Page 59 of Waiting for Her

Guess I’m going with her.

Grady

I’d like tothank the Academy for my performance all week long. Pretending to not know she was my neighbor was easier than I expected. Especially when I realized she was trying so hard to remain unseen.

The first time I saw her sitting on her deck was the night after she told me about the miscarriage. She was wearing my old Liberty High School football hoodie and it made me smile, knowing she kept it all these years. I knew she had seen me already, she wasn’t nearly as invisible as she hoped. I reached for my phone to text her to see if she knew I was there but then I looked closer. She was slinking down in the seat, working very hard to not look in my direction. It seemed important to her for me not to know she lives right here so I let it go, waiting for her to tell me.

Always waiting for her.

Tonight, when I heard shrieking, I tensed and almost ran over. I thought she was being attacked but a quick glance over my shoulder proved she was perfectly safe.

Drew and I watched in amusement for a few minutes as she crawled around, her dark hair in a ponytail whipping around her.

She ducked and moved around the deck for a little bit. My phone buzzed, and I looked down not surprised in the least when I saw it was Andy wondering if I knew Bri lived across my backyard.

Andy walked in on his ex-wife having sex with another man, hence why they’re exes. A few years ago, he sat me down and talked to me about letting go of the bitterness and reach toward some forgiveness. If anyone knows a thing or two about forgiveness and moving on, it’s Andy.

After Bri broke up with me, rather than drifting apart, Andy and I grew closer. There are things I’ve confided in him I haven’t talked to another soul about.

“Grady!” Hazel shouts, not giving me a moment to prepare as she launches her little body at me with the force of a linebacker.

I lift her up and hold her close. It’s hard to explain why I feel so protective over Hazel. Or why I love her so fiercely. She’s not my sister and with me not being with Bri anymore, it’s not like I’m even a big brother by association. It’s just a natural feeling I have for her. I press my head in close, inhaling the sweet scent of Hazel’s fruity shampoo, the lavender drifting off her skin.

“Grady?” Hazel croaks out. “You’re kind of squeezing me.”

I chuckle and loosen my grip but don’t set her down yet.

“You’re my favorite, Grady,” she says, arms still latched around my neck while she leans back to look at me.

My lips twitch. “Don’t let your brothers hear you say that.”

“Oh, they’re my favorites too. But you’re my favorite guy. They’re not guys. They’re my brothers.”

I look to Bri who’s pressing her lips together tightly, trying not to laugh. I think Hazel is telling me she has a crush on me, but I can’t be sure.

I chuckle and shift so she’s sitting on my arm and whistle for Rocky, who’d wandered along with us but is currently sniffing at a few bushes, excited to have new scents to pick up.

“You haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Rockford yet, have you? I call him Rocky for short.”

“Oh, he’s so cute! He wants to see me,” she coos, swatting at my arms. She wiggles and plops down onto the grass, Rocky wastes no time in sidling up next to her, knocking her over with his massive snout as he sniffs and licks her cheeks.

Her adorable laugh rings through the air. I can’t tear my eyes away as it hits me like a bullet to the chest. If Bri hadn’t miscarried, our little boy or girl would be a year younger than Hazel. My skin prickles with awareness and I realize how painful that must have been for her. Just having miscarried and having a newborn baby sister around.

Feeling alone, despite her family surrounding her.

After she left me, told me she didn’t want to be with me anymore, broke my heart, I didn’t fight nearly as hard as I should have. My pride got in the way and instead of chasing her, I let her go.

Our eyes meet, hers bright green and glistening. I lick my lips and stand to my full height. Glancing down at Rocky and Hazel, I see they’re happily playing together, Drew sitting on the grass next to them, legs stretched out in front of him. Christine must still be in Bri’s house.

I jerk my head up for Bri to follow me and we walk the few steps it takes to get to my yard. Time to sort shit out as best I can. I’ve let things go for far too long. Yes, she stayed away but it’s not exactly like I made her feel as if I’d welcome her home with open arms.

“I owe you another apology.”

She looks taken aback. “What could you possibly have to apologize for?”

“I didn’t chase you.”

“I don’t understand.”

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