“You’re not at home because I’m in LA, and I just left your place.Unless you saw me at your door and decided not to answer.”Her wry tone pulls a reluctant smile from me.
“You’re in LA?”Excitement spikes, then immediately drops.
“Yeah.I flew in to surprise you for Thanksgiving.Zero had a work thing, and I figured I’d steal you for a few days.So, Grace… Where are you?I’ve got wheels and can meet you.”
I grimace.“I’m in Montana.On assignment.”
There’s a beat before the questions hit—fast and relentless.
What assignment?
Why didn’t you say anything?
She knows all about my work situation, and I feel guilty for not thinking to call her before now.She listens as I fill her in on Vitale and everything that came after.Well, noteverything.
“And this Hartley dude.”She pauses for effect.“You like him?”
“No.”I’m too fast on the denial.“What are you talking about?”
“Girl.You can lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me.”Her casual laughter causes me to bristle.Of course, leave it to Morgan to pick up on the one thing I don’t want to talk about.
“You’re not funny.”
“Oh, I’m hilarious, and you’re deflecting.Tell me all about your crush.”
“M, I’d love to cook up something that feeds your delusion—like I’m having a torrid affair with my subject”—I’m a liar and going to hell—“but I have to go help with Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Sure, you do.”
“I do.”I clamp my mouth shut before I confess I’m staying at Maddox’s house.Absolutely not happening.
“Fine.I’m bummed I don’t get to see your beautiful face.”
“Me, too.”
“I’ll let you go, but promise me one thing.Please, please tell me he’s nothing like that assclown Blane.”
I’m not opening that door.It was three months of my life I wish I could erase, and she’ll never let me forget it.If I open that door—even to defend myself—I’ll never get off the phone.“Bye, M.”I hang up before she can protest.
Pushing the conversation out of my mind—though I know it isn’t the last of it—I head into the kitchen and offer help wherever it’s needed.Meri doesn’t hesitate to put me to work.Chopping.Stirring.Setting the table.
I welcome the distraction, feeling the need to stay busy, to be useful.
By midafternoon, the house is a revolving door.Oliver and Wren arrive first, then Eddie, followed not long after by Percy and the infamous Pop, owner of Pop’s Grill and father to Wren and Percy.
He stands in the doorway like he belongs everywhere all at once, barrel-chested, warm-eyed, bundled in a coat that has seen more than a few Montana winters.When Raf introduces us, Pop takes my hand in both of his and smiles like he already knows me.
“Grace.”His voice is gravelly and kind.“About time.”
I watch Percy next to her father, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d never know there’s friction.Their mutual love for one another is clear to see.
The house only gets louder with the arrival of Zoe, Serena, and Kellen.At some point, Blane slips in, too, and while he’s been in the house all day, this is the first I’m seeing him, and I’m yet to see Maddox.We haven’t crossed paths all morning.
Blane finds me near the kitchen island.“Grace, where have you been?I haven’t seen you since last night.”
I keep my hands busy, staking napkins, and try not to bristle.“I’ve been here all day.If you’d come down to help, you would’ve found me.”
I internally wince at how thin my nerves are, stretched by the knowledge now more than ever that it’s time for Blane to leave.He can’t find out I slept with Maddox.