Again with the L-word.
A few moments later, my phone buzzed. I hoped it wasn’t Jacqueline—no way was I in the mood to deal with her reprimands. I looked down and had to read the message twice before I could process it.
I’m back, G. Heard you were slumming it with some bottom-feeder. Let me know when you’re ready to really party. You owe me a good time.
It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out who this message was from. The devil himself. No, Grant was probably worse than the devil.
I took a deep breath and let out a scream. One glance out the truck window told me I had an audience to my meltdown. The dog walker across the street started running with dogs in tow, and Fiona was looking at me suspiciously before putting out her cigarette, continuing the walk to the bed-and-breakfast. Now I wished the text was from fucking Jacqueline.
CHAPTER 28
Grace
The smellof garlic permeated the air, Frank Sinatra was playing from the record player, and I was biting my now nonexistent fingernails.
Caleb took a sip from his wineglass, his lips pursing from the tart notes in this specific bottle he’d snagged from Bar. He continued peeling garlic, and I attempted chopping an onion, but my eyes kept watering.
When Caleb promised to teach me how to make his famous lasagna, I didn’t think I would run away crying, but now anything was possible. The onions were a good excuse, but in actuality, all I wanted to do was cry. I wanted to curl up at home under my blanket and sob. But I really didn’t know where my home was anymore.
The brownstone was certainly not my home. The bed-and-breakfast felt cozy, but it was not home. I knew I wanted my home to be here with Caleb, but who could love me after what I’d done? I was worse than fucking Grant in some ways, and that was saying something.
I set down the knife and decided to rip off the Band-Aid. He needed to know; it was only fair.
“Caleb, I—” I blinked.
“No,” he interrupted, shaking his head.
I furrowed my eyebrows, confused. How did he know what I was about to say? Did he google me?
No—he would never.
“No?” I asked hesitantly, afraid of what was going to come out of his mouth. I couldn’t even look at him, so I studied my wineglass.
Caleb walked around the island so that he was standing in front of me. He reeked of the garlic, enough to ward off a vampire.
“No, I’m not going to let you break up with me. I know you’re scared. Fuck, I’m scared. But you can’t give up on us.” He grabbed my chin so I was looking at him square in the eye. “I love you, Grace.”
My eyes widened at his confession. I knew he felt this way for a while—there were moments where he gave himself away—but to hear it out loud … my heart swelled a hundred times.
“I know you might not be there yet, but I need you to know I’ll wait. I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you,” Caleb huffed, his blue eyes piercing into my own. It was like he was pleading with me to believe him.
But he didn’t need to prove himself to me. I knew exactly who he was, and it was time for him to know who I was as well.
“You might not want to make those promises just yet,” I muttered as I grabbed my glass and chugged the remainder of my wine.
“Did you hear me, Grace?” Caleb fumed, shaking his head in disbelief. I had never seen him so passionate. I was sure even Max didn’t get scolded like this. “I love you.” He took a deep breath.
“Yeah, well you’re in love with a killer!” I shouted, my chest heaving. I couldn’t control my reaction. All I wanted to do wastell Caleb I loved him back and bask in that blissful feeling, but instead I had to face the music.
The room went quiet. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everything was spinning. I relived the past on a loop in my head. All the looks of disdain, being exiled from the only home I ever knew, my name and face plastered everywhere, effectively killing my reputation. My own mother thought of me as a killer. All I could do was stay quiet, until now apparently.
His eyes widened at my confession. So many different reactions came across his face. He composed himself and studied me.
“It’s time I told you the truth. I haven’t been one hundred percent honest with you. About Julia.” A lump formed in the back of my throat just saying her name.
Caleb sat down on the stool next to me. Only when he grabbed my hand did I realize how badly I was shaking.
I had no idea where to start, so I might as well address the most important part first. “I killed my sister,” I whispered as chills covered my arms. “I killed Julia.”
