Chapter 59: No One Has to Know
- DEX -
Grace is waiting for me next to her rental car in the driveway, standing there in a tight designer dress and heels that aren’t exactly my idea of comfortable travel ware. She’s staring at her phone, but glances up with a bright smile when I pull in. And there is something about seeing her here in front of my parents’ house that really doesn’t sit well.
I am going to kill Lawson if he had anything to do with this.
"Hey," she smiles when I walk around the truck.
"Hey." I shove my hands in my back pockets.
"I don’t get a hug or anything? We’re still friends, aren’t we?" Her head tilts with what is meant to be a sexy smirk.
My feet drag forward a few steps, and I pull her into a hug, letting her wrap her arms around me in return.
"You shouldn’t be here, Grace," I sigh.
"I thought you might need a friend."
"I have friends."
"Not the kinds of friends you can lean on when things get difficult." She smiles in a way that says she knows me too well. It’s a sympathetic expression that’s grating on the nerves rather than comforting.
"I don’t need those kinds of friends right now. I’m fine. Father is fine. He is getting the appropriate tests and care, and I have a business to focus on running. There isn’t time to spend with you while you’re here."
"Maybe I can come help with the company. I have some experience in advertising. It’s what I went to school for."
"We don’t need models for any campaigns right now." I scrub a hand over my face.
"That’s not what I’m saying. You know I work with an agent," she tries to laugh, but it falters. "Wow, you really don’t want me here, do you?"
"You should have called," I shrug. "I’m not crazy about surprises, and your presence will only be a distraction right now when I really need to focus. But by all means, if you have vacation to use, enjoy your time in the city. I can direct you to some good restaurants."
I walk past her toward the front door, not at all missing the fact that she hasn’t moved more than swiveling to watch me go. When I turn around, her eyebrows are arched in surprise.
"You aren’t even going to invite me in?"
With a heavy sigh, I open the door and gesture for her to enter. She walks past me with a grin, directing it at me in a way that somehow makes it seem like this was all my idea.
After offering her something to drink and leaning on the island while she makes herself comfortable in one of the chairs, I drum my fingers on the counter, eyes straying to the pool where Raya was when I left. She is no longer there, but a soft glow of interior lights are on in the guest house. It’s unlikely that she would have noticed Grace pull up at the front, thankfully. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea.
"I could always stay in the guest house if you don’t want me here with you," Grace offers, following my line of sight.
"No. It’s occupied right now."
She looks surprised. "Do you have family in town?"
"A friend," I reply vaguely, but the vagueness definitely makes it sound like I’m referring to someone who is more than a friend. I’m not even sure why I do it, other than the fact that it might actually convince her to leave.
"Oh," Grace smiles and stands, walking to the windows that line the back wall of the house. "No time for distractions, huh? She must not be that close of a friend if she’s staying in the back. Can I meet her?"
"And why would that be even a remotely good idea?" I almost growl. Rather than having dissuaded her, it seems like her interest is actually piqued. I can’t believe I have to deal with this right now.
"So this is why you aren’t happy to see me." Her smile wilts a little.
"We haven’t spoken in a year, and a lot is going on right now that I need to figure out. I’m not sure what you expected."
"Yeah, but that was always kind of normal for us," she shrugs with a small laugh. "I didn’t imagine there would be someone else. I’m sorry to be an inconvenience, Dex. That wasn’t my intention. I truly did just imagine that you might need a friend."
"I do appreciate the thought, but usually a phone call will suffice."
She comes up and embraces me again, exhaling heavily against my chest and just standing there until my arm falls on her.
"I started to miss you, but I wasn’t sure how to say it or how to call you," she mumbles against me. "Sometimes it’s just easier to show up and see the person. See what their eyes hold."
I rub her back, offering whatever reassurance she needs that will make her feel better about leaving.
"I could still stay," she mumbles again. "No one has to know."
I know what she’s offering, and in the past I would have accepted. Because there’s a familiarity with Grace and an understanding she has about maintaining very few expectations when it comes to intimacy with me. I’m not willing to give the deepest parts of myself to anyone. I don’t want a clingy, needy relationship. That’s never what we were about.
"I will know. And that’s not what we are anymore." My hands drop, and I take a step back, running a hand over my face again when I see the sting of rejection I’ve caused.
And then she scoffs, eyes flashing with disbelief. "Do you love her or something? The ’friend’ staying in the guest house?"
"I really don’t have the energy for this conversation. Do you need a recommendation for a hotel?" I push off the counter and grab my phone, unlocking it like I’m about to look up some options for her.
"This is fucking crazy behavior for you," she says quietly. "Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure it out."
Then she sets her glass down, picks up her bag, and sees herself out. I walk to the front door, watching as she gets in and backs up out of the drive.
There’s a pang of guilt when I watch her go. It’s not lost on me how far out of her way she went to come visit, and maybe I’m an ass for sending her on her way. I tell myself it’s because I just really hate surprises.
