I twirled the metal piece, taking in its shape and the words written across the front—it was half a heart with “best” engraved on it. I presumed that Julia must hold the other half, the side with “friends” displayed on it. She was right—it was perfect. Perfect for Jules and me. But of course, I was concerned about the quality.
I bit my lip. “Are you sure it will match okay?” I asked hesitantly. “This is a limited edition, you know!”
Julia punched my shoulder. “Jacqueline, cut the shit! Seriously, sis, do you want to end up with a stick up your ass like Mom? Stop living the lie. You know life’s not about expensive or limited editions,” Julia admonished, dragging me to the register to pay.
“Earth to Grace!” Caleb called, laughing and waving one hand in front of my face, while the other held a golf club.
“Oops. I’m sorry!” I smiled sheepishly. This guy must’ve thought I was nuts. Half the time I was zoned out, and between that and my half answers, I had no clue why he was sticking around.
Caleb walked toward me to close the gap between us. “Now, I believe you made a bet. Are you caving that easily?” he taunted, his face mere inches from my own.
His entire presence was too much at times. Between his scruffy five-o’clock shadow, piercing blue eyes, gentle touch and disposition, and his smell, I lost my head regularly. Goddammit, the man smelled like a cologne ad but not in that super overwhelming way. No, it was more of a natural musk. Manly, strong, and hot.
“Did you check out again?” He laughed, moving back a little to examine my face.
This time I wasn’t letting him get away so easily. I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him toward me, effectively crashing his mouth to my own.
I typically never made first moves with guys, but with him, I threw all my learned behavior and etiquette right out the window.
His hand cupped my face, holding me right where he wanted me. As he massaged my tongue with his, I might have let out a small moan, but it was trumped by a blaring ringtone, making me groan.
I reluctantly stepped back to look down at the caller ID and immediately cringed.
Jacqueline.
I’d been avoiding her calls since I booked the reservation at the bed-and-breakfast.
“I’m so sorry,” I stressed, holding my phone up, and backed away from Caleb’s all-encompassing presence. “I have to get this.”
Caleb gestured with the golf club for me to take the phone call. I really loved how understanding and patient he was. But I knew I had to pull it together and start acting like a normal person.
As I walked far enough away from earshot, I slid the button on the phone. “Hello, Mother.”
“Grace Marie Harrington,” she shrieked while I held the phone a distance from my ear. I was going to go deaf at this rate.
“Mom—” I started but there was no point. Once Jacqueline got going on a rant, there was no stopping her. My dad used to say, “Let her go.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t call me back. I swear, sometimes you are so ungrateful. What did I do to have two children hell-bent on disgracing my name at every turn? You reject all of my overtures to help you handle this messyoumade. Instead, you’re doing what you’ve been doing for almost a year. Wallowing and throwing yourself a pity party,” Jacqueline ranted, her flawless facade cracking.
I hoped she caught herself quickly. I wouldn’t want her to become the next one to have a scandal.
I heard her sip something on the other end of the phone—no doubt, her usual gin and tonic. Except barely any tonic made it to the drink. She was definitely a lush; that was for sure.
“Mother, I’m sorry for not calling you back. I’ve been busy. I’ve been doing some soul-searching,” I defended. Maybe honesty would work.
“Soul-searching? What program are you in now? Did you take my advice and go to that horse therapy ranch in Montana?” Jacqueline babbled, throwing all of these outlandish ideas on the table. “I know you’re not at The Plaza. They said you gave up the penthouse.”
“Mom, I’m not in a program. I’m upstate. I met someone, and I really like him.”
Bomb dropped.
Pause. Silence.
Only the sound of Jacqueline’s breathing on the other end of the phone signaled that she hadn’t hung up.
“A guy?” Jacqueline asked, taking another sip of her drink. “In Upstate New York?” I could picture the disgusted look on her face.
“Yes.”
