Page 50 of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

“Wyatt’s here?” I asked.

“Yeah. How else would I have gotten here? You have my truck,” Joe called over his shoulder as he disappeared outside.

Grace turned toward me. “Who’s Wyatt?”

“Charlotte’s ex.”

And if I was being honest, I’d tell Grace she was technically my ex too... ifone-nightstands counted for anything.

27.

Grace

I went back to stirring the brussels sprouts that had partially burned during ourmake-outsession. I figured they were still salvageable. Most things were salvageable if you put in a little extra effort. A bit of burn would give them a nice, charred flavor. My lips were swollen, and my heart was still racing from the moment we shared. I wanted more. I wanted to cancel this whole barbecue and spend the day exploring Calvin’s body rather than the ins and outs of his family and friendship dynamics. Every alarm inside me was going off, saying,don’t get involved—but there was a part of me that needed him like one needs water or food or shelter.

Calvin kissed my ear and neck. “To be continued...” he whispered.

I had forgotten he was still in the kitchen. I didn’t say a word, and he scurried down the hallway toward his bedroom. I turned off the burner and added ahoney-balsamicmixture to the pan. The sliding door off of the deck squeaked open.

“Hey,” Joe called from behind me.

I took a deep breath before turning around.

“Want one?” He stood there holding two beers, one outstretched to me.

I accepted and took a swig, turning back toward the stove to continue stirring the brussels sprouts. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could feel them. I set the beer down and pushed the food from the pan into a serving bowl, pretending I didn’t notice that Joe was still there.

“Whatcha making?” he asked.

“Brussels sprouts.” I finally looked over at him. His eyes were right where I thought they’d be—on me.

“That’s odd,” Joe said. He swigged his beer.

“Why?”

“Because Calvin hates brussels sprouts.”

My lips parted but I quickly pressed them together. “Oh. I didn’t know that.”

Calvin had lied to me about something as stupid as liking brussels sprouts. I’m sure it was because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings. But it left me wondering what else he was lying about.

“Is there something I should know about today, Joe?” I lifted my chin.

“What do you mean?” He leaned against the counter and slouched his shoulders like he was trying to make himself look smaller. Maybe that’s how he felt—small.

“I’ve noticed people have been treating Calvin like he’s glass today, like he could shatter into a million pieces at any moment. Why?”

Joe swallowed hard. His eyes bounced around the room, deciding what and what not to tell me.

“Joe.” I said his name sternly, probably how his dad used to say it.

His eyes now had a sheen to them. “Calvin’s girlfriend, Lisa, died one year ago today. That’s why we’re all treating him like glass, as you put it.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

I knew about Lisa, but I didn’t know it had happened on his birthday. That must have been tough. One thing stuck out though—Joe’s choice of words and Calvin’s. Joe had called Lisa his girlfriend, while Calvin had referred to her as his ex. Maybe it was easier to mourn her that way.

Joe swigged his beer again. “I’m glad he has you today but I’d be careful if...”