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“That’s an insult,” I snap, my eyes squinting at her. She can’t possibly be serious. “I’m nothing like that guy.”
“Let me finish.” She chews on the corner of her lip as if trying to work up the courage for this next part. I know this because she does that when she doesn’t want to say something. Like the time we were in the third grade and she stole my Twinkie from my lunch and wouldn’t admit to it. I knew she did because she had the frosting on her lips. This expression, though more intense, is the same. “Then he changed, rather quickly, and became possessive and abusive. From that first time, I swore I wouldn’t stay. I didn’t know how to get away from him, so I gave him another chance. Second time ithappened, I left. And then he got me pregnant, around Christmas, and swore he’d never touch me again. In February, I was ten weeks pregnant and he hit me so hard I passed out. The next thing I remember I was hemorrhaging and in the ER. I had miscarried.”
My anger is immobilizing. I don’t even think I blink.
“We haven’t been officially together since the miscarriage. The only reason I was still hanging around with him was in fear of him hurting my mom, or Ethan, or even Frankie. He kept threatening to hurt them and I thought I was protecting my family by staying with him.”
The thought of why she was with him has my heart pounding. Bile rises in my throat that this all could have been avoided. “I should have never left you here alone.”
“Grayson.” She places her hand under my chin and forces me to look at her. “We’re not going to keep going back to this. You left for your own reasons. You shouldn’t have to explain yourself, and you can’t blame yourself for everything. It’s not your fault. I’m the one who didn’t see what was right in front of me.” She hesitates for a moment and takes a deep breath. “All I can say is that I’m glad you’re back. I’ve wished I would have told you before you left… but now I’m not wasting any time just in case I don’t get to.” Her eyes narrow on mine. “It’s always been you,” she confesses, her eyes rimmed with tears. “I understand if you don’t feel the same way anymore, I had to tell you.”
Immediately, I draw her into my arms, clutching her to my chest tightly. “How can I not feel the same way?”
There’s much more I want to say but I can’t. I want to tell her how much I love her as well, but I can’t find the words.
Leaning into me, her hips find mine. Once, twice, and I know where it’s heading. I return her passion but with hesitation. I know we need to take things slow and last night we didn’t do that. We acted, or maybe it was me, on impulse and hormones.
I pull back, easing out of the kiss. “Are you hungry?” It’sThursday and if I remember correctly, Marv’s Bakery up the street sells fresh donuts on Thursday.
“I have to work today,” I confess, peeling myself from the bed. “But I was thinking we could get some donuts before I do.”
Evie’s eyes light up. “It’s Thursday, huh?”
“Yep. He’s still running that place, right?”
“Oh yeah, but I haven’t been in years.”
Marv’s was the highlight of our week in high school. Every Thursday we’d hit them up and nearly eat a dozen donuts between the two of us.
We make our way out of my room, dressed and ready for donuts. When we get to the kitchen, it seems my mom had the same idea. There’s three dozen sitting out the table in the breakfast nook overlooking the pool.
“You’re finally up!” Frankie squeals from the table, her bright pink scrubs nearly blinding this early.
I reach for the coffee pot first. “How do your patients stand you wearing that color? It’s obnoxious.”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t be a dick.”
“Frankie, language,” Mom scolds, handing Evie the creamer from the fridge.
“What? He’s being the rude one.”
“Grayson, honey, be nice to her.”
Behind Mom’s back, Frankie sticks her tongue out at me.
Mom leans into the counter, her hands cupped around a coffee mug. “Did you guys have a nice time last night? I didn’t hear you come in.”
Beside me, Evie chokes on the coffee she’d taken a drink of.
“Yeah, we did.” I keep my expression blank and if it wasn’t for the flush of Evie’s cheeks, the comment would have gone unnoticed. Aside from Kelly who laughs.
Mom kisses my cheek, then Evie’s. “That’s nice. If you’ll excuse me, I’m picking Kathy up and we’re heading to Montgomery for the weekend for the Home and Garden convention.”
“So she’ll be out of town all weekend?” Evie asks my mom, relief on her face.
“Yep. We got a hotel.” Mom smiles. “Dad will be here. He’s working some overtime this weekend.”
Frankie clears her throat. “Guess where we’re going this weekend?”