“Everyone’s got to start somewhere,” she muttered. “By the way, they’re not usually this curvy.”
“Usually?” I perked a brow and humored my friend, curling my hand around the vegetable, gliding up and down, brushing the top and feeling for firmness at the same time.
“Harper?” a woman’s soft voice called.
My head shot up and I found a familiar woman staring at me with the eggplant, her mouth half open.
“Grace,” I squealed. Troy’s mother was a tall woman, much like her sons, she had curly auburn hair and had amazing skin for her age. The woman was always young at heart. I remembered her shouting like one of the cheerleaders during hockey games in high school.
“How are you? I didn’t know you were back in town.” She came over to me and wrapped her arms around me.
“For about two months now, yeah. Um, h-how are you, Grace?”
“Oh, so good to see you hun.” She glanced at the dark purple vegetable in my hand. “You gonna buy that?”
“Yep. Just the one.” I tossed it into my basket. I felt like I owed the thing that much after violating it.
Nic stepped away to the freezer aisle and Grace leaned into me, lowering her sweet voice. “What were you doing with that eggplant?”
“Oh, I was just making sure it was ripe. It’s an old trick someone taught me.”
She nodded thoughtfully but her expression saddened, “Your mother?”
Ugh, should have just told her I was jerking it off.
“I’m so sorry about your mom. We all are.”
“Yes, Dad and I got all your fruit baskets and flowers, thank you.”
She rubbed my shoulder. “Are you back for good?”
“For now.” I nodded, feeling the warmth that just came naturally from this woman.
“Well, you call me if youeverneed anything. I’m sure my boys will be happy to know your back.”
“Thanks Grace. I appreciate it.”
She walked past me to the next aisle and I immediately made my way to checkout, telling Nic to meet me outside when she was done.
Utterly mortified, I prayed Grace bought my story. If not, I prayed to never run into her again.
10
Ispentthegoodpart of the past few days kicking and cursing myself. “Of course she hates me.” This time saying it out loud, in the privacy of my office. This massive space that was like home to me, where I’d wrap myself in business calls, deals, meetings, contracts.
But now, it’s almost four and I’d done nothing but torment myself for the shit I’d pulled with Harper.
What gave me the right?
Knowing what I’d—what Troy had done. How he hurt her. The residual pain from it all that she finally let release on Wednesday night.
What am I going to do?
How could I make this right?
It was Monday and my assistant Debbie had been in here earlier, reading off the day’s events. It was the first time I didn’t memorize every word. The first time I checked out during a meeting and all the meetings that followed.
I made a mental note to ask Debbie to brief me on all the meetings I had today—even though I joined each one.
