Page 57

Julia, Grayson’s mom, slaps the back of his head for talking with his mouth full. “Have some respect. You’re spitting it all over the place.”
At least someone can keep Josh in line. She isn’t his mother, but she never hesitates to keep him in check.
Grayson moves past me to the coffee pot where he pours two cups. Without having to ask, he reaches for the creamer and adds a splash to one, and then hands it to me.
“You need to let me look at your hands,” Frankie points out, eyeing Grayson’s hands when he takes a seat at the table. “You ripped the stitches open and it looks infected.”
“They’re fine,” he mumbles.
Even days later, his hands are red and slightly swollen. Looking at his hands up close, I notice he has the same scars on his hands and forearms as he does on his back—new deep purple scars. When he realizes I’m looking at them, he drops his hands to his lap underneath the table, his focus on his coffee cup. I wonder where all those scars came from. They almost look similar to burns.
Though he hasn’t come out and said it, I know something horrible happened to Grayson in Iraq. The condition of his body, the pills, the lack of sleep, I can’t imagine what he’s witnessed.
Just like he hasn’t asked about the things Shane has done to me, or the baby I briefly mentioned and I know he heard. There are some things we don’t talk about and might never discuss.
Julia hands me a plate of pancakes. “Eat something,” she urges.
I smile at her. “Thank you.”
Her eyes linger on my face, a sadness flashing in her eyes. I quickly look away.
Conversations are flowing around us, but I can’t focus on any one in particular. Other than when Wyatt stands from his place at the table.
“Try to stay out of trouble today,” he teases, rufflingGrayson’s hair as he walks toward the back door, his coffee mug in hand.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Grayson mocks with a sarcastic laugh, smiling at me.
My lips quirk into a small smile, relieved he’s joking around.
Awkward small talk is made around the room when Ethan looks to Grayson, saying, “Ready?” and nods to the door.
My heart flutters in my chest. He’s leaving? He didn’t say anything earlier. Why not? “You’re leaving?” I ask, a sudden frantic edge noticeable in my words.
Grayson shifts beside me, leaning in. “I have a job interview with Coleman Construction. I need a job.”
Since they were sixteen, Ethan and Grayson worked for Coleman Construction. When Grayson left, Ethan stayed there. Now he’s a dry wall finisher and loves it. He constantly has white dust in his hair, but he loves his job. “Oh.” And then my heart bursts with happiness. If Grayson’s interviewing for jobs that means he’s staying, right? “That’s cool.”
He chuckles, standing up. “I’ll be back later. Frankie is gonna stay with you.”
I nod but don’t say anything. I knew they were going to make me have a babysitter for some time. “You need to go down to the sheriff’s office and file a restraining order,” Ethan adds, tucking his cell phone into his back pocket of his jeans.
Again, I nod. Yesterday, Ethan came to me and begged me to file a restraining order. I think he and Grayson had talked about it in the days following the incident with Shane at the bar, but I don’t know for sure. I didn’t ask because I knew they were right. I did need to file one. Even though I know what Shane’s reaction is going to be to it. Explosive anger.
Before he leaves, Grayson leans in, his hands on the table, his eyes heavy on mine. I stare up at him. Is he going to kiss me? Why is he so close to my face? He smells like coffee and syrup and I want to lick his skin. “What?”
He licks his lips, his eyes searching mine. “Please don’t leave without Frankie.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper, never breaking eye contact. I hope he understands the bigger meaning.
Without warning, he presses his lips to my forehead, and then reaches for his keys beside his hand. “I’ll be back in a couple hours.” Ethan knocks his hand to the back of my head, lightly. “Don’t forget to go by the station. If you don’t, I’m calling the sheriff myself.”
“I will.”
The guys leave and I’m left alone with Frankie and Julia. I know what I need to do, but doing it won’t be as easy as I’d hoped. Once I file a restraining order, everyone will know what happened. It’s a small town and won’t be a secret anymore. What will that mean for Shane? I know, it’s so stupid for me to be concerned about him, but there’s a small part of me that is. And I’m worried about my mom. If his dad finds out, will they fire my mom? Will Shane take it out on my family? Will he try to hurt them or me again?
I had so many reservations about what the future might hold that I don’t even know where to start. I know I need to though. I have to make this step or I’m going to forever be held captive by him.
I’d dropped out of college for him, lost my job because of him, and no way will I let him continue to take from me.