“Well, it definitely isn’t the same without you. I know Kellan feels the same way,” my mom tells her.
Clay looks over at me and raises a brow, but I ignore him.
“Yeah, my mom made a comment that our grocery bill wasn’t as high this summer as it usually is,” Grace quips, making my mom laugh.
“I love your mother.” Mom looks over at Clay. “And how are you, Clayton? Are you treating our girl well?”
“I’m well, Mrs. Cooper, and I’m trying.” He looks down at Grace, and they share a look.
I can’t help but look away, feeling like I’m an intruder in their bubble.
“What are you two doing today?” Grace asks.
“Oh, I needed to run some errands, and I made Kellan come with me to get out of the house. I wanted to pick him up some supplies for college, but he hasn’t made a list of what he needs yet.”
The corners of Grace’s lips kick up. “I’m not surprised.”
Mom claps her hands and clasps them under her chin. “Oh, I just had the most lovely idea. You two should join us for dinner tonight if you don’t have plans.”
I bite back a groan.
I might be numb where my feelings for Grace are concerned, but the last thing I want to do is sit across the table from them and share a meal. Not now, not yet, and possibly never.
Clay makes a sound in the back of his throat and tries to cover it with a cough.
Huh, it seems like we’re on the same page about something for once. Shocking.
Panic crosses Grace’s face, and she wrings her hands together in front of her. “Oh, I would love to, but unfortunately, we have plans. We’re actually headed over to Clay’s mom’s house for a week before we have to head back to campus. We just stopped to grab some chocolate from the bakery for his sister.”
My mom’s bottom lip wobbles. “Oh no. Well, that’s okay, we can always try again another time.”
“Of course,” Grace says smoothly.
“And you won’t be home before you go back to school? You said you’re leaving early?” Mom asks.
“Yes, as you know, the boys have to go early for hockey practice, but the lease on the place I’m moving into became available early. Instead of paying for an empty place for a couple of weeks, I’m just going to go get settled in now,” Grace tells her.
“All right then, well the next time you are home, you better stop by,” Mom says as she pulls Grace in for a hug.
I watch as Grace’s eyes close and she leans into my mom’s embrace. It’s clear that she’s missed my mom, something I had never thought about until now. This summer I’ve thought about her parents and have missed the conversations we would have, but I never thought about how she might feel the same way.
Shit, maybe I really am a self-centered jackass.
I miss what Grace says and watch as she pulls away from my mom. She turns toward me and smiles.
“See you on campus?” Grace gives me a tight smile.
I think what bothers me most is that I know she would forgive me the minute I suck it up and apologize to her for everything. Not the half-assed shit I gave her at the end of the year, but a true apology, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
I’m such a mess.
I nod. “You know it.” I look over at Clay. “See you at camp.”
“For sure. Make sure you keep practicing those drills and stay in shape.”
Grace rolls her eyes but smiles. “Come on before you guys start talking hockey.” She waves as she pulls him back across the street.
Shoving my hands in my pockets, I watch them go. Once they’ve slipped into the bakery, I turn back toward my mom and find her looking at me.
