Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell

by Codi Gary

  Yes, women nowadays were having kids later, but Gracie didn’t want to be raising kids into her sixties, and she definitely wanted more than one child. Growing up by herself had been pretty lonely.

  Plus, if she turned out exactly like her mother, having multiple children might make them less neurotic, because she’d spread her focus across all of them and not just a single offspring on which to pin her hopes and dreams.

  Travis opened the next package from Mrs. Andrews. Gracie was actually surprised the old bat had come, as she tended to hold most of the citizens of Rock Canyon in disdain. For some reason, though, Mrs. Andrews had a soft spot for Gemma.

  Travis pulled out his pocket knife to slice open the shipping box beneath the silver wrapping paper.

  “Now, don’t you cut too deep, Travis, or I’ll be mighty put out,” Mrs. Andrews said from across the room.

  Travis’s blue eyes narrowed slightly, but Gemma’s hand on his arm seemed to soothe him somewhat. Gracie wondered briefly what it was like to know someone so well that a simple, silent touch could calm them.

  When he managed to get the top open, he pulled back the flaps. Travis’s jaw dropped and Gemma leaned over, stretching her neck to see. Curiosity was eating Gracie alive until Travis finally lifted two beautiful handmade quilts out of the box.

  The whole room gasped. Mrs. Andrews’s quilts were award-winning, and she only made them for family.

  Gracie watched her best friend take one of the quilts, intricate shapes of purple, blue, and green, and run her hand lovingly over the pattern. When Gemma met Mrs. Andrews’s gaze, something passed between them Gracie didn’t understand.

  “These are amazing, Mrs. Andrews. Thank you so much.”

  Fat tears rolled down Gemma’s cheeks, and Mrs. Andrews wiped at her own eyes beneath her glasses frames. “You just make sure you use them to keep those babies warm.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  And then, to the utter shock of Gracie and everyone in the room, Gemma got up slowly and waddled over to give Mrs. Andrews a hug.

  Now I’ve seen everything.

  Mrs. Andrews stood up and returned the hug. The whole room seemed to be holding their breath, shocked silent to see the Dragon of Rock Canyon behaving like a human being.

  The, Mrs. Andrews pulled away with a huff. “Now, none of that. You need to stay off your feet, and you still have a mountain of presents to get through.”

  Gemma laughed. “I’m not sure I have feet anymore, just cankles.”

  The women in the room tittered, even Gracie. When the last present was finally opened, Gracie got up to grab a bottle of water from the ice chest in the kitchen and set the pad and pen down on the counter. When she turned, Eric was standing right in front of her, so close she could smell his woodsy cologne.

  “You know, it is really creepy to lurk behind people.”

  “Just coming in to grab a drink.” He leaned over to snatch a beer and popped the top without looking away from her. “So, where’s the boyfriend?”

  How did he know Darrin was supposed to come? Oh, Mike and his big mouth.

  “Darrin had something come up, so we’re going to meet up later.”

  Eric’s grin widened. “Got cold feet about meeting your friends, huh?”

  Gracie was pretty sure that was exactly what had happened, but there was no way she’d admit it to Eric. “No, he’s very busy with lawyerly stuff.”

  “Right.” Eric reached up and wrapped a blonde strand of her hair around his finger, making her heart skip several beats. “I gotta say, Gracie Lou, I do like your hair long.”

  “I didn’t grow it for you.” Damn it, why did her voice have to sound so breathless?

  “I know. I still like it, though.” He tugged on the length playfully. “You could say thank you when someone pays you a compliment.”

  Regaining some of her sense, she said, “You didn’t. You told me you liked it, which isn’t really a compliment, it’s a fact. A compliment would be if you told me my hair was pretty.”

  She didn’t get to hear his response before Gemma and Travis’s twelve-year-old son, Charlie, popped up at her side and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “Aunt Gracie, can I have a piece of cake now?”

  Big blue eyes with dark lashes stared into hers pitifully, and she knew exactly what he was doing. The kid had learned how to work her at an early age. Besides, she loved kids, especially this one.

  She ruffled his brown curls, noticing that she had to reach up instead of down to do so. Pretty soon, he was going to be taller than her.

  “No, but I can sneak you the first piece when we cut it.”

  “Fine,” Charlie grumbled, and started to walk away.

  Eric snatched him by the back of the collar so fast, Gracie gasped. He wrapped his arm around Charlie’s neck and gave him a noogie. “What the heck, man? No hi for me?”

  Charlie struggled, laughing. “Sorry, Eric, I didn’t recognize you with the rat on your face.”

  Gracie covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles.

  “Why you little shit, I’ll teach you some manners! Travis! I’m going to beat your son!”

  Gracie looked around Eric and Charlie to find Travis still on the couch, looking unconcerned for his son’s safety.

  “Don’t mess with his face! We got family pictures later,” Gemma joked.

  “Mom!” Eric’s other hand found Charlie’s ribs, and, despite the kid’s advanced age, Gracie knew how ticklish Charlie was.

  He screamed and squealed desperately crying between breathless laughter, “Aunt Gracie! Help!”

  The fun was contagious, and Gracie shrugged out of her jean jacket. “All right, that’s it. You unhand my godson, or I’m going to pluck all the hairs from your chinny chin chin.”

  Eric’s dark eyes twinkled at her. “Bring it on, Blondie—ow!”

  Gracie had grasped his beard in her hand and gave it a gentle tug. He quickly released Charlie, but before Gracie could escape, she found herself caught in Eric’s steely arms, pressed against his tall, hard body.

  Her fingers fell away from his beard and rested against his chest. The air around them turned up to a hundred and three, and despite the heat, Gracie shivered.

  “Caught you. Now you’re going to pay.”

  * * *

  Eric was breathing hard, aware of Gracie’s small, round breasts against the front of his body. Despite the fifteen inches that separated her five foot two to his six foot five, it seemed as though their mouths were much closer.

  Eric realized he was bending over, about ready to lay one on Gracie in a room full of people, just as Charlie decided to launch himself onto his back. Charlie wrapped his arms and legs around Eric like a spider monkey and yelled in his ear, “Run, Aunt Gracie! I got him!”

  Gracie slipped slowly from his arms, the moment obliterated by a cock-blocking twelve-year-old.

  Eric might beat the kid after all.

  But I thought you were done with her?

  Eric wrestled with Charlie for a minute, and by the time he had the upper hand, Gracie had disappeared from the house.

  “Geez, kid, don’t you know I’m too old to play with you? I think you strained my back.” Eric hunched over, pretending to be in extreme pain and the boy actually appeared contrite.

  “Sorry, but nobody messes with Aunt Gracie.”

  Eric knew that Charlie loved Gracie. He remembered when Gemma had given birth to Charlie, a nineteen-year-old kid herself and scared to death. Gracie had been there for everything and defended her best friend like a rabid raccoon. It was one of her most admirable qualities; her deep, abiding loyalty to those she loved.

  And I’m not one of those shiny special people, so I need to just get over it and get out of here.

  Alarmed cries echoed through the living room, and Eric turned his head just in time to watch Gemma crumple to the floor.

  Chaos ensued as Travis pushed his way across the room to his wife. “Gem. Gem, baby!”

&n
bsp; Gemma’s mother and sister cried out and crowded next to Travis on the ground, kneeling beside Gemma.

  Eric pulled out his cell phone just as Travis hollered, “Someone call 911.”

  Charlie saw his mom, started running, shoving into people. Mike caught him and held him against his chest. Eric had no idea what Charlie’s godfather said to him, but the boy stopped trying to pull away and sobbed hard.

  The operator came on the line, and Eric calmly relayed what he knew, realizing his voice was shaking.

  “Just stay calm, sir. Is she breathing?”

  “Travis, is she breathing?” Eric called.

  “Yes! Yes, she’s just out cold.”

  “Yeah, she’s breathing, but she’s not waking up.”

  “Okay, sir, we’ve dispatched emergency personnel from Rock Canyon Fire Department. It should only be a few minutes. Please stay on the line. Don’t move her if you can help it.”

  “Travis, the dispatcher says not to move her.”

  Travis’s expression, a raw mixture of fury and anguish, twisted Eric’s guts up. These people were his friends, as close as family. Gemma was a sweet woman, and after all the years she and Travis had spent apart, they deserved their happiness.

  Suddenly, Mrs. Andrews was next to him, reaching for the phone. “Eric, I’ll talk to them. You go get Gracie. She needs to be here.”

  Eric nodded, handing off his cell to the older woman, who seemed as shaken as the rest of them.

  He headed out the back door, yelling for Gracie. “Gracie! Gracie!” She didn’t answer, and he took the steps down to the garage two at a time. “Gracie, fucking answer me!”

  She came around the garage with her cell to her ear. “What the hell is the matter with you? I was just—”

  “Something’s wrong with Gemma. She passed out and an ambulance is on the way.”

  Gracie’s skin turned sheet white, and she dropped her phone. She ran past him up the steps, and he followed on her heels as she burst inside.

  “Gemma!” Gracie pushed ahead of him through the crowd and stopped. Eric saw that Gemma was awake but dazed.

  “What…” Gemma whispered.

  Through the big bay windows, Eric saw the ambulance pull up. Everyone moved into the backyard to make room for the paramedics and the gurney, except for immediate family and Gracie, Mike, and Eric. The EMT’s took Gemma’s vitals and then lifted her onto the gurney gently.

  Travis went to his son and hugged him. “I’m going to ride with Mom, and Uncle Mike’s going to drive you, Grandma, and Aunt Dawn to the hospital, okay?”

  Charlie nodded, and Travis followed behind the gurney, closing the door behind them.

  Eric could tell Gracie was trembling before him. He squeezed Gracie’s shoulders, and when she turned toward him, the tear-filled green eyes were like a sucker punch to the gut.

  “She’s going to be okay.” He pulled her against him, squeezing her tight as she cried. “She’ll be fine, I promise.”

  “Eric, can you give Gracie a ride?” Mike asked.

  Eric nodded at him, and Mike led the rest of Gemma’s family out the front door. When it was just the two of them, Eric bent down and kissed Gracie’s forehead.

  “Go on out to my car. I’m just going to let everyone know what’s happening, and I’ll meet you out there.”

  Gracie sniffled and wiped at her face as she pulled away. “I can drive myself.”

  “I know, but humor me, okay?”

  Eric was actually surprised she didn’t argue. “Okay.”

  Chapter Three

  “There’s a theory that stressful situations can really bring the truth to the surface. This explains all those blurted feelings at the end of romantic comedies.” - Miss Know-It-All’s Gossip Column.

  Gracie couldn’t stop tapping her feet in the waiting room of the hospital, the beat of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” drumming through her head. It might have been a bit upbeat for the situation, but it was song she and Gemma had spent most of their childhood singing at the top of their lungs and it made her feel a little better.

  They’d been waiting for over an hour for Travis or Gemma’s mother to come out and tell them anything, and Gracie was slowly losing patience.

  Suddenly, Eric’s hand was on her knee. “You’re tapping your toes off over here.”

  “I can’t help it. It’s either that or pacing the room.”

  “I get it, believe me, but it’s not going to make the time go by faster. We need to stay calm, at least for Charlie’s sake.”

  Gracie looked over at Charlie, who was sitting between Gemma’s sister, Dawn, and Mike. The poor kid was pale and his face drawn with worry.

  She willed her legs to be still.

  Seconds later, Travis came into the room, and they all leapt out of their chairs, circling him.

  “Sorry, we’ve been waiting on tests,” Travis said, wrapping Charlie in a hug.

  “And?” Gracie pressed.

  Travis looked up from the top of Charlie’s head. “And her blood pressure is high, so they want to keep an eye on her. They’re worried about preeclampsia, but they don’t know for sure yet. Her mom and I are going to stay with her.”

  “Charlie can hang with me tonight if he wants,” Mike said.

  “No, I want to stay with Mom!” Charlie cried.

  Gracie’s heart broke for the young boy, and for some reason, she found herself reaching back for Eric’s hand, as if she was the one who needed comforting.

  Travis bent over until he was eye level with Charlie. “I know, son. But there isn’t enough room, and you need to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “But—”

  “Charlie, I need you to be a man about this, okay?”

  Charlie deflated, and under any other circumstance, Gracie would have ripped into Travis about expecting too much from a twelve-year-old, but with Gemma so sick, emotions were running high.

  Gracie went over and gave Charlie a hug. “You stay with Uncle Mike, and tomorrow morning, I’ll pick you up with donuts, and we will come right back here to check on your mom.”

  “Okay, but can I see her now?” Charlie asked.

  “Sure, bud. Let’s go back.” Travis addressed the rest of them as a group. “They only allow three visitors to a room, so…”

  “It’s okay,” Gracie said. “I can come back tomorrow and pester her. Will you just tell her I love her and if she ever scares me like that again, she’ll be sleeping with the fishes?”

  “You got it.” Travis and Charlie disappeared behind the doors, and Gracie released a gigantic sigh of relief. She didn’t know what she’d do without her best friend.

  Gracie pulled out her phone and snapped a selfie of her making a sad face. She texted it to her with the message: I love you. See you in the morning.

  Her phone beeped seconds later with a picture of Gemma, who had dark circles around her eyes and a tired smile. I love you too.

  Gracie hated to leave without seeing Gemma, but with Gemma’s sister waiting and all she’d been through, Gemma needed rest instead of reassuring the rest of them she was going to be okay.

  “If you’re ready…” Eric seemed hesitant to press her, but she wasn’t mad. She was drained.

  “Yeah, if you could give me a ride back to my car, that would be great.”

  “Sure.”

  Gracie hugged Mike and Dawn and then followed Eric out the double doors to the parking lot. The temperature had dropped and the sky was an ugly gray as the mass of clouds gathered above.

  “Feels like snow,” Eric said.

  “Yeah, my weather app showed it was coming.” Gracie pulled her jean jacket closed over her breasts, but the thin material was meant for style, not warmth.

  Eric pressed a button on his keys, and his car roared to life.

  Gracie smiled as she waited for him to unlock her door. “Automatic start, huh? That’s nice.”

  “Especially on days when it’s too cold to function.”

  “That’s why God invented
coffee,” she said as she climbed inside.

  “You’re an addict.”

  “Flatterer.”

  He closed the door with a grin, and she relaxed against the seat, enjoying the rush of hot air blasting her. Since she was the best friend not on kid patrol, she was going to have to bust out the phone tree to let everyone from the shower know that Gemma was okay, starting with Gemma’s close friends, Ryan Phillips and Callie Jacobsen. It was going to be a really long night.

  Eric got in and blew on his hands. “Shit, I say I wouldn’t ever live anywhere else, and then the cold weather hits, and I think Hawaii sounds nice this time of year.”

  “I like the cold, as long as I’m able to stay home in my fleece-lined leggings and comfy sweater.”

  “I can’t wear leggings. My thighs are too big,” Eric joked.

  The image of big, bearded Eric Henderson strolling around in tights sent Gracie into the giggles. Soon, she could hardly breathe, she was laughing so hysterically.

  “Really? The image of me in skintight cotton is that funny?”

  Suddenly, her whole body sagged and her mirth turned into gut-wrenching sobs. When Eric’s large arms wrapped around her and pulled her across the middle console, she buried her face in his chest and let it all go.

  “Hey, don’t cry. You can laugh at me all you want.”

  Gracie would have been suspicious of his sweetness if his embrace didn’t feel so damn good.

  She pulled away, wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry, I keep crying all over your shirt.”

  “I really don’t mind, Gracie Lou.” His gaze locked on hers, sending her heart pounding into overdrive at the warmth in his dark eyes. “You should know that I’d do just about anything for you.”

  * * *

  Shit! Fuck! Fuckity shit fuck!

  Why in the hell had he said that to her? This wasn’t the time for confessions. Her best friend was sick. Hell, she had a boyfriend. And Eric was over her.

  The air around them was so charged, he could practically see the sparks. The only thing that saved him from making a bigger ass of himself and kissing her was the blast of her cell phone.