Chapter 21
Graham
I’m meandering down the hall after putting away some towels I just folded when I hear the front door open. “Party’s here!”
Chuckling, I walk into the living room, finding Grace standing in the entryway with bags in her hands. “What the hell is all that?” I ask, taking them from her to bring into the kitchen.
“Snacks and alcohol, obviously. Have you ordered the pizza yet?”
“No, I didn’t know if you wanted to eat right away or wait.” Nodding toward the hallway, I add, “Charley said you can sleep in her room tonight, if you wanna set your stuff down.”
When Grace found out Charley and Georgia were going out of town this weekend, she asked if I wanted to have a “twin slumber party,” which is something we used to do every so often in high school and college, but stopped once we got married.
It was basically just an excuse for us to veg out in front of the TV with food and drinks, while Grace fed me all her college drama that I didn’t really care about.
I didn’t think she was serious about coming over tonight until she sent a reminder text yesterday morning and let me know that all three of our kids were also having a slumber party at Grandpa’s house.
I’m looking forward to tonight, because it’s something to keep my mind off Charley being gone.
I don’t know why, but I’ve been on edge all week, knowing she was going to be traveling this weekend.
My stomach has been in knots all day, and I couldn’t seem to calm my racing heart until I heard that their plane landed around one.
I’m sure Charley’s going to have a great time, and I’m happy that she’s going because she’s been mostly excited about it, but I can’t shake knowing she’s so far away, and if something were to happen—with her, or the baby—I wouldn’t be able to get there as quickly as I would if she were here.
“Her room is so cute,” Grace announces as she rounds the corner. “You should let her decorate the whole house. It’d probably look a whole lot less…boring.”
“My house is not boring.” I huff with a chuckle.
My sister raises her brows. “Graham, there isn’t a single bit of color in here. Not to mention, the utter lack of rugs anywhere. You could use a feminine touch.”
Funnily enough, before moving in here, Charley asked if I wanted her to bring any of her décor or furniture, but I said no because I already have everything we need. She ended up selling everything instead, but like hell am I about to tell my sister that.
“That’s a little rude,” I mumble. “There’re flowers on the table. That’s color.”
Glancing over her shoulder before bringing her gaze back to me, Grace hums, a knowing glint in her eye. “Sunflowers. Interesting choice.”
Here we go.
“I’ll order the pizza now,” I say, changing the subject as I reach into my pocket for my phone.
Grace snickers. “Good call. I’ll find a movie.”
By the time I get back from picking up the food, Grace has a bottle of wine cracked open.
She pours each of us a glass while I grab some plates and bring them and the pizza box into the living room.
Some chick-flick she put on plays while we eat, and even though I couldn’t care less about the movie, I can’t deny how nice it is having my sister here.
We used to be a lot closer when we were younger, and I miss that.
All three of my sisters are a pain in the ass sometimes, and entirely too nosey for their own good, but they’re my sisters, and they’ve always been there when I needed them the most.
My phone buzzes with a notification, and my pulse kicks up when I see it’s from Charley. Except for telling me they landed, I haven’t heard from her all day. I imagine she’s been busy.
Charley: I’m far too pregnant for this. *sweaty face emoji* Remind me to never do something like this while pregnant again.
That again makes my heart thump in my chest. I shouldn’t let myself read too deep into anything, but I can’t help but wonder if that means she wants more kids in the future. And if she does… Does she want to have them with me?
Wow, way to jump about a hundred steps, Graham.
Graham: I’ll be happy to remind you of that. Anything wrong in particular, or just uncomfortable?
“Is that Charley?” Grace asks, trying to sneak a peek at my phone.
Chuckling, I turn the screen away from her. “Yes, busybody, it’s Charley.”
“What are they doing?”
“Hell if I know,” I drawl as another message comes in.
Charley: Yeah, uncomfortable, and SWEATY. It’s gross. My back is killing me, but we finally finished setting up for tomorrow morning, so we’re ordering room service and relaxing the rest of the night.
Me: Good. Maybe take a bubble bath.
Charley: Oh, trust me, I plan to. *smirk emoji*
It’s right there on the tip of my finger to tell her how badly I want to put her in the tub here and get her nice and clean before getting her dirty all over again, but I don’t.
After last night, I don’t really know where we stand.
Was it a one-time thing? I know exactly where I stand, where I have this entire time, but where her head’s at is a mystery, and without knowing that, I don’t want to risk saying anything that may be overstepping.
Me: Good, take care of yourself and our baby. Hope y’all have a good night.
Charley: I will! Say hi to Grace for me.
“Charley says hi,” I say, grabbing another slice. Then, remembering something she told me, I add, “Oh, she mentioned something earlier this week about you wanting to offer classes at the bakery,”
“Yes!” Her eyes light up as a smile spreads up her face. “I’ve been thinking about doing a kids’ baking class, like maybe once a week for six weeks or something like that.”
“Teaching a group of kids for any amount of time sounds like my personal version of hell,” I mutter with a chuckle. “But it sounds right up your alley. You should do it.”
“Speaking of kids,” she says, taking a sip from her wine. “How’s the pregnancy been the last couple weeks? We’ve both been so busy, I haven’t had a chance to really talk to her about anything.”
“You should probably ask Charley.” I huff out a small chuckle.
“Yeah, but I’m asking you.” Grace gives me her well-practiced, sweet-as-pie smile.
I knew when she asked to come over, she was going to try to do some digging.
It’s in her nature, just like it’s in mine to brush her off.
Out of all my siblings, I’m, without a doubt, the most private one.
But for the sake of wanting to get back to how close we used to be, I don’t brush her off this time.
“Charley’s feeling much better than she was a couple months ago,” I say. “But work has taken it out of her this week. Her ankles have been swelling up, and she’s been dealing with heartburn lately.”
“How did her first week go?” she asks. “I mean, other than being exhausting.”
A smile curls my lips, remembering how excited she was coming home after her first shift. “It’s going well, I think. Her co-workers seem to be nice, and I’m sure she’s picking up the job quickly.”
Grace blows out a breath. “Lordy, I cannot imagine starting a new job halfway through my pregnancy, especially one as active as I imagine this one is.” After she pours us more wine, she flicks her gaze over to me, mischief dancing in her eyes, and somehow, I already know what her next question is.
“Sooo,” she starts. “How are things going…between you two?”
My heart nearly leaps out of my chest in response, a flash of heat cascading down my spine as flashbacks of last night flood my mind...again. “They’re good,” I say, clearing my throat. “Fine.”
“Bullshit!” she booms, pulling her legs underneath her as she turns her whole body toward me on the couch. “Graham, what aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing,” I lie. “Believe it or not, not everything is your business, Grace.”
“Yeah, but Charley is my best friend and you’re my brother. This is my business, and I want all the deets. You guys are sleeping together, aren’t you?”
My cheeks are surely flushing. “We are not sleeping together.”
“Liar.” She snorts. “It’s been going on this whole time, hasn’t it?”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“Okay, but it has happened, though, right?”
Jesus, I feel like I’m being interrogated by the feds.
I breathe out a deep sigh, holding Grace’s gaze as I contemplate what I should tell her.
On the one hand, I’ve got half a mind to shut the conversation down completely.
But on the other, she’s right; Charley is her best friend, so maybe she’ll have a little insight into her that I’m not seeing.
Maybe she’ll somehow know what last night meant, if it meant anything at all.
What happened when Charley got home from work was incredible.
It was something I had hoped would happen, but wasn’t entirely sure if it would.
Hearing Charley utter the words, “I need you,” was everything.
But Georgia picked her up this morning before I woke up, so we haven’t talked about it.
Blowing out a breath, I admit, “We had sex once since Charley moved in. Last night.”
Grace’s eyes widen as she covers her smiling mouth with her hand.
“Oh my gosh, Graham! How did this happen? Who initiated it? Have there been, like, moments of tension between y’all before last night?
Tell me everything!” She snorts, then adds, “Well, within reason. You are my brother, after all, and I don’t need to hear about… you.”
My palms are suddenly slick. I probably should’ve asked Charley before telling Grace this, but it’s too late now. “I think, technically, I initiated it.”
“What do you mean, you think?” she cuts in, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Either you did, or you didn’t.”