I have to stop whatever protest is about to come out. You are a part of this family. No negotiations.”
But was she? What happened if things between her and Griffin didn’t work out?
“Things between Griffin and I aren’t…” Serious? Were they? She didn’t know how to describe what was between them. They hadn’t even slept together yet. Just kisses here and there. “We’re only….it’s not…” She frowned, hating how she couldn’t find the right words.
Bryce chuckled. “No matter what might or might not develop between you two, you’re stuck with us. That’s final.” Bryce leaned forward. “But between me and you, Grif is a goner. He’s not a PDA kind of guy, and there’s not a moment I haven’t seen him keep his hands off you.”
She couldn’t hide her smile. To think she brought that out of him.
“I don’t know the full story. You don’t need to tell me. Neither does Jules or Grif,” Bryce said, shaking his head. “But you’re not alone anymore. I’m not just talking about us Stuarts. I mean the whole town. One phone call from me to Judge Rider and your brother won’t be allowed to step foot in this town.”
“But…how?”
A plate of juicy steaks landed on the table with a soft thud. Griffin sat back down, grabbing her hands into his lap.
“An order of protection, for starters. He hurt you, and in this town, that doesn’t fly.” Griffin’s hold on her increased. “Every officer will have a picture of him so the first sign of him, he’ll be pulled over and asked to leave.”
Her stomach twisted with unease. “I don’t want the whole town to know about this.”
“It’s time to stop hiding,” Griffin said with a tight jaw. As if he were mad at her? He had said he wasn’t.
“I’ve been hiding my whole life. From reporters. From people wanting something from me. Money. Status. A nice room for free. I don’t have friends. I have people in my life who use me and pretend to be my friend for what I can offer them. I can’t just stop doing something I’ve been doing my entire life because you say so, Griffin.”
His expression softened, as did the grip on her hands. “This town might be in everyone’s business, but they also ban together when necessary. No one is going to treat you any differently.”
Eve pulled at her hands so hard her chair wobbled backward, forcing Griffin to let go and grab ahold of it. It was enough to get her freedom. She stood up and backed away.
“You’re already treating me differently. I cry and then it’s like nothing happened. It’s like I didn’t pour my heart out. Bryce comes and we’re playing cards and going to grill.”
Griffin stood up, though didn’t approach her. “How is that treating you differently? We did the same thing last week.”
Well, that was true. But it felt different. Like Bryce had said, the tension in the air was palpable.
