You know what? Yes. Yes, I fucking do.
“Grace, we need to talk.” I pull my mask off and rest the sander on the floor. “I think it’s best if you just leave.”
She freezes, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. “Why?”
I don’t want to have hard feelings between us. Being mad at her doesn’t feel right. I didn’t get a wink of sleep last night because being angry at Grace hurts more than letting her go does.
See, Dean? This is why you should never fuck your guests.
I brought this onto myself. Ice packs around my heart as I prepare to get this over with.
Her brow furrows. “Are you… breaking up with me?”
“Honey, we were never together.”
The change in Grace is instant. It’s not a shut down, it’s a demolition.
“Oh.” She saunters over to the table and places both my to-go cups down. “I see how it is.”
Oscar stands between us and chooses Grace. Sitting at her side, tail barely wagging, my dog whines.
“Come here, girl.” I whistle for her.
Oscar comes over to me and sits.
The last thing I want to do is hurt Grace, but I don’t know how to stop this fire I’ve started from spreading.
Grace swallows hard, her gaze falling. I can see her cheeks turning pink and my entire being screams to make this stop before it gets worse. I don’t want to hurt her. I want to love her.
“Whatever I did, I’m sorry,” she says. “I… I really thought…” She shakes her head and leaves without saying another word. She doesn’t even grab her coat.
Her car engine starts up and nausea brings me to my fucking knees.
This is wrong. So. Fucking. Wrong!
Scrambling out the door, I race to my truck, frantic to go after her.
I don’t want her to go. I need to communicate better except I don’t know how to do it.
She beats me to my house, already storming inside as I pull up behind her car.
“Grace!” I trip up my own steps as real panic sets in.
If she leaves, I’ll never see her again.
When she goes, that’ll be the end.
That was the deal, right? I told her when she left, to never come back.
“Grace!” I barrel into my house and take the steps, two at a time, stopping when I get to herbedroom. Her bags weren’t unpacked yet. She’s been ready to go since she got here, I suppose.
“Get out of my way.”
“Listen to me.”
“I did. You want me gone, so I’m fucking leaving.” She tries to shove me out of her way. “Move, Dean.”
“Give me a second.”
