Chapter 15
GRANT
G rant heaved a sigh as he killed the engine and swung the door open, the tension at his temples ramping up as he shifted his weight to climb from the car. Maybe he’d had too much to drink, but he hadn’t been driving erratically.
Either way, he was certain this would be the next thing Alicia, Ethan, Luke, and the rest of Harbor Cove would use to warn Julia against him.
Alicia seemed ready to pounce on anything she could find–his temper, his playboy history, the number of wives he’d already had.
He’d probably make front-page news in the little rag they called a newspaper here.
They’d make it sound far worse than it was.
It would be the scandal of the century for this small town.
And they’d rally around their former resident, protecting her from the horrible husband she’d ended up chained to.
With a deep inhale he rose, careful to keep himself steady on his feet. The night was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant hooting of an owl and the clang of the harbor bell. The flashing police lights sliced through the darkness, casting long, ominous shadows across the street.
“Have you been drinking tonight, Grant?”
“Do you need my license and registration?” Grant asked, avoiding the question.
Ethan flicked his eyes up from the notebook he’d flipped open. “No. Just answer the question.”
Grant heaved a sigh. “I had a few, but I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Did you pull me over just because you knew it was me?”
Ethan offered him a sarcastic smile as he flicked his gaze sideways. “I pulled you over because you were swerving. And I’m guessing you’ve had more than a few. What would make you get behind the wheel of a car after drinking that much? Especially when you have a driver.”
“None of your business,” Grant said.
Ethan narrowed his eyes at him. “Do you really want to play it that way?”
“No matter which way I play this, I’m certain it’ll be front-page news tomorrow morning, and you’ll use every detail to convince Julia that I’m awful.”
Ethan sucked in a breath. “The way you’re behaving, we won’t have much convincing to do.”
The comment stung him. Was his behavior both past and present enough to turn Julia away from him? Their conversation in the car had seemed easy and normal, but she’d avoided him the moment they got home. And he’d definitely interrupted something between her and Luke. Was it already too late?
“Did you even think about your family at all before you got behind the wheel drunk?”
Grant lifted his eyes to the sky. “I’m not drunk.”
“I bet a breathalyzer would disagree. Should we try it? Or maybe I should just take you in for a blood-alcohol test. It’ll keep you off the road, at least.”
“So, am I under arrest?”
Ethan shook his head. “You really are arrogant, aren’t you?”
“What do you want from me? It’s obvious where this is going. You’re going to throw the book at me, use it to convince Julia that she should leave me, and do your best to make life painful for me.”
“I want the truth. You’ve been drinking.
You chose to get behind the wheel of a car.
Did you think about Julia when you did that?
Did you think what it may do to her if you were arrested…
again? Or worse?” He shrugged, shaking his head again, his tone measured.
“If you really want me to see you as more than just someone who’s only out for himself, answer the question.
Does she matter to you at all? Does your daughter?
Or your son? Does anyone matter outside of Grant? ”
Grant slid his eyes closed. The only person he’d been thinking of when he’d grabbed the keys was Julia.
Now he imagined her face, not just disappointed, but a deeper hurt.
Did she ever see glimpses of a man worth staying with, or was he just a chapter she was waiting to close? “Of course, they matter.”
“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. So, you say you care about others. But not enough to not drive drunk.”
Grant cocked his head. “I really don’t need a lecture on drunk driving, okay?”
Ethan offered him a sarcastic chuckle. “It looks like you do. I just pulled you over after erratic driving, you smell like a bar, and you’re denying you’re impaired. Again, I can prove it to you, but I’d really rather not do that.”
Grant furrowed his brow. “You’d rather not do it? I find that hard to believe.”
“Look, I know we’ve given you a hard time. And I’m not sure you’re the best thing that’s happened to Julia, but I don’t really want to tell her you were arrested for drunk driving tonight.”
He wrestled with the image of her finding out. Would she see it as another failure, another strain on their already complicated relationship? “You don’t? So, what are you saying? You’re not arresting me?”
Ethan’s jaw tensed as he heaved a sigh. “Not unless you’re going to continue being reckless.”
Grant’s mind turned to his plan to confront Luke. Maybe it wasn’t his best idea.
“You get in the car, I follow you home, and you stay there until you sleep this off.”
“You won’t tell anyone about this?” Grant asked.
“Stays between us. Unless you give me a reason to say something.”
“Such as?”
“Such as you decide you know better than me, and you’re going to put the residents of this town in danger by hitting the streets again.”
Grant gritted his teeth as he considered his options. He imagined Julia’s disappointed look as she bailed him out of jail…again. “Fine.”
“Good,” Ethan said as he snapped his ticket book shut. “Just a warning then. Don’t do it again while you’re in my town.”
“Got it, Chief.”
A smile spread across Ethan’s face. “Well, at least someone acknowledges me as Chief. Oh, by the way, while you’re sleeping this off, just be glad I pulled you over, not Alicia. You would have been at the station right now, not heading home.”
“I’m sure,” Grant said with a nod. “Look, Ethan…I appreciate this. Really, I do. I care about Julia despite what you think.”
Ethan studied him for a moment. “Good. Because if you didn’t, I’d have arrested you myself. Lead the way.”
Ethan backed away a few steps before he spun on a heel and stalked back to his Bronco. He climbed inside, killing the still flashing lights. Grant slid behind the wheel of the car and fired the engine. With a deep sigh, he turned the car around and as cautiously as possible made his way home.
His ride home was silent, the only sound being his own thoughts echoing in the quiet car. He milled over Ethan’s words, the truth stinging him. Was he really that selfish, or was he genuinely a changed man thanks to Julia?
He pulled into the driveway and killed the engine as Ethan slowed to a stop on the deserted road. Grant climbed from the car, offering him an obligatory wave.
Ethan returned the gesture before his engine revved, and he pulled away. He strode to the house, shaking his head at himself.
He’d dodged a bullet, thanks to his brother-in-law, and he still wasn’t certain why. But he couldn’t shake the feeling that this narrow escape may be the calm before the storm. The path forward with Julia was never smooth, but were they heading toward another rocky path?
He pushed into the quiet house and climbed the stairs. He hovered at the top, his eyes sliding toward Julia’s room. He considered knocking and talking to her until they hashed things out. After a step toward the room, he closed his fingers into fists and shook his head.
He didn’t want to wake her, nor did he want to hear the wrong words. The image of a teary-eyed Julia with Luke flashed in his mind. He imagined her voice saying, “I love him, Grant. I’m sorry.”
He squeezed his eyes closed. He also didn’t want a drunken confrontation with her where he said something he shouldn’t.
Begrudgingly, he spun on a heel and headed to his room. After changing, he slid between the sheets, squeezing his eyes closed as he scrubbed his face. What had he been thinking getting in the car after drinking so much to confront Luke?
Would it even have mattered? The man held all the cards. The only thing he had was a marriage license. One that meant nothing to Julia.
Maybe he should suggest they leave early. Or would that make matters worse? Would pulling her away from her family sooner than she expected make her want to stay? And if she stayed, would she ever come back?
The question loomed large in his mind as the alcohol sent him off to a dreamless sleep. When he opened his eyes the next morning, bright sunshine streamed through the window, too harsh for the day ahead. He squinted against it, a dull thudding at his temples from the hangover.
He groaned as he pulled himself out of bed, glancing at the clock. It was far later than he normally slept.
With a sharp inhale, he stumbled to the bathroom, hoping a shower helped. By the time he pulled his door open, his head pounded. He needed coffee.
He was glad he hadn’t confronted Julia last night. In the cold light of day, his drunken decisions seemed ridiculous. He hoped today would be better, though he wondered how honest Ethan was. Would he tell Julia about the escapade last night?
He descended the stairs, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he stifled a yawn.
“Good morning, Mr. Harrington. Coffee?” Worthington asked as he shuffled into the kitchen.
“Please,” he answered.
“And breakfast?”
“No,” he groaned. “Nothing.”
“Is everything all right, sir?” Worthington asked, delivering him a steaming mug.
“Yeah, fine. I just drank too much last night.”
“Perhaps some eggs would help.”
“Nothing, Worthington. I can’t stomach it. Everyone else up already?”
“Dr. Carter and Ms. Sierra are breakfasting.”
“Julia?” He sipped at the black coffee, squeezing his eyes closed as his head pounded.
“I have not seen Mrs. Harrington yet this morning.”
He furrowed his brow. Julia usually didn’t sleep this late. His stomach turned as the coffee hit it, though he wondered if it was from the thought strafing across his mind that Julia had already left for the morning to spend the day with Luke.