Page 45 of Grace of Spades

"We're leaving at seven."

***

We're playing basketball today in gym class, and she's terrible. I'm on Grace's team, but we've all decided to just not pass her the ball. I know she knows by the smirk on her face every time I catch the ball beside her and I feel terrible about it but it's nice that she doesn't take herself too seriously. Not everyone would be so gracious about it.

Besides, it's nice to be this close to her. She smells like caramel apples and my arms are itching to hold her.

"You know, you're lucky I'm not actively sabotaging the team. I can do that." She chuckles as I go to shoot a basket and miss because I laughed. "Oh no. You missed. Try harder next time." She smiles not so innocently.

"You're evil." I laugh.

"I know." She shrugs with that sexy smirk. She is the best kind of evil. Mine. She just doesn't know it yet.

"What's happening at Rudy's?" I ask.

"She figured it out, huh?" She laughs. "It's fight night."

"You're fighting?" I ask intrigued.

"Yep." She smiles as I catch the ball and aim for another basket. "Getting some girl-on-girl action." She whispers causing me to choke and miss my shot again.

"Huh. Maybe they shouldn't pass you the ball either." She grins batting her eyelashes. I can't help it. I laugh. Loudly. She's perfect.

Christian

I watch Grace get home and stumble up to her room with a wave and a grumble to us in Andras' office.

"Is she okay?" I ask.

"She said she didn't sleep well last night. But I don't know... something is bothering her. I just don't know what." He confesses. I don't like that. "Are you going to her fight?"

"I was thinking about it," I say carefully.

"Good. She could use all the support she can get. As far as I can tell it's just been her and that Ray guy for quite a while."

"Yeah, Kennedy was saying they are really close." I nod.

"Yeah, I want to meet him too," Andras smirks. "You're free for the night. Have fun." I swear this man sees everything.

"Thank you, sir." I nod before leaving. I feign nonchalance as I pass Grace's room and see her cuddled up on the floor. She's so beautiful. She's curled up into a little ball and her face is relaxed and softened with sleep. I just want to hold her. I have to force myself to keep walking, leaving a bit of myself behind sleeping as I head home to get ready for her fight.

I find my father in his office with one of his runners. A tall, fit man about my age with darker skin and buzzed black hair. He looks familiar, but I can't place him. I see the star tattoo on his throat and file that away for later. Something about him justrubs me the wrong way.

"Christian! Come in here!" Dad booms before turning to the runner. "You can leave, Oliver."

Oliver bows and walks away. I make sure the door is closed before we speak.

"What are you doing home so early?" Dad asks.

"I'm heading downtown to see Grace," I say with a small smile. Dad's going to make a big deal about this, I can feel it.

"You got her, huh?" He asks quietly, but I can feel his excitement buzzing in the air.

"Not yet. But she invited me." I admit scratching the back of my neck.

"She makes you work for her. Good. Your mother made me work for her, too. She kicked my ass when we first met. Did I ever tell you that?" He chuckles. Colour me intrigued.

"No." I chuckle.