Running On Empty (Fleur de Lis Book 2)

by A. L. Vincent

  “I’ll think of something to cook, it will be fun. And maybe I can give Joey some competition.”

  “Great. Emily and I are getting together and making the sides. Daniel’s already volunteered to judge. Maybe you and Grace can sing a couple of songs.”

  Gabe glanced over at Grace, who was still staring down at her cup.

  “We’ll see, Grandma.”

  Glinda looked from Gabe to Grace, then back to Gabe. She raised an eyebrow in question, to which Gabe simply shrugged.

  Grace drained her coffee cup. “Glinda, it was wonderful as usual, but I’d better get home and do some job hunting. Carly should be up by now, and I can use her laptop.”

  “Of course, girl. Come back any time.”

  “I will.” Grace stopped and hugged Glinda on the way out. “Thanks again.”

  Glinda’s eyes followed Grace as she left. When the front door opened and closed, she turned to Gabe. “What is going on with her? Where’s that spunk?”

  He shook his head. “I have no clue, Grandma. No clue at all.”

  ***

  Grace

  Grace looked up from the laptop. Her butt hurt and her shoulders ached. She had been sitting there for hours surfing the web, job hunting. Most of the open jobs were in New Orleans. That was not an option. Biloxi was the other closest choice, but she didn’t want to move there.

  She stood and stretched. She needed a walk to work the kinks out. She was definitely not used to so much sitting. She donned shoes and grabbed a drink.

  The sun was beginning to set when she stopped close to the same spot she had chosen the night she’d gotten so drunk with Gabe. She wasn’t doing that again. She had eaten today, though, at Glinda’s and Joey had made a sandwich and set it beside her earlier. If she had wanted to, she could’ve gone and eaten at Emily’s. If she didn’t keep running in the mornings, she was going to gain twenty pounds just by moving home.

  Moving? Was that what she was doing? Well, she didn’t want to go back to New Orleans if she couldn’t play music. She didn’t want to wait tables or bartend. She had already been there and done that. She sighed.

  She wanted something different.

  Teaching would be different. Substituting wouldn’t be a major commitment. She could leave if she didn’t like it. No harm no foul. Just walk away. She didn’t always play well with adults, but she liked kids. It couldn’t be that difficult.

  But the job was in the same parish as the Moutons. Brent’s family. Brent was in New Orleans, but Denis wasn’t, and he was just as bad as Brent.

  To hell with it, that family had already taken her New Orleans job from her. They weren’t taking another. She was applying. If she got it, she’d deal with the Moutons then.

  She turned when she saw a shadow come up behind her. It was Gabe.

  “Is this seat taken?” he asked, and he flopped down beside her.

  “Now it is,” she said, smiling.

  “Whatcha thinking about?” he asked.

  “I was thinking about that teaching job,” she said.

  “What about it?”

  “I’m thinking about applying for it. I’d never get it,” she said. “I don’t have the experience. And I’m not certified.”

  “You never know,” he said.

  “I need something. I’m not going back to New Orleans right now. Other than to go get my stuff. And I need some income. Eventually, I need my own place. My own space. I can’t do that on a gig once a week.”

  “True,” Gabe said.

  “So, I’ll just apply and see what happens. Come up with Plan B.”

  “Good plan.” He paused for a minute, as if thinking about what he was going to say. “You know, Grace. Our band has been talking about adding a female vocalist. That would be an option. You could come back to Austin with me.”

  Grace stared out at the setting sun. “I missed this,” she said. “You never see a good sunset in town. Too many buildings. The water is so calm tonight, like glass.”

  She was quiet for a moment, then asked softly. “Gabe?”

  “What, boo?” he asked.

  “You’re happy where you are?”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought I could make a name for myself in New Orleans,” she said.

  “You still can, Grace. You just may have to find a different way.”

  She smiled. Gabe had always had faith in her. Years ago, he was the one who had encouraged her to move to New Orleans when she had received the music scholarship. With all its bars and festivals, there were chances for her. She could work on a degree and still play. She had a better shot there than staying in Bon Chance. Despite its optimistic name, the opportunities for work were pretty limited, and a career in music was nonexistent. When Gabe had been awarded a scholarship to UT’s film services department, he had gone to Austin. Bennett had gone along for the ride, and they had started a new band there.

  Grace took a sip of her drink. She leaned back in the warm sand and rested her head on her arms. The stars were beginning to come out.

  “Why does it always seem like the stars shine brighter here?” she said.

  Gabe leaned back and lay down beside her. He looked up at the sky.

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because they don’t have to compete with anything. They just get to shine,” he said.

  Grace smiled. “Maybe you’re right.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, and felt some anger disappear. For this moment, she would appreciate the sound of the water splashing against the shore, the company of a good friend, and the possibilities of tomorrow soothing her.

  Chapter Ten

  In New Orleans, Ryder followed Grace into the apartment. “You sure you don’t want me to stick around and help? My errands can wait.”

  Grace’s insides froze in fear. He could not see her room.

  “No, I’m just going to pack what I need for now. I just need some more clothes and a few things. You go on.”

  He gave her a quick hug before walking out. “Call me if you need anything.”

  “You know I will.”

  Her smile faded as the door closed. Her stomach clenched. She did not want to be here. She wished she was anywhere but here. Why hadn’t she just made Ryder a list and let him grab the things that she needed? Did she really need more clothes? She had made it this long. She blew out a long breath. Of course she needed a few things. Especially if she was going to apply for that job in Pointe Shade. She couldn’t wear a t-shirt and jeans or sweats if she got called for an interview. If she got called.

  She threw the suitcase she had borrowed from Emily on the bare bed. The sheets she had pulled off the bed still laid in a jumbled mess in the corner of the room. She refused to look in that corner. She looked everywhere in the room but that corner.

  “What did we do?” she remembered asking. “What did you do?”

  “Bye, sweetheart. It was fun,” Brent had said.

  She looked at the corner then, at those sheets, and the wisp of a memory returned. Brent’s cold hands on her face. She shuddered.

  I should burn those sheets and the bed, she thought.

  When she came to get the rest of her stuff, she was not bringing the bed with her. She’d toss it out of the window for a homeless person to find before she’d bring that home.

  She tossed some clothes from the closet into the suitcase, some black slacks, the dressiest and most conservative shirts she owned. A couple of hooded jackets followed, then some more t-shirts and jeans.

  She grabbed Furby’s stuffed toys that laid in his bed on the floor and tucked them into a side pocket of the suitcase. He and Carly’s dog had been going back and forth over her toys, and the tension between the two was mounting. Sammy wasn’t one to share, and Furby liked harassing her.

  She grabbed her writing journal from the bedside table and put that in the suitcase.

  Her dresser was next—socks, underwear, etcetera. Bending down to open the drawer, her fingers stilled on the handle when she saw the silver
framed pictures of the band. Her stomach heaving, she bent over further in pain.

  Hands on her knees, she exhaled a deep breath, and when the wave passed, she stood up.

  In one sweeping motion, she knocked all the pictures off the dresser and onto the floor. Glass crashed against the wooden floor, splintering in shards all over the room.

  Grace looked down at the mess, her breath ragged.

  She stalked into the living room and grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the small bar she and her roommate kept stocked. She carried it back into the bedroom, twisted the top off, and took a big gulp. She gasped as it burned down her throat and her belly.

  She took another gulp from the bottle and slid down the wall to the floor. She curled up, tucking her knees up to her chin.

  Burn. She’d burn it all. A big, raging bonfire. She’d drink a glass of champagne while she watched. She’d watch the sparks float up and disappear into the dark night sky. Hell, she’d drink the entire bottle of champagne while the fire raged. She’d sit there until there was nothing left but ashes.

  She was still crumpled on the floor when Ryder returned.

  “Grace?” he said softly, seeing her curled up, whiskey bottle still in hand.

  He looked from the mess of the sheets, the broken glass, to Grace. His dark eyes swept back to the sheets and he went still.

  “Who?” His voice was a ragged whisper.

  Grace looked down at the floor, refusing to look at him. She couldn’t.

  His boots echoed across the floor, along with the soft smash of glass underfoot.

  She stared at his black cowboy boots.

  He crouched down low and pulled the bottle of whiskey out of her clenched hands. He took a long drink. With a heavy sigh, he sank down beside her. When his arm stretched out across her shoulders, she turned into his arms and sobbed.

  ***

  Gabe

  Ryder stormed into Snapper’s, shaking Gabe from his thoughts of Grace.

  Gabe knew she had gone to New Orleans with Ryder to get her things. He hadn’t heard from either of them. Judging by the dark look on his face, it hadn’t gone well.

  Carly, always perceptive, set a beer and a shot of whiskey in front of him and looked at Gabe. Gabe raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and gestured for a shot himself. He sat there silently. You didn’t poke the bull unless you wanted to get thrown.

  Joey came in and walked straight to Ryder. “What the hell happened?”

  Ryder turned to him, saying nothing but raising a dark eyebrow.

  “Ryder, she’s a mess. She’s curled up in a ball in her bed. She isn’t talking. This has gone on long enough. What is wrong with her?”

  Ryder took a deep inhale of his cigarette. “I can’t tell you.”

  “What the hell do you mean you can’t tell me? I’m her brother!”

  Ryder nodded at Carly, who poured another shot.

  “Joey, do me a favor, go home and stay there. She doesn’t need to be alone. I’m not going to tell you. It’s not my story to tell.”

  Joey exhaled a breath. Frustrated, he ran his hand through his hair.

  Carly, who had come around the bar after serving Ryder a shot, said, “He’s right, Joey.”

  She laid her hand on Joey’s shoulder. “Grace isn’t going to talk unless she wants to, and it’s not fair to expect Ryder to tell you and betray her confidence.”

  “I know. It’s just tough. I have no clue what’s going on or what to do.”

  Carly ran her hand over his arm. “I know. Why don’t you go check on her? Text me and let me know how she is.”

  “I will.” With a nod to Ryder and Gabe, he turned and left.

  Ryder resumed drinking and smoking. Gabe sipped his own drink, staring at his phone. He considered texting Grace himself. He wanted to know if she was okay, especially after seeing Ryder and Joey’s reactions.

  “I know how you feel about her,” Ryder said finally.

  Gabe nodded.

  “She’s like my sister, you know. Just like Carly. I’d do anything in the world for either of them. To protect them.” Ryder turned and looked at Gabe, his eyes dark. “It’s bad, Gabe. I can’t tell you what it is. She needs us all.”

  He paused for a moment to take another drink, another drag off his cigarette. “If you’re going to be there for her, though, be there. You can’t do this half-assed. If you can’t be what she needs, don’t be there at all.”

  It was Gabe’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “What makes you think I’m not serious?”

  “Why haven’t you said anything before? Why now?”

  Gabriel took a slow sip of his drink before answering. “Because it’s time. Because she needs me.”

  Ryder turned that dark gaze on him again, his eyes narrowed. Gabe met his gaze, unblinking.

  Ryder nodded, then clasped his shoulder. “Come give me a hand. I have all of Grace’s things and I need to unload them at Joey’s.”

  ***

  Gabe was standing on his deck, having a last drink, when he saw Grace sit down on the beach. She was in much the same position she was the night she got drunk and threw her glass across the beach. Curled up. Dejected.

  As if compelled, he went to her.

  “Hey there,” he said, sitting down. As he sat, he saw the glassy-eyed remnants of tears.

  “Hi.” She glanced at him, then stared back at the water.

  “How are you doing?”

  Her eyes flashed in the dark. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?’

  Gabe decided to change the subject. “I went fishing with Noah today. Joey needed some fresh shrimp.”

  “Cool,” she said.

  “We caught a lot of shrimp. More than Joey can use. We’re going to have a boil tomorrow night. We haven’t done that in a while. I think we’re going to have it here on the beach. Best place to accommodate all of us.”

  “Cool.”

  Gabe was silent after that, having run out of things to say. Anything else would be babbling. He stared out at the waves. In the silence, all he could hear was the splash from the water as it hit land.

  Minutes stretched out before Grace spoke.

  “Gabe?” Her voice was soft and ragged.

  “Yes, boo?”

  “You still writing music?” she asked.

  “Every now and then, when the mood hits me.”

  “I haven’t written a line in months,” she said. “I brought my journal home today. If I write the words, will you write the music?” she asked.

  He put his arm around her and hugged her close to his side. He felt her stiffen slightly and he pulled away. He heard her take a deep breath before she rested her head lightly on his shoulder. He could smell the citrusy smell of her shampoo. It was intoxicating. He took a deep breath but kept any reaction hidden, afraid he would frighten her.

  “Of course, baby. Tell me when.”

  “Thank you.”

  Somehow, Gabe thought she was thanking him for more than the promise of writing a song together. They had written songs together when they were sixteen and planning on a music career that would take them to the big time.

  She stretched out on the sand, her arms cradling her head. She stared up at the sky, still silent. Gabe lay down beside her, copying her pose.

  He stayed with her silently in the moonlight, until her even breathing told him she had fallen asleep. He watched the moon inch its way across the night sky. Lost in thought, he wondered what Ryder had seen that was so bad. Judging by her responses to men, he was half afraid that he already knew.

  Chapter Eleven

  Grace

  Yawning, Grace finished up the resume and hit send. She had applied for the teaching job in Pointe Shade. They wouldn’t call. She’d keep looking for something else. Everyone would be nice and happy. Everyone but Grace.

  She looked at her phone. It was time to meet everyone for the shrimp boil Gabe had told her about the night before. She didn’t want to go. She wanted to curl up in bed and do nothing but stare at the
TV until she fell asleep. She knew, though, that excuses and explanations would be harder than staying at home. Ryder had already sent her a text message making sure she was coming.

  Ryder. He knew. He had sat there with her on the floor for God only knew how long. Seemed like hours, but may have only been minutes. Then, silently, he had swept up the glass, ignoring the corner with the crumpled sheets. He had gone downstairs, come back with boxes. He packed everything he could and carried it to his truck.

  Grace did not speak more than ten words on the hour and a half drive to Bon Chance. Staring out the window, she watched the world tick by in measures of trees and towns.

  Ryder was silent as well, choosing to listen to music, chain smoke, and drive fast. He carried her suitcase in when they arrived at Joey’s, and after a long look at her, he left. Grace had gone to her room. The four walls had felt like prison, though, so she grabbed a few things and went to the beach.

  Gabe, she thought. How sweet he had been. He had sat there with her for most of the night. Even stretched out beside her for a while, but not touching her. She actually slept for a few hours. No nightmares. No restlessness. She’d like to say she felt better, but she didn’t. She was still exhausted. Empty.

  She looked in the mirror before leaving, thinking she should put some makeup on. Try to hide the smudges under her eyes. Add some color to the pale cheeks. Not even having the energy to do that, she tossed on a hoodie and shoes, and patted Furb on the head. “See ya later, buddy.” He gave her a dramatic sigh and dropped his head on his furry white paws.

  “Aw man, come on then.” She laughed when he jumped down from the bed and did his little two-legged dance. She chased him in circles to get his leash on, then they went to join the others on the beach.

  ***

  When she arrived where everyone had gathered, Grace saw Gabe clustered with Noah, Joey, and Ryder. They were busy fussing over the boiling pots. Well, Joey mostly. He was king here. He was working and trying to keep the other two out of the way. They weren’t listening, though, despite Joey’s looks and raised eyebrows. None of them noticed when she walked up.