by J. M. Hill
He nodded with a half smile and returned to the front.
I picked up a pen and doodled random geometric patterns on a legal pad, and thought about what happened with Nina. I realized what she said didn’t aggravate me nearly as much as the fact that I let her words get to me. I knew she was wrong about Michael and I having nothing in common, but I also knew it didn’t matter how much we had in common. Michael didn’t love me the way I loved him which made her twisted words cut even more.
“Hi there.”
I looked up, and Evan was standing in the doorway with a grin. His hair was windblown, and his blue eyes sparkled against the silver-gray of his sweater.
“This is a nice surprise, what are you doing here?”
I stood from the chair and smiled. “I work here. What are you doing here?”
“I happen to come here every Saturday,” he said matter-of-factly. “Which is why I know you don’t work on Saturdays.” He surveyed my appearance. “So what are you doing here? You okay?”
“I’m fine. I was running and just kind of kept going.”
He looked puzzled, and I just shook my head.
“It’s a long story,” I said. “How are you doing?”
“I was just getting some really great coffee from my favorite place.”
I grimaced at him. “You’d think gas station coffee is good. You’re comparing it to hospital coffee.”
“True.” He laughed. “Why don’t you join me?”
I didn’t hesitate to follow him to the front. Kenny handed Evan his coffee, and they talked football while I made myself a latte’. Evan went to a table in the corner, and I joined him.
“So how’s the new year progressing?” He asked folding his hands on the table with a smirk.
“Swimmingly,” I answered dryly. “And yours?” He laughed. “What are you up to today?” “Nothing really,” I shrugged. “What about you?”
A slow grin spread across his face. “Well, I just decided to go to the movies with this gorgeous brunette I know.”
My face flushed, and I sipped at the foam from my cup.
“So how about it?” He asked. “Why don’t you let me take you to the movies. Looks like you could use some entertainment of the Hollywood kind. We could see the new Meryl Streep movie, you love her.”
My mind bolted in a hundred different directions, and I didn’t know what to say. I loved Michael, that hadn’t changed. I liked Evan, felt comfortable with him, but only as a friend.
“Grace? Did you hear me?”
“Yes, I heard you.” I looked down at my hands. “I just don’t want to give you the wrong idea.”
“Wrong idea about what?” He argued. “We’re just two friends going to a movie. You can even buy the popcorn if that will make you feel better.”
I had to smile. Evan was a good friend, and maybe a night at the movies was what I needed.
“Okay,” I agreed. “I don’t know what the gorgeous brunette has planned, but I would love to go to the movies with you.”
“Gorgeous brunette,” he said thoughtfully. “Oh, did you think I meant you?”
I grimaced, and he laughed again, checking his watch.
“I’ll pick you up around four o’clock?” He stood, and pulled his coat on.
“Sounds great, I’ll see you then.”
He nodded with a smile as he headed for the door, and I walked back to the office. It had stopped snowing, so I decided to walk home instead of calling Kate. I pulled my coat and gloves back on, and started to the front of the store.
“Bye, Gracie,” Kenny said.
“You’re still coming to the Super Bowl party, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.” He tossed a bar towel over his shoulder. “Do I still get to bring a date?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Do I know her?”
Kenny never had trouble getting dates, but he was a ‘one date’ kind of guy.
“Don’t know who I’m bringing yet.” He shrugged. “But I’m sure I can find someone.”
“Well, if you need the phone book there’s one on my desk,” I said smugly. “Or have you exhausted the female resources in the Boulder vicinity? Perhaps Denver?”
“Go home.” He snapped the towel at me playfully. “Tell everyone hi for me.”
He chortled as I wagged my head and pushed through the door to start my trek home. The snow was now wet slush because the sun had made an appearance, but it was still chilly and I could tell the sun wouldn’t be out much longer.
When I was about half-way home, Michael’s Yukon came speeding down the road, skidding to a stop less than five feet away from me. He flew out of the driver’s seat, furiously slamming the door behind him and strode toward me. Reflexively, I took a step backward as he got closer. I’d never seen him this angry.
“Where the hell have you been, Grace?” His nostrils flared and his jaw clenched as he leaned over me.
“I-I was at the shop,” I stammered. “What’s wrong?”
“You’ve been gone for over three hours!”
I flinched back, and looked at my watch, swallowing hard. He was right. I didn’t say anything as he continued to glower at me, his anger not dissipating.
“Kate called the shop,” he said slowly. “Kenny told her that you just left? What were you doing? Why didn’t you call?”
“I went for a run,” I replied quietly. “I just kept going, and I had some coffee.”
I decided not to mention Evan.
“Well did it ever occur to you that we’ve all been at home worried sick about you? Why would you run all the way to town?”
I argued with myself on whether or not I should tell him why.
“I don’t know,” I lied. “I just did.”
“Where’s your cell phone? We’ve been calling it all morning.”
He folded his arms over his chest and looked down at me, still angry. But now I was angry. Who did he think he was? He hadn’t spoken to me in over a week, and now he was lecturing me?
“I can run anywhere I please,” I snapped. “I’m not a ten year old.”
He raised an eyebrow at me, either surprised by my response, or he really did think of me as a ten year old. Both of those possibilities made me even angrier. I folded my arms in front of me, mirroring his stance, and scowled back at him.
“I’m sorry I had everyone worried, that wasn’t my intention,” I told him. “I’ll apologize when I get home.”
I stepped around him to leave, but he grabbed my arm, causing me to stumble backward.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I jerked my arm away, and glowered at him.
“I’m going home!”
“I’ll take you.” He reached for my arm again.
“No, thank you.” I stepped away from him. “I’ll walk.”
He heaved a sigh and walked to his car, opening the passenger door.
“Why are you so stubborn? Just get in the car, Grace.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
He stood by the open door, the muscles in his jaw working hard. I wasn’t sure whether he’d come after me if I walked away, but I was willing to risk it. I started walking, passing his car, and heard the passenger door slam. I didn’t look back as his door slammed shut. The tires squealed as he made a u-turn and followed me at a snail’s pace. Apparently, he would be escorting me home whether I was in the car or not. I kept walking, the engine humming close behind me. I glanced over my shoulder at him, and he watched me with a smirk, his eyebrows lifted in amusement. I stopped, put my hands on my hips and shook my head in irritation.
Crap.
I turned around and slowly made my way to the vehicle. He reached across and pushed the passenger door open. I climbed in, and slammed the door angrily, folding my arms across my chest. I refused to look at him, as I kept my body turned toward the passenger window, seething in silence.
He cleared his throat, and I could tell he was probably grinning, which made me want to smack the crap out of
him.
“Grace.” His voice was calm. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I was worried. We all were.”
I didn’t say anything, I just kept my back to him, and heard him sigh as we pulled in front of the house. I quickly opened my door and got out, angrily making my way to the front porch.
“Hey, hold on a minute,” he said, grabbing my arm again.
I stopped walking, glared at his hand on my arm and then at his face. He released his grasp, biting the corner of his mouth. Was he trying not to laugh?
“What?” I spat.
He grimaced and shook his head. I turned and opened the front door. Kate practically tackled me, throwing her arms around my neck.
“You had me scared to death!”
“I’m sorry, Kate, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
She nodded, still squeezing me. I looked at Miles, standing behind her, his mouth in a tight line.
“Sorry,” I mouthed silently to him, and he nodded.
Garrett stepped up next to Miles and glared down at me. I sighed, and walked over to him, but before I could open my mouth to apologize, he grabbed me up in a tight hug. My feet hovered over the floor as I hugged him back.
“Don’t you ever do that again, Gracie-Beth,” Garrett ordered. “Do you understand?”
I nodded and he gave me another squeeze before setting me down. I smiled up at him, and he put me in a headlock as we walked to the kitchen. They hadn’t eaten breakfast because of me, which made me feel worse than I already did.
“Why don’t you shower,” Kate said. “I’ll get breakfast ready.”
I nodded, and started to my room. Michael was in the hallway, leaning against the wall by my door, watching me. When he didn’t say anything I brushed past him into my room, and closed the door.
The hot water of the shower calmed my nerves, which was a good thing because I was still mad at Michael Anderson. I got dressed in jeans, a brown v-neck sweater with a white tee, and dried my hair straight.
I joined everyone at the table, sitting in my usual seat between Michael and Garrett. Michael was pushing scrambled eggs across his plate, but not eating. When I glanced at him, his eyes met mine for a moment, then he looked away. Part of me wanted to apologize for worrying him. He was the only one I hadn’t apologized to, and I felt bad. I also wanted to tell him about Nina, she was psycho-scary, but I couldn’t say anything about her without sounding like a jealous teenager. Maybe part of me was jealous, except I couldn’t imagine Michael liking someone like Nina because she was…foul.
“Gracie,” Kate interrupted my thoughts. “Did you hear me?”
“Oh, sorry.” I looked at her.
“Miles and Garrett are taking me to town to get the things for the Super Bowl party,” she said. “Is there anything you need?”
“Just what I wrote on the list.”
She nodded, and started to get the plates from the table.
“I’ll do the dishes,” I told her. “You guys go ahead.” I stood up and started clearing plates, while they got ready to leave. Michael got up from the table, but instead of helping me with the dishes like he usually did, he headed for the front door.
“Thanks for breakfast, Kate,” he said.
“Where are you going, little brother?” Garrett asked.
Michael glanced at me, and raked his hand through his hair. “I’ve got work to do.”
Garrett pursed his lips and nodded.
Michael walked out the door with Miles and Kate, without saying anything. Garrett kissed the top of my head and waved with a sympathetic expression on his face as he followed them. I finished the dishes and went to collect the dirty laundry, starting a load in the washer. I went into my room, and picked up the current book I was reading from my bedside table, returning to the living room. I turned on music and curled up on the couch, pulling the quilt over me. A light snow was falling, and I watched it for a few minutes before opening my book.
The front door opened, and I knew it was Michael. I didn’t move as he walked over and sat at the opposite end of the sofa. Even though I hadn’t read past the first word, I kept my eyes on my book.
It was quiet for a moment, as he leaned back to make himself comfortable.
“How’s the book?”
I shrugged without making eye contact with him. Maybe I was being immature, but at the moment I didn’t care. His chuckle got my attention, and he watched me with a slight grin as he shook his head.
“You have a temper,” he said smugly.
I snorted, looking at him incredulously.
I have a temper? Hello, pot, my name is kettle.
When I didn’t acknowledge his statement, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“You have got to be one of the most frustrating, hard-headed, stubborn…”
Apparently he’d run out of adjectives.
He rubbed his forehead with his fingertips, staring at the floor. I closed my book and waited for him to finish whatever he was going to say.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to tell me what happened this morning? Because it’s just not like you to do something like that.”
I didn’t respond, and he still watched me.
“Was it Nina?”
Maybe my silence answered his question, because he leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling with a sigh.
“What did she say this time?”
The way he phrased the question told me he either assumed there had been more than one incident regarding Nina, or Kate had told him. He turned to face me, waiting for my answer.
“She didn’t say anything that matters,” I responded quietly.
That was the truth. Nina made it sound like Michael and I had some kind of relationship other than friendship, and obviously, we didn’t. So, no matter how much the things she said bothered or hurt me, it didn’t matter.
“Why don’t you tell me anyway?”
I heaved a sigh. “Because, it doesn’t really have anything to do with you, Michael. She just dislikes me, so she tries to get to me, that’s all.”
“Well, it must have worked this morning, you ran over five miles just to avoid coming here.”
“I wasn’t avoiding coming here,” I argued. Then I realized, I ran to town to avoid coming here, but it wasn’t here I wanted to avoid, it was her. “Okay,” I admitted. “I just wanted to keep away from her. I told everyone I was sorry for making them worry.”
“What. Did. She. Say?” He enunciated each word impatiently, ignoring my statement, and making me angrier by the second. “Why does it matter to you what she says to me?” I finally said. “She seems to think we have some kind of relationship other than friendship. She’s delusional. And I don’t know what I’ve ever done to her, but she takes every opportunity to rip into me.” I rambled out of frustration now. “She’s always telling me I’m not good enough for you, or that I’m wasting my time. She takes shots at everything from my hair to whatever I happen to be wearing at the time, not to mention the fact that she enjoys telling me how close the two of you are. She’s just vile!”
I stopped and stared at my hands, twisting my thumbs nervously, trying not to cry. I was angry, because he’d pushed me into telling him things I didn’t want him to know. I took a deep breath, because now I was embarrassed.
“I’m sorry,” my voice was quiet. “It doesn’t matter what she says, and it has nothing to do with you.”
I stood from the couch, doing my best not to look at him.
“It’s my fault I let her get to me today,” I glanced at him, and he was watching me worriedly. I could feel tears coming, and I wasn’t going to cry in front of him. “I’m not feeling very well, I think I need to lie down. I’ll see you later.”
He didn’t stop me as I turned and walked to my room, closing the door behind me. I crawled to the middle of my bed, lying down and squeezing my eyes closed, tears escaped as I tried to take a deep breath and relax. I wasn’t angry at Michael anymore. He obviously cared about me, but he
didn’t love me—at least not the way I loved him. Every time I thought about that fact, it felt like my heart was being broken apart again, and it was awful.
SIXTEEN
I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep, until my eyes opened and I saw it was after three o’clock. I could hear music playing, and talking in the kitchen. I rolled off my bed and my head pounded. I went into my bathroom, washed my hands, and brushed through my hair as I cursed at my red, puffy eyes in the mirror before going into the kitchen.
Garrett looked at me with his brows pulled together. “We’ve got some pizza, you hungry?”
I smiled and nodded at him. Michael was sitting in his regular chair, watching me with a sympathetic expression, which made me uncomfortable. I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water before going to the table. Garrett draped his arm over my shoulder and hugged me to him.
“Michael said you aren’t feeling too well,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I felt everyone’s eyes on me as I pulled a piece of pizza from the box, and took a bite. I looked up at Kate, and she smiled tentatively at me.
“I hope you’re better for the party tomorrow,” she said.
“It’s just a headache, that’s all.”
She nodded, though I could tell we’d be discussing the matter later. I ate my pizza quietly, while everyone chatted about the Super Bowl party, and there was a bet on whether Kenny would be bringing the same girl he was with on New Year’s Eve. I doubted that, and so did everyone but Miles, he was giving Kenny the benefit of the doubt.
There was a loud pounding on the door that made me jump, and everyone looked at each other puzzled. Kate started to get up, but Miles shook his head at her and went to the door, followed by Garrett and Michael. Kate and I looked at each other anxiously, as we heard the front door open.
“You have some nerve, Michael Anderson!”
I could hear Nina screeching from the front porch, and my stomach knotted nervously.
“How dare you leave my father a message like that! You can’t just back out of your contract with our company!”
“Actually,” Miles said sternly. “If you had read the contract Nina, you would know we reserve the right to pull out at any time we feel it is detrimental to our company.”