Chapter 16 #2
“It’s just … I’m just … Ugh! This is so frustrating,” Grace declared, throwing her hands up in the air and leaning back in her chair.
Now I was frustrated. How was I supposed to help her if she didn’t tell me what was wrong? Damn women! I grabbed the legs of her chair and dragged them across the floor until her thighs were between mine. Clamping her knees in place with mine, I took hold of both her hands and held them between us.
“Right, sweetheart. Tell me what’s going on so we can enjoy dessert,” I demanded.
“I didn’t make dessert,” Grace whispered, her bottom lip trembling.
“Princess, you are dessert,” I reminded her, squeezing her hands.
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh. Now, talk to me. What’s up, buttercup?” I smiled, trying to lighten the situation.
“I love my sisters, I do,” Grace started, and I felt like she was trying to justify what was coming next.
“Never doubted that for a second.”
“They don’t need me.”
“Of course they do. You’re their sister. They love you,” I reminded her quickly. The last thing I wanted Grace to think was that she wasn’t loved, cherished, and wanted. Five minutes with her sisters and you could tell how important they were to each other.
“I know they love me. But they don’t need me. They have the B&B under control, and when I’m there it’s like I’m in the way.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case.”
“But it is. They have a system and a routine and I’m not a part of it,” Grace explained, looking up with huge, sad eyes.
“You haven’t been here. They had to figure it out,” I pointed out, trying to explain why things were the way they were. Trying to make her see that it wasn’t personal.
Obviously, I fucked that up.
Grace pulled away and stared at me with daggers in her eyes.
“I know I haven’t been here,” she seethed.
I’d hit a sore spot and now I was wearing the wrath.
“Sweetheart, no one’s blaming you. All I’m saying,” I began backtracking and trying to pull my foot out of my mouth, “is that I’m sure they’d love to have you be a part of it.
From what you’ve told me, Gabriella is very methodical and loves her lists.
I’m sure they put together a list to make sure nothing was missed and got on with it.
You being a part of it will just take some adjusting. ”
Grace’s anger faded but the hurt was still there.
“I didn’t mean to leave them,” she mumbled. “I just … I needed to know if there was something more outside Wattle Creek. I wanted more,” Grace admitted, and I had no doubt her confession wasn’t easy.
“I get it. I do. I joined the Army and left the country. So trust me, I understand,” I assured her.
“But now what?”
The look Grace gave me almost dropped me to my knees. Her eyes were watery, her shoulders sagging. She looked sad and defeated all at the same moment.
“Now what, what?”
“What do I do now? Where do I fit? I came here hoping to find the answer, and I’m no closer to figuring out how to untangle the mess that is my life,” Grace confessed, and as the words passed her lips, I was out of my seat wrapping my arms around her.
I held her tight as sobs shook her body. I had no idea she was carrying around this weight, fighting her demons and searching for answers. She had such a good poker face when it came to hiding herself, that I was blindsided by her pain.
“Sweetheart,” I cooed, rubbing my hands up and down her back as she cried on my shoulder.
After a few minutes, Grace went rigid in my arms and shuffled back. When she looked up at me, her eyes were red and puffy. She sniffled and looked away.
“I’m sorry,” she began apologizing, but the last thing I wanted was her apologies. She didn’t have a damn thing to be sorry for.
I reached for her, and she flinched.
I tried again, and this time she let me hold her.
“Firstly, don’t ever apologize for being honest with me.
That’s all I’ll ever ask of you. Be yourself and be honest. Next, you don’t have to have all the answers today.
Finding yourself, finding your happy place, it takes time.
It might be in the city. It might be at the B&B.
Hell, it might be something else completely …
” I started, ignoring the ache in my chest as I thought about her not being here.
“But whatever the answer is, you’ll find it when the time is right. ”
“You really believe that, don’t you?” Grace asked, sounding almost hopeful.
“I have to,” I confessed.
I’d seen too much shit to not believe that everything happens for a reason. You might not understand it at the time, but there had to be a bigger meaning for everything. Otherwise, the world was just fucked up.
“So, you think I just keep going day by day and when I least expect it, there’ll be a sign?”
“I’m not as philosophical as that, but basically, yeah.”
“And you think I’m the type of girl who can do that? Go with the flow?” Grace pressed.
“Absolutely not. But I am the type of guy who can keep you distracted until you figure it out,” I offered with a smirk.
“You’re definitely a distraction, Cole Flanigan.”
“Why don’t we finish our dinner and then I promise to distract you all night long,” I offered, taking one for the team.
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to put you out,” Grace countered, smiling her first genuine smile I’d seen since we’d sat down.
“I’ll admit, it’s a dirty job but someone’s gotta do it.”
“And you think you’re the man for the job?” Grace teased, leaning into me, her tits crushed between us.
“You know I’m more than man enough to get the job done,” I growled, grinding my cock against her before bending down and breathing on her neck.
“Over and over and over again. I’ll get the job done all night long,” I whispered with promise before taking her earlobe between my teeth and tugging on it.
“You talk a big game Mr. Flanigan,” Grace teased, reaching down and wrapping her hand around my cock through my sweatpants.
“We both know I’m more than big enough to satisfy,” I retorted cockily, holding back the moan as she squeezed.
“Prove it,” she dared.
“With pleasure,” I confirmed, leaning in and kissing her like she was the air I needed to breathe.