“I didn’t date either until I met Wren.”
“The town was okay with that?”
“The town doesn’t get to say what I do or don’t do. Sure, they were excited for me when I finally showed interest in someone, but my life is my life, and the same goes for you.”
“I don’t think the town would respond well to me sleeping around.”
“Have you been?”
The words hit me like a train. “Not here, of course. Or ... anywhere, really.”
“I’m not gonna pry because we barely know each other, but if it’s not been here and it’s not been anywhere else, then what’s going on?”
“I . . . I’m not sure I wanna know.”
Henry’s eyebrows rose. “The world doesn’t end when you fall for someone, you know, especially not someone like Grace. In fact, it’s when it begins.”
“I’m not falling for anyone. Grace is amazing, but that side of me is dead.”
Henry only raised one eyebrow this time.
“It really is. Trust me, there’s no chance.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
I didn’t know why the need to convince Henry was so strong. Normally, I wouldn’t want anyone to be in my business because they would talk, but Henry had already told me that wasn’t his style.
So, I wasn’t sure if I needed to convince him ormyself.
29
GRACE
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Mollie Wilson:Have you guys SEEN the drama about the diner about an hour away? They’ve always been shady, but apparently they made a lot of people sick recently. I almost stopped there while visiting my mom!
Comments:
Tammy Jane:Anyone with sense knows my place is the only place to go! Never gotten under a 100 on my health score, thank you very much.
Marjorie Brown:What about the time I found a press-on fingernail in my soup?
Tammy Jane:HEY! That’s supposed to be on the lowdown!!!
Mollie Wilson:Lowdown??? What???
Wren Hackett:I think she means the down-low. Don’t worry, no more nails can be found in soup.
Kelsey Marie:My bad, y’all!
Mollie Wilson:Should we be worried about them being in coffee then?
Kelsey Marie:I’ve gotten my shit together!!! Just ask Theo. I cause WAY less problems now.
I driftedin and out of sleep in the clinic chair, but one thing stayed with me through it all.
Mortification.