He nods. “Good. Now this was sweet and everything, but I honestly thought we had already squashed all this shit. So while I appreciate it and all, you need to talk to Grace. We are good with the team, but until you make things right for her, I can’t exactly be cool with you on a personal level. You get me?”
“I get you. I’m not quite ready to face that mountain yet. I know it’s going to be hard, but I promise, she’s on the list.”
“List? You have a whole list?”
I nod. “People I need to talk to. Apologize to for being a dick. I’ve been through most of it.”
“Good for you, man. I’m proud of you. As your captain, I want you to know that your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.”
“Thanks.”
“Well, I need to get home. Grace is cooking for me tonight.”
I smile. She loves to cook.
“What’s she cooking?”
“Chicken Alfredo.”
My mouth drools at the memory of her pasta. “The peas make it. You enjoy it. It’s the best I’ve ever had.”
He laughs. “You don’t have to tell me. Everything about her is the best I’ve ever had.”
With that, he leaves me sitting in the locker room with my thoughts.
It wasn’t as bad as I thought, but now I have nothing holding me back from talking to Grace. She deserves an apology, but part of me doesn’t think I deserve to be forgiven.
It doesn’t matter. It’s not about me anymore.
It’s about Grace.
seventeen
Peyton groans as she sits next to Grace.
“You good?” Grace asks her without looking away from her food.
“Yeah, my feet hurt. I worked a double yesterday, and I’m regretting it.”
I cringe thinking about it. “My mom hates doubles.”
“They are brutal. I worked them a lot this summer, but I guess since I’ve been back here, my body has forgotten what it’s like,” Peyton says.
Grace pushes up her glasses. “You should get some better shoes. It might help.”
Peyton’s nose crinkles. “Spending money on ugly shoes sounds horrible.”
“But if it will save your feet…” Grace trails off.
“Fine, Mom,” Peyton groans as she picks up a chicken tender. “Anyway, enough about me. How are you two?”
“Zero complaints,” I tell her as I take a bite of salad.
“Did you get everything cleared up with lover boy?”
Grace looks between the two of us. “Wait, what’s going on with you and Kellan? Is something wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing like that. We’re good. I promise.”
