Chapter 29 #2
“No sweat.” He gives me one last look before moving away. “I’ll be back.”
“Jesus,” Nick mutters with a chuckle. “You can bet your ass Chet is hoping the place never burns down. With a first responder like you…he’s fucked.”
“Shut up,” I grumble. “I can handle a fire.”
That just makes Nick laugh harder. “Right. It’s just women you don’t know what to do with. You’re acting worse than you did in high school.”
I ignore him, shifting into a more comfortable position that still keeps my head below the top of the booth. The diner is known for its quick service, and Chet proves why, sliding our plates and drinks in front of us less than ten minutes later.
“You’ve got the mushroom Swiss burger, Braxton,” Chet informs me, setting two wrapped sets of cutlery down. “Enjoy.”
I don’t hesitate to pick my burger up, the toasted bun warm on my fingertips. My mouth waters as the smell of seared beef and earthy mushrooms reaches me before I take a massive bite.
“Fuck, that’s good,” I say after I swallow. Nick’s on his second bite, his focus completely on his food. I watch him for a beat before asking, “You alright, Nick? I’ve barely seen you the last couple of weeks.”
His brown eyes flick up to me as he takes another bite, chewing and swallowing before answering, “Life is a bit of a mess right now,” he admits. “Mom and Dad have been arguing a lot over everything that’s happened with Paisley, and it feels like I’m walking a tightrope over World War III.”
I sit back, setting my burger on my plate. “Is this my fault?” I wonder, and Nick shakes his head vehemently.
“Paisley is in Mom’s ear, and I think she has been for a while.” Nick frowns, looking away. “I’m trying to stay out of it, but Mom’s trying to convince Paisley to come home.”
My next bite is a little harder to swallow, everything in me revolting against the idea of her coming back. I hate it, but at the same time, I feel like I’m partially responsible for tearing Nick’s family apart.
“Do you think she will?” I finally choke out.
He picks up a fry, throwing it into his mouth. “I don’t know,” he says, and then adds quietly, “I hope not.”
I debate with myself over my next question. I don’t want to put Nick in the middle, but our friendship has never been one where we’ve held back with each other. “Did you hear about your mom going to see Gracie?”
Nick’s frown deepens into a scowl. “Dad told me what Mom said, but I can guess what really happened. Was Gracie okay afterward?”
I lift a shoulder. “Yes and no. It reopened some wounds, I think. I had just walked in the door to try to talk to her, and she wasn’t having it.”
Nick breathes out a curse. “It feels like the world has gone topsy-fucking-turvy, man. Mom has never had a problem with Gracie before, but she gets wind of Paisley coming home…”
“Is that what it’s about?” I ask quietly. “Paisley being back here?”
He shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t know. Paisley’s always been Mom’s little princess, and I think…I think that she thinks that if you and Paisley get together, then Mom gets her princess back.”
“Where does Gracie fit in all that?”
Nick’s eyes darken. “She doesn’t.”
The rest of our meal passes in silence, and when my burger is gone, I slide out of the booth. “Be right back.”
Nick has pushed his plate aside and pulled his phone out, giving me a distracted nod. As I head for the bathroom, I carefully keep my eyes averted from where I know Gracie is, thankful the bathroom is on this side of the restaurant.
I finish up, washing my hands and step through the door, but draw up short as someone approaches, his head down and hands tucked into his pockets. He slows to a stop, looking up at me with one raised brow before tipping his chin at the door behind me.
“Excuse me,” he says politely.
Heat crawls up my neck as I step aside with a mumbled apology, but as he goes to walk past me, I clear my throat, saying, “It’s Nolan, right?
He goes still, slowly turning to look at me again, recognition flickering through his brown eyes. “Braxton.” He shakes his head with a self-deprecating chuckle. “I’ve seen pictures, but I didn’t recognize you.”
A strange mixture of emotions swirls through my chest—irritation that he’s privy to the history between Gracie and me, but also satisfaction that he knows who I am and what I mean to her.
Nolan doesn’t move to offer his hand, but I don’t, either.
“I’m not sure what to say right now,” I say stiffly, my hands hanging loosely at my sides.
“But thank you for taking care of Gracie.” I have to force the words out, each one like acid dripping onto my tongue.
“I’m glad she’s got someone looking out for her. ”
He watches me appraisingly. “You don’t need to thank me for that.” There’s a dark edge to his tone, and I feel resentment flare, knowing this man has a past with Gracie that I can’t touch. “You don’t look glad,” he observes in a low voice, his mouth pressed into a flat line.
I give him a humorless smile. “I am. With a family like hers, Gracie can never have too many people on her side.” Nolan’s expression doesn’t change, even when I add, “Anyway, I know it’s temporary.”
“Arrogant,” he murmurs, and I shake my head.
“No. Confident,” I correct. “And you can tell Gracie I said all this. No more secrets, no more hiding. I’m not giving up on her. Not until she tells me there’s no chance in hell of her ever taking me back.”
A flicker of respect passes through Nolan’s eyes. “I almost want to wish you luck,” he says, his mouth twitching slightly. “Something tells me you’ll need it.” He turns away, his hand pushing the bathroom door open.
Before he disappears, I ask, “But you won’t?” He shoots me a bemused look over his shoulder, and I clarify, “You won’t wish me luck?”
Nolan gives me a long, considering look. “Not yet. But I never count the underdog out.” With those ambiguous words, he goes into the bathroom, the door shutting behind him.