Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
APRICOT
In the last several days, things seem to have been strained between Grimm and me. Not of my doing. Or I want to believe it wasn’t something I’d done.
We’ve been staying at his place, and I love it. It’s peaceful in the middle of nowhere with no one around.
The house sits up high on a foundation to level the ground out.
The stairs lead up to a porch I could envision having a porch swing on and sitting outside to listen to the sounds of the surrounding area.
Inside he’s not really decorated as much but has the basics that any man would think to have, including an oversized couch and loveseat that sits in front of a flat-screen TV hanging on the wall.
The rest of the house is bare for the most part except his bedroom, where he has clothes thrown all over the floor and the bed unmade.
The only thing about being here is that I’m not sure if Grimm actually wants me here.
He hasn’t really spoken to me. After leaving the cafe the other day, he’d gone from being the Grimm I was coming to love back to the one who was distant and not speaking to me.
If he does, it’s in minimal wording or about Justice.
At this point, I’m starting to worry that he only has me here for Justice and nothing else.
Doubts keep flickering in my head, and it doesn’t help that he’s not even touched me. Not a kiss, a hug, nothing. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I’m sick of it and intend to confront him the first chance I get.
I figure since my mom has taken up watching Justice for Grimm, I decide to text her and ask if she’d watch him a little longer. I need to speak with Grimm. Find out what’s going on between us.
What if he’s done with me? He got his fill and wants to wash his hands of me but doesn’t know how without causing problems.
Panic races through my veins, and I can barely focus on the task at hand.
Nevaeh starts in a week, she had to give her notice at the restaurant, and until then, I’m alone with several large orders.
One day I’d like to add a delivery service, but that’s a ways to go.
Blinking, I shove thoughts of the future, Grimm, everything to the side. I can’t deal with it now.
The bell over the door rings. I lift my gaze to greet whoever it is and smile at the sight of Tripp. “Hey.”
“Hey, sweetheart, how have you been?” he asks, coming up to the counter and leaning over it with that grin of his in place.
“I’m good.” I drop the ribbon and spin fully to face him. “What do you think of the shop?” I ask, waving a hand indicating the space.
“Looks great.” He nods. “Glad you got it up and going.”
“Thanks.” My smile brightens though I’m really not feeling it. Still, Tripp is a friend. He’d told me so when he’d text. “So . . . what brings you in?”
Tripp loses his grin and straightens. “I wanted to check in on you.”
I cock my head to the side, sensing there’s something more, and he does not want to tell me. “How about you tell me the truth?”
“I did want to check in on ya, sweetheart.” Tripp sighs and reaches up to brush a hand through his thick dark hair that he always wears messy.
“I got a call from an informant. Sutherland and I have about a strike against the club wanting to use women associated within the club. We were close to here, so I’m in here while he’s on the phone with Viking. ”
Oh my God.
My eyes widen, and I clutch my fists. “Who would do that?”
“I can’t tell you that, Apricot,” he grunts, shaking his head. “Hell, I shouldn’t have told you as much as I just did, but you have a right to know that much for certain.”
The bell over the door rings again. I glance in that direction and stiffen at the sight of my man coming in, his features set in stone and he’s glaring at us.
“Hey,” I murmur, his eyes coming to me.
He doesn’t return my greeting as he storms across the room. Grimm doesn’t stop until he’s directly in Tripp’s face. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Grimm,” I snap, getting his attention. “Stop and get out of Tripp’s face. We were just talking.”
Grimm cocks his head slightly and narrows his gaze on me. “About what?”
Rolling my eyes, I open my mouth to answer him, but Tripp beats me to it.
“Relax, I’m only here to make sure she’s safe.”
“Why wouldn’t she be? I’ve got eyes on this place when she’s not with me,” Grimm grumbles as his cell phone starts ringing. And again, the bell over my door rings, this time to Sutherland stepping inside.
“Everything good in here?” he asks.
“Yes, just Grimm and Tripp having a caveman moment,” I mutter, annoyed with the whole situation.
“I’m going to get my things ready to go while you all have it out.
Just don’t ruin any of my displays.” Spinning on my heel, I stomp away, done with all of the he-man acts.
All Tripp was doing was making sure I was okay, and Grimm wants to come in and be a complete jerk.
He doesn’t even say ‘hey’ to me. Just jumps right in on the fact Tripp is here.
Shaking my head, I decide to get my things together, make sure everything is put away in its proper places, and shut down the shop.
By the time I make it to the front again, Sutherland and Tripp are gone, leaving me alone with Grimm.
His eyes meet mine, and I can’t help but again wonder what’s happening between us for him to lose interest.
“Ready?” he asks gruffly.
“Yeah, just need to set the alarm and lock the doors,” I inform him as I did yesterday.
“Right then, let’s go.” Grimm doesn’t wait for me as he walks away, expecting me to follow.
I do, but only so that when I get outside, I can tell him I want to go to my place. As much as I want to talk with him and demand to know what’s going on, I’m scared to know the truth and think maybe we need space.
I lock the doors with Grimm standing there, tension rolling off him in waves. “Take me home,” I whisper, not sure if he heard me or not.
“Gotta get Justice first,” Grimm states, guiding me to the passenger side of the truck.
“No.” I stand my ground. “I want you to take me to my place. Then you can go get Justice and take him to yours.” The thought of being away from that little boy hurts just the same as it does when I think of not being with Grimm.
“Come again?” Grimm demands, turning me to face him.
I straighten my shoulders and hold my head high. “I said take me to my place first.”
“Why?”
A tinge of uneasiness flows over me as Grimm steps back.
“I just want to go to my place. I think we need time apart.”
“Time apart?” he repeats, his lip curling at the side in a sneer. “Right, I’ll take you home. Get in the fuckin’ truck.”
I flinch at the harsh tone of his voice, unsure of what to expect next. Is this it? Is he done?