“Yeah, but not you,” Killian tosses back to me.
“Knock it off,” Lila says and pats the chair next to her for Grace to take. “Sit down and spill it.”
“I thought this was our private business?” I scoff. “And now everyone wants to know about it?”
Grace shrugs her dainty shoulders.
“Dude,” Ian laughs, “you can’t just make a scene in the middle of the cafeteria and not have people look at you or guess what the hell is happening. So really, this is both of your faults. So, now that you’re safely away from prying ears and back with your friends, air your dirty laundry.”
“Agreed,” Gage says from down the table.
“We worked it out,” I smirk and finally sit down next to Grace at the table. “See? We were adults about it.”
Lila rolls her eyes. “Yeah, you two sure looked like adults who were bickering.”
“We hugged, too,” I defend.
“You two are good then?” Killian asks.
“We’re fine,” Grace says. “Seriously, we’re fine. We’re still together, nothing has changed.”
“That’s good,” Lila sighs. “I was hoping you two would work your shit out.” And then she beams, “Alex said he loved you!”
“I know,” Grace grins. “It was so romantic.”
“Ha!” I throw my arm around the back of Grace’s chair and level her with a shit eating grin. “I’m not romantic my ass. I told you that I was romantic as shit. And you didn’t believe me.”
“To be fair,” Killian interjects, “no one thinks you’re romantic.”
“It’s true,” Ian adds on. “You have this whole thing where you’re kind of just an ass who flirts obnoxiously.”
I shrug. “Some people find that charming.”
“Let’s focus on the big thing, okay?” Lila asks loudly. “You know, the part where two of our very good friends are suddenly in love with each other? How awesome is that?”
“Fantastic, baby doll,” Killian deadpans.
Lila throws her roll at him.
I tug on Grace’s shoulder until she’s leaning back into me. Brushing a kiss across her temple, I say, “This really is different this time you know. Maybe we needed that break and just didn’t know it at the time.”
“To come back together?” Grace murmurs before pressing a kiss against my jaw.
“Exactly.”
And it’s not far off from what I had wanted back then. It just took us a while to figure out how to coexist and both get what we want.
“I have an idea,” I smile down at her. “A date that we can go on.”
“Is this the same thing you were trying to ask me in class?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, what’s the idea for you date?”
I wink at her. “It’s a surprise.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Grace
Okay, this was the last thing that I was expecting.
And on one hand I feel like a shitty person. On the other, I’m so glad that Alex did this.
We’re sitting in the den in my grandparents house. My grandma is cooking in the kitchen and Alex and Gramps are arguing about a game on the television. It’s surreal, seeing Alex back in this house, but not in a bad way.
It took me a long time to come back here, something that makes me feel shitty. Gramps is dying, I know that. And I also know he claims that everyone dies and I should lighten up. It’s one of the reasons I tend to call instead of actually visit.
These are the people who raised me. It terrifies me to see them wither away.
But, clearly, Alex took care of that in his own way.
Gramps leans back in his chair, snorting at something Alex says about the professional game on television. He catches me looking, winking and motioning with his hand to come further into the den to sit and talk.
“What’s going on, little girl?” Gramps grins at me as I settle across from him on the opposite couch. “Dance keeping you busy?”
“And this one,” I nudge my foot towards Alex, who’s sitting beside my grandfather.
“He always did like to constantly be doing something,” Gramps snickers. “Alex says you have some performance coming up.” He arches a thick, bushy grey eyebrow. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it’s not that important.”
Alex gapes at me. “Not that important? Are you kidding me? You’re on your way to being one of the best.”
“There’s no competition at Hanson,” I snort. “Well, not like there was in Wilmington.”
“Do you regret it?” Gramps asks me.
I answer without hesitation. “Of course not. That’s ridiculous. I came back here to be closer to you.” In case anything happened, but I don’t say that out loud.
“Funny way of showing it,” the old man mutters. But I know he knows why I stayed away, and he doesn’t fault me for it. I fault me for it, though. So maybe he just doesn’t want to add on to that self-loathing already happening.
“Thanks,” I grumble.
“I can’t believe you decided to go back out with this guy, though,” Gramps meanders on, pointing at Alex. “Did he make some grand gesture or something?”
“No,” Alex rolls his eyes. “She came to the conclusion that I’m awesome all on her own.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
I snort at Gramps’ remark. “I guess I just kind of came around to him. Feelings started coming back and stuff. I couldn’t help how I felt, and then I just gave in. No point in fighting it.”
“I fought it,” Alex says proudly. “I thought I’d finally get one over on her, and then she had to go making those damn sad eyes every time she was around me and I couldn’t help it,” he sighs. “She got through to me.”
“You two were always going to happen,” Gramps snorts. “Anyone with a set of eyeballs could tell you that. You’re both too damn stubborn for your own good.”
“It’s a product of how I was raised,” I grin over at him.
Alex laughs. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Grandma comes into the room then, holding a plate of food that she drops on to the coffee table in the center of the room. She walks over my feet and settles onto the couch next to me. “What are y’all talking about?”
“Them two,” Gramps informs her, pointing from me to Alex. “They got their head screwed on right, finally.”
“Bound to happen,” Grandma shrugs.
Of course they both think that. Neither of them thought I was being rational when I broke up with Alex four years ago. They thought I’d gone off my rocker and jumped the gun without thinking it all the way through.
They were right, of course. But like hell was I going to tell them that.
“Thanks for letting us come over,” Alex grins. “I know it was short notice, but I thought it would be nice coming to see you guys.”
“It’s nice to be visited,” Grandma smiles.
Gramps rolls his eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Darlene. He called and said he was taking Grace on a date and this is where he wanted to mooch to get some free food.”
“That is not how I said it,” Alex defends. “I said I was asking if Grace and I could have our date here and that free food was just an added bonus.”
“Terrible,” I laugh. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“You’re too scared to come home otherwise,” Alex shrugs. “How else was I going to get you over here?”
It’s a sobering thought, that one. Far too true, even though my grandparents are too polite to say it.
“You’re right,” I nod my head. “I’ve been a chicken-shit on wanting to come home. I’m sorry.”
Grandma pats my shoulder. “We understand, Grace. It’s hard, we know that. And you check in regularly anyways, having you physically here is just a bonus.”
Gramps clears his throat. “So, tell me about this dance?”
“It’s just an offer for a partial scholarship to cover next semester,” I expl
ain. “My dance teacher thought I would do well in it so I’ve been rehearsing for the big day.”
“She’s doing great,” Alex chimes in.
I shoot him a smile before looking back at my grandmother. “I actually took Alex’s advice and found a song that I’ve been working with. It’s new, has some lyrics in it, but I think it’ll make do.”
Grandma raises her eyebrows. “A song with lyrics playing? I thought you always hated that?”
“I did. I do. But I think it might actually help in this instance, you know?” I shrug. “Alex made a valid argument.” For the life of me, I don’t even remember what he said to change my mind, just the fact that he did change my mind.
“When is it? We’ll come support you,” Gramps smiles. “I haven’t seen you dance in forever.”
“Two weeks,” I sigh. “Alex’s game is earlier in the day and then my dance scholarship is that night.”
“We should go see you play,” Gramps grins over at Alex. “I’ve only ever caught your games on television.”
“We don’t want to overdue it,” Grandma chides.
“They have seating in the shade, under the overhang,” Alex offers out. “That way you’re not in the shade and you’re close enough to food, the restrooms and other places in case something happens. This way you won’t be out in the open really. And if it snows, it won’t get on you.”
“I used to walk up hills in the snow both ways to school,” Gramps rolls his eyes. “I don’t care about a little snow getting on me.”
“Then it’s settled, you’ll bundle up and come see a game, and then we’ll all go catch Grace’s performance,” Alex grins. “It’ll be a fun-filled Saturday.”
“So generous of you,” I snort. “But that does sound like a good day.”
“You’ll be okay for it, right?” Alex turns towards Gramps. “It won’t be too much?”
“The chemo quit working, not my legs. I’m older than dirt, believe me, a little cancer isn’t going to kill me anymore than my age will,” he huffs. “I wish you kids would quit beating around the bush and just accept it. I have, your grandmother has, our friends have, it’s just going to happen.”
“I know that,” I say quietly. “It just sucks.”
“Stepping on a Lego barefoot sucks,” Gramps rolls his eyes. “This is just life.”
My eyes sting, but I fight back the urge to cry at his words.
“How’s the game going on TV?” Grandma asks as a diversion. Thank goodness for her.
“They’re playing pretty well,” Alex leans back in his seat, glancing over at the television. “For some reason, their linemen keep digging low, too low, and it’s costing them the game. If he’d angle just a little bit higher, he’d be able to get a sack in, I’m sure of it.”
“Isn’t it against some football code or something to cheer for the defense when you’re an offensive player?” I ask.
“Nah,” Alex grins. “If I were trash talking some other team, then yeah. But we’re watching the NFL, sweetheart. You have to appreciate it for what it is. An art.”
“Football is not an art,” I laugh.
Alex rolls his eyes. “Not like dance is, but it’s the closest thing I’m going to compare it to.”
“Whatever,” I throw a piece of popcorn from the bowl between us at him.
“It’s like they’re four years-old,” Gramps mumbles at us.
I shoot him a grin and lean back in my seat, enjoying the moment.
Two hours later, Alex and I are on our way back to campus, sitting in Alex’s green Dodge at a stop light. He’s had one hand on my knee the whole way so far while keeping his eyes on the road ahead of us.
“That was really sweet of you,” I smile over at him.
He raises his eyebrow in question while easing the truck into motion as the light turns green.
“For having a date where I got to be around my family. It was really nice.”
“They’re important to you, Grace,” Alex chuckles. “So they’re important to me, too. Plus, I know how much you don’t want to go over there alone. How much it bothers you to see him that way, so I thought it would be alright since you had me there. Was I wrong to do it?”
It takes me a minute to find my words. “No, you weren’t wrong. Sometimes you know me better than I know myself is all.”
“I know what you needed, and it’s not a hardship to give it to you,” he says. “He doesn’t look like he’s dying, by the way. He just looks old and grumpy.”
“Yeah, that’s what Grandma says about him, too,” I smile. “It’s just hard.”
“And I’ll be with you every step of the way,” Alex says adamantly, punctuating that statement with a squeeze to my knee. “I meant it when I said I love you. That includes everything that you love.”
“So, dance?”
Alex rolls his eyes. “Yeah, even dance.”
“That’s okay, I guess that means I love football then,” I comment. “Since I love you, too. But you’ll probably be the only football player I ever root for. I don’t pay much attention to the sport otherwise.”
“That’s alright,” he grins. “You’ll be my favorite dancer.”
“I’m the only dancer you know!”
“Then it’s settled, you’re my favorite,” Alex laughs.
We stop talking for the remainder of the ride, it only lasts a few minutes before Hanson University spills into our view. The large brick buildings that have been there since the town was founded, and lasted through every hurricane brought on by the sea each year. This place was almost invincible.
When he pulls the truck into the student parking lot, he removes his hand from my leg and parks the truck. Alex glances over at me with a small smile across his lips as he clicks our seatbelts off and then reaches over the console for me.
It takes me less than a second to realize what he’s doing. And I happily lean my hip into the console to give him a soft kiss. It’s not hurried, our kisses never are. It’s sweet, and slow, and magical. No matter now girly that may seem.
Those other girls who got kisses from Alex? They didn’t know about this kind.
This was the kiss you have a girl you were in love with. One you wanted to keep. Not a throw away kiss.
“That was nice,” I breathe when he backs away from me.
This time, his smile breaks out across his face. “I’m trying to keep from steaming up the windows and making campus police wonder what the hell we’re doing in the parking lot.” He tugs on his door handle. “Come on, let’s get inside.”
We step out of the truck and I tug on my mittens before reaching out to hold Alex’s hand. The temperature never seemed to matter to him, he was in jeans and a thick sweatshirt, but he still feels toasty warm.
“Your mittens are freezing,” Alex comments when I tighten my hand around his.
“It’s not my fault your hand is like a giant heater,” I snort.
A few paces into campus and a few people stop to stare at us. Their eyes going from our faces down to our linked hands.
“When will people move the hell on?” I grumble.
“Just ignore them,” Alex says. “Don’t give them a reaction.”
“If I could flip them off, I would.” I hold up my mitten in front of my face. “But I don’t have fingers in these.”
Alex’s chest hums with laughter as he tugs me closer to his body. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And?”
“And I love you.” He bends down to press a kiss to my forehead.
Well, I guess I can live with that.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Grace
I really want to twitch my eye like Lila does when she’s irritated, but I don’t know how.
We’re in class again, this time the smarmy girls are on the other side of the room instead of crowding around Alex who seems to not even notice. Which is nice, but the girls are still giving me dirty looks.
“Your harem is awful far away,” Ian says as he drops into a cha
ir next to us. “Did you fart on them or something?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Alex rolls his eyes. “They’re all pissed off I have a girlfriend.”
Ian gapes. “Seriously?”
“I know, it’s stupid, and yet there they are all pissed off,” Alex sighs and throws his thumb over his shoulder.
“I went back to the pizzeria,” Ian comments offhandedly.
Alex straightens up and we both turn to face Ian.
“She wasn’t there. But the hostess gave me her schedule of when she works next. Megan won’t help. I thought she was going to rip my head off when I told her I wanted to talk to her friend,” Ian explains.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Alex points out. “Killian admitted to just egging you on. You didn’t have to go along with it.”
“I know.” Ian slumps back in his seat and glances over at me. “What would you do?”
“Me?” I point to my chest. “You’re asking for my advice?”
“You’re a girl. You probably know what she’s thinking. Just hit me with it,” Ian nods his head.
“Um,” I glance at Alex before looking back at Ian. “Okay, let’s see. You don’t sleep around like Alex and Killian, right?”
“You’d think he was a saint,” Alex grumbles. “He just keeps it quiet.”
“I don’t go out near as often as those two did before they got girlfriends, exactly,” Ian rolls his eyes. “Most of the girls who do like me don’t approach me often.”
“And she won’t date football players?” I ask for clarification.
“That’s what Megan said,” Ian shrugs. “I don’t know what that means though.”
“That is weird,” I agree. “But I don’t know. Unless she got burned by a football player it doesn’t make any sense.”
“And none of the guys on the team talked with her, I already asked,” Ian sighs. “So whatever her reason is, it didn’t happen here.”
“Maybe she’ll come around,” I say hopefully. “Maybe you should just be her friend and see where that gets you.”
“My girl is so smart,” Alex boasts, throwing his arm around me. “You offer good advice, sweetheart.”
The Wrong Girl_Hanson University_Book Two Page 19
