Take Me for Granted
Page 26
“Grant,” I said with a smile, “you’re already everything I want.”
“That’s not true, Princess, and we both know it. You deserve a CEO.”
“But I want you.”
“And I’ll be thankful every day for that, but I still have to try.”
He was so earnest that I really believed him. I didn’t think he needed to better himself for me, but I had told him that he wasn’t good enough and that he hadn’t done anything to prove he had changed. Well, here was proof.
“I appreciate that,” I said finally. “But you know you can’t quit the band, Grant.”
“What? Why would I quit?” he asked, shocked.
“McAvoy said you were thinking about it.”
He ran his hand back through his hair and cursed. “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not quitting the band. I’d never quit the band.”
“Good, that’s really good.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
I couldn’t be the reason he gave up music. He’d eventually regret the decision and blame it all on me. It was a part of him just as I was.
Still, I had one nagging question. “And you…really weren’t with any other women?” I asked, feeling vulnerable.
His hands found the sides of my face, and I stared up into his dark brown eyes. “You are the only person in this world that I want to be with. Other women don’t even exist since I’ve been with you, Ari.”
My heart skipped a beat at his admission. “You took me for granted,” I whispered before I could stop myself.
He nodded solemnly. “And it probably won’t be the last time. But I’m trying to make it better every day.”
I believed him. Things wouldn’t always be perfect. We were too stubborn, too strong-willed, but we could work through them if we tried, if we really wanted to. And oh, I wanted to. I’d never felt like this with anyone else. I’d never let myself open up enough to be hurt, but I’d also never opened myself up to be loved. And I loved Grant McDermott with everything that I was.
“I can live with that.”
He laughed and kissed my forehead. “I sure hope so because I’m not letting you go again. Next time you want space, can you not jet off to Boston for a few weeks?”
I laughed, taking it lightly. “Yeah, but I don’t think I’m going to need space again.”
“Oh, you underestimate me.”
I smacked him on the arm and rolled my eyes. “Why do I like you again?”
“Something to do with my charm.”
Charm. Right.
“What made you decide to come out here anyway?” I asked. “I mean…it’s freezing. I stopped by your place first, but obviously, you weren’t there.”
“I, uh…” He sighed. “I got into a fight with Donovan. He said that…well, that we wouldn’t work out, and I’d never get signed. I, more or less, told him to go to hell and that I’d prove him wrong.”
“With your fist?”
“He deserved it.”
“I’m sure he did.” I remembered the kiss Donovan had taken from me, and I pushed it out of my mind. I hadn’t wanted that one either. “You know you don’t have to prove anything to anyone.”
I reached out and laced our fingers together. He looked like he had more to say, but he couldn’t decide whether to tell me or not. I didn’t like the haunted look in his eyes, but I gave him the time he needed.
“There’s more…”
I squeezed his hand when he paused. “You can tell me,” I said, bracing myself for the worst.
“My dad is getting out of jail.”
“What?” I gasped. “When? How did this happen?”
“I just heard from my uncle today. I don’t know all the details.”
“Are you going to go see him?”
Grant’s eyes hardened. “No.”
“Do you think…he’s going to try to see you?”
After a moment, he answered, “Yes.”
I swallowed the fear that settled over me.
His father was a murderer, and he blamed Grant for what had happened.
“Do you think he’ll try to hurt you?”
“Yes,” he said flatly.
The End
This book would have never come to be if it hadn’t been for Bridget Peoples. So thank you for listening to my ranting, raving ridiculousness and letting me vent in the form of a book.
To Jessica Carnes, Trish Brinkley, and Taryn Cellucci, who suffered through reading this book chapter by agonizingly short chapter, thank you! Thank you for giving my asshole manwhore a shot, for loving Ari as a spitfire and not a doormat, and for believing that I could write first person even when I wasn’t sure.
Katie Miller and Amy McAvoy—thank you for letting me use your names and make awesome rockers out of them. #blackandgoldforever
Thank you to the people who read this book in an early version and giving me feedback—Jessica Sotelo, Lori Francis, Ashley Truelove, Heather Maven. As well as the support from my fellow authors Gail McHugh and Jenn Sterling. Also Jaci and Jennifer for allowing me to make them groupie whores. Be careful what you wish for ladies!
I can’t thank Najla Qamber enough for the masterpiece she made for my cover, and Jovana Shirley for making the inside match.
As always, I couldn’t have done with this without my love, Joel, and our two puppies who keep me company while I write—Riker and Lucy.
K.A Linde grew up a military brat traveling the United States and Australia. While studying political science and philosophy at the University of Georgia, she founded the Georgia Dance Team--which she still coaches. After graduation, she served as campus campaign director for the 2012 presidential campaign at UNC Chapel Hill. She is the bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, the Record Series, and Following Me.
An avid traveler, reader, and bargain hunter, K.A. lives in Athens, Georgia, with her boyfriend and two puppies.
Other Titles by K.A. Linde
Avoiding Series
Avoiding Commitment (#1)
Avoiding Responsibility (#2)
Avoiding Intimacy (#2.5)
Avoiding Decisions (#1.5)
Avoiding Temptation
Record Series
Off the Record
On the Record
Following Me
You can contact K.A. Linde here:
kalinde45@gmail.com
www.kalinde.com
www.facebook.com/authorkalinde
@authorkalinde