Chapter 44
People weren’t as willing to move for Grace as they’d been for Griffin.
And she had only made it to the edge of the bar when the band climbed onto the stage.
Zoe was scanning the crowd as they picked up their bass.
Grace ducked low, letting the people waiting for their drinks hide her.
Teens leaned in to scream into the mic. “Thanks for coming! We’re Your Worst Nightmare! ”
They jumped into the first song, and Grace realized that was their band name, not some kind of menacing threat. The song was rock heavy with lyrics about capitalism ruining society. Grace figured Teens had written it.
Grace tried again to push toward the exit, but as the band played, the crowd surged toward the dance floor, taking Grace with it.
“Sorry,” Grace said as she squeezed past a group of girls dancing wildly to the song.
She wasn’t sure if it was claustrophobia from the crush of bodies or the beer, but her head was starting to spin a little.
She almost toppled over when strong hands gripped her shoulders. “Whoa.”
She blinked up at Lincoln in confusion. “Lincoln? When did you get here?”
“Just now. What are you doing here?”
She shook her head to clear it and instantly regretted the movement, as it made the world tilt. “To be honest, I’m not sure.”
“Come on, let’s get you off the dance floor.” He tucked her close to his side, using his large frame to fend off the worst of the dancers.
They were so close that she could feel his body heat permeating her skin. She worried he’d be able to feel her pulse racing…except it wasn’t.
Lincoln got her to the exit, pulling them both out into the cool night air. It was thick with the threat of rain, but at least it wasn’t as sticky hot as inside.
“Thanks.” Grace could finally breathe again.
She leaned against the worn siding of the bar, felt the rust beneath her fingers, but she needed the support.
The sound of laughter and breaking bottles pulled her attention and she saw the basketball team gathered around the tailgate of a large truck, drinking a thirty-pack they must have brought.
She started to push away from the wall, to get out of there, when Lincoln stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the parking lot.
“Listen, Gracie. I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to say I’m sorry for the carnival. You were right, I was a jerk for not taking your side.” He gave her a little half smile. “Can you forgive me?”
Grace sighed. She was already so drained from her confrontation with Griffin and Zoe. It would be so much easier if she could just let things go back to the way they were before. So she nodded. “Yeah, okay. Maybe I overreacted too.”
Lincoln’s smile became full-blown as he wrapped her in a half hug. “I knew you couldn’t stay mad at me.”
Grace felt a twinge of annoyance at that. It almost sounded like he thought she was a pushover, but she decided to let it lie. She’d had enough fights for one night.
“So, what are you doing here?” Lincoln asked.
Grace was about to say she was just leaving when Lincoln let out a small laugh. “Doesn’t seem like your thing.”
He ruffled her hair. A move that would’ve definitely had her heart racing a couple of weeks ago. But now she just felt mild annoyance. She narrowed her eyes. “Really?”
Lincoln’s smile fell a fraction at her sharp tone. “No, but that’s what makes you so cute.”
Cute? For the first time Grace didn’t hear a compliment in that phrase. “Why does that somehow sound like a bad thing?”
Lincoln laughed, scratching his neck, looking amused. “Come on, Gracie. I don’t mean it like that. I love that you hate partying and alcohol and stuff. You’re so innocent.”
And Grace wondered why she’d never heard it before. That even though they were the same age, Lincoln saw her as some immature, innocent little girl.
“Hey, Link, did you get more beers from the bar?” Griffin sauntered over.
Grace saw an open beer bottle dangling from his fingers, and the glint in his eyes looked mean.
“Oh crap, I forgot. I was just making sure Grace was feeling all right.” Lincoln looked uncertain, clearly picking up on the hard edge of Griffin’s leering smile. “Maybe you want to join us?” he asked her hesitantly.
Before Grace could turn down the offer, Griffin stepped up. “Yeah, join us, Bak.” He said her name like it was a curse. And she knew that he was baiting her.
“No, I’m fine. I was going home.”
“Aw, come on. Maybe Link will get drunk enough that you can finally make your move. Though it might take a lot of beer for that.”
“Griff!” Lincoln looked horrified.
“Stop the act, Day. You know she has a huge crush on you. We laugh about it all the time with the guys.”
Grace didn’t think she could feel any more mortified. Her head felt light, her skin was too flushed. And she suddenly had the feeling that she was about to throw up.
“Well, I think I should get going.” She pushed away from the wall and skirted around Griffin.
“Aw, did I hurt your feelings?” Griffin called after her.
She heard Lincoln murmur something, then the slap of his shoes as he jogged after her. She barely made it halfway across the parking lot before he grabbed her arm.
“Gracie, stop, please.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you right now.” She glowered at him, her vision doubling until she blinked it back into focus.
Lincoln tightened his grip on her arm. “Griffin is just drunk. He can be an ass when he’s had too much to drink. And it looks like you’ve had too much to drink too.”
“No, Lincoln. Griffin is just an ass, period.” She couldn’t do this. Not with him. All her careful emotional jars were just broken shards of glass now. Cutting away at her insides. She knew that if she didn’t get out of here, she’d say something awful.
She tried to move away, but he still held her arm. “Lincoln, let go.”
“I think I should take you home.”
“I don’t want a ride from you.” Grace tried to pull away again, but his grip tightened enough to bruise. “Lincoln, you’re hurting me!”
“I think she asked you to let go.” A hand clamped down on Lincoln’s wrist.
She gaped up at Hae as he twisted Lincoln’s arm with casual ease.
“Hey, man, this is my shooting arm,” Lincoln protested as the pain forced him to release Grace.
“Let him go.”
Hae scowled, but did as she asked.
Lincoln cradled his raw wrist. “Who is this guy? Do you know him?”
“He’s just—”
“I’m here for Grace,” Hae replied.
“So, you’re here with him?” Lincoln looked incredulous.
“W-what?” Grace stuttered out. The situation and her vision felt like they were spinning out of her control. She really was starting to think that the beer and shots had been a mistake.
“Is he the reason you’re acting so weird?” Lincoln asked.
“No, you are,” Grace said, and that made Lincoln’s eyes widen.
He leaned in closer. “Grace, come on. You can’t be mad about what Griffin said.”
“Was it true?” Grace asked.
Lincoln folded his lips together. His silence was a clear confirmation.
“I thought so.”
“Come on, Gracie. Yeah, sure, I know you have a crush on me, but—”
“But you don’t feel the same way about me. Even though you’d never tell me that, because then it would mean I wouldn’t be at your beck and call twenty-four seven, right?”
“I never forced you to do anything for me,” Lincoln countered defensively.
Grace nodded. “No, you never forced me to. But you never cut me loose either. So, I’m doing that for you now. Goodbye, Lincoln.”
Her throat felt tight as she walked away, and she realized tears were burning in her eyes.
She’d lost it with Griffin. Fought with Zoe. Now she was pretty sure Lincoln would never talk to her again. That was three strikes. She was officially out.
She walked through the packed lot. She’d had to park in the farthest spot, and even now more cars spilled out on the side of the road.
It was muggy, the atmosphere warning of coming rain.
The kind of humidity that pushed down on your chest. It made her stomach churn.
She bent over the small shrubs at the edge of the lot and threw up.
“Grace?” Hae was there, hand on her shoulder, rubbing in circles.
Of course, Hae is always the one who witnesses my worst moments. My own god of embarrassment.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed in front of me,” Hae said, and she realized she’d spoken aloud. Great, this night truly couldn’t get worse.
She stood up, trying to regain even a modicum of self-respect. “How did you find me, anyway?” she slurred. “Wait, no, I know, you can sense me, with your god powers.”
“Yeah, and I was worried about you being out here with no protection.”
“From what? The sonnimne?” Grace scoffed as she bumped into one of the cars. “Sorry,” she slurred to the hood before moving past it. “The only thing I needed protection from tonight was myself.”
She stumbled over her own feet, and Hae had to hold on to her elbow to keep her upright.
“You okay?”
“Yes, this is called being drunk,” she said, throwing her arms out and almost smacking him in the face. “It’s my first time, but I already do not recommend.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he said, guiding her to her car. “But I have also watched enough television now to know that many people who drink and drive end up dead and in commercials as warnings.”
“Ah, you’re right,” Grace said. “Lucky I have my own personal god to look after me, right?”
Hae scowled. “You make me sound like your butler. And it’s not luck that brought us together.”
Grace nodded, letting her hot cheek rest against the cool metal of the car door. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Because my luck feels pretty crappy right now.” She let out a little hiccupping sob before she could swallow it back.
“Grace, are you sure you’re okay?” Hae sounded worried.
“I’m fine.” Grace unlocked the car, then stared at her keys. She was too drunk to drive and she couldn’t stay here any longer. With a sigh, she tossed the keys at Hae. He snatched them nimbly out of the air. “Just take me home.”