Chapter 16 Dean #2
“Even Hugh?”
“Not to most people. But he would to me. I think.”
“He’s a funny guy.”
“Do you mean funny or mean? It’s okay, you can be honest with me.”
I had a feeling most people would say the second one. “He’s mean, but in kind of a funny way. Most people would just see him as an annoyance, but I have a lot of experience with gruff men who put up walls for everyone else.”
Grace’s eyebrows raised. “You’re good at reading people.”
“Sometimes. When I get my head out of my ass.”
“I’m glad you did.”
We were pulling into the parking garage, and I had to figure out where to park. It took a little bit longer than I wanted it to, but that was the nature of city driving.
“Thank you for handling this, by the way,” Grace added as I finally found a spot. “It wasn’t fun the first time I came out here and I would have hated doing it again.”
“It’s not a problem. Cities don’t bother me.”
“At least one of us is unbothered.”
That was only partly true. I was bothered by all of this. Not because of her, though, but because if I didn’t keep my distance, she could mean something more to me than being the mother of my child, and I didn’t want that.
Finally, we were in a parking spot and I could tell she was eager to get to the doctor.
Grace got out of the truck and grabbed her jacket, me following closely behind.
I gave her space and she took the lead on getting into the doctor’s office and checking in.
Right after we sat, she was given a brightly colored liquid and told to drink it all within thirty minutes.
Grace looked a little green halfway through it. “I think I’d rather eat straight sugar cubes,” she muttered as she finished it.
After it was done, she threw the bottle away and let the receptionist know that she had finished the drink before slowly making her way back to me.
“So now is the fun part. We have to sit here for three hours. You can be honest and let me know when you regret coming.”
“Like I would just sit here for three hours with nothing to do.” I reached into my pocket and grabbed something that I had brought from the hotel. “Do you know poker?”
“You brought a deck of cards with you?”
“Not any cards. They’re pink princess cards.”
She had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. “Why would you have pink princess cards?”
“Why not? It was either these or basic ones.”
“You’re something else,” she said with a laugh. “But I do know poker, so I would appreciate any distraction I can get.”
I had her move to a seat that had a table next to it and I moved a chair. I could feel the receptionist’s eyes on me, but if we were going to be here for three hours, we might as well get comfortable.
I tried to let Grace win a few games. I really did. But after the third one, my instincts kicked in. I wasn’t the kind of person to let other people win naturally. I enjoyed a challenge and I enjoyed winning them. It was one of the reasons why I wouldn’t mind a rematch with Hugh in the bar.
It also might be the reason Grace murdered me.
When I showed my hand, which was a flush, she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re counting cards, aren’t you?”
“Who? Me? How would I even know how to count cards?”
“You’re smarter than you let on.”
“I’m luckier than I let on. There’s a difference.”
Her stare-down continued, and I was sure I was going to burst into flames at any second.
“Grace?” Both of us looked up. A nurse had walked out to where we were sitting. “It’s time for the blood draw.”
We glanced at each other. The three hours had slipped by. I’d been so lost in the game and her irritated glare that I hadn’t kept track of time. Neither had she, apparently.
“I’ll handle this.” She said it like she knew I was going to offer to follow her. “Thank you for making time fly.”
Any other time, I would have argued, but it felt like a rock had settled in my chest. Some time to myself would be good. As Grace disappeared into the back, I returned the chair to its original spot.
“She’s one lucky woman,” a woman behind me said. She was older, sitting with her hands crossed and a small smile on her face.
“I think that game proved she’s very unlucky.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I tensed. I was hoping she wouldn’t go there. “We’re not like that.”
She slowly nodded. “Interesting.” She went back to her book.
Sitting back down, I thought over everything with Grace. I thought about how she’d warned me this would be boring, yet it wasn’t, simply because she had been here. Instead of me sitting with her awkwardly, waiting for her to be called back, we had connected.
And that was the most dangerous thing that could have happened.
My phone went off, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I cursed when I read the message.
Mom
You said she owned a clothing shop in Strawberry Springs?
What are you planning?
When Mom sent back only a shrugging emoji, I sighed. She wanted to meet Grace and wouldn’t be held back for much longer.
If Mom came into town and saw how I was with Grace, nothing would stop her from trying to get us together, and that wasn’t happening.
And if the town got a whiff of this? We were fucked.