Page 9 of All I Need

I ROUSE A GRUMBLING GRAYSON with a little more pep in my step than I usually carry on a Sunday morning. If I know Miss Polly, she’ll have Ellie in that seat next to her. I fell asleep to thoughts of her and woke up with her still on my mind. What brought her to our sleepy little town? Trust isn’t something I have the luxury of giving. What did she mean by that? As curious as I am about her story, I also can’t get the vision of her out of my head. Never before have I met someone as beautiful as Ellie. Or as broken.

My phone in the pocket of my black trousers alerts me with a text so I give Grayson one more gentle slap to the back to get him moving. With one last reminder that it’s time to get up if he wants that fried chicken from Miss Polly, I head down the stairs to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.

I dig my phone out of my pocket and settle against the counter as I take a small sip of the steaming brew, my bulldog, Brutus, is snoring at my feet, as usual.

Willow: How was your night?

Me: Interesting. Easier to explain in person.

Willow: Yikes.

Me: Lol it’s fine. Heading to services. Grayson’s hoping for some chicken from Miss Polly for lunch.

Willow: So you saw Miss Polly last night? Sounds like it was an interesting night.

I laugh to myself at how well she knows Miss Polly.

Me: Yup. See you there. ;)

Willow: Ok

Grayson comes down the stairs, hair sticking up in every direction. He dramatically sits down in a kitchen chair and lays his head on the table, arms stretched out wide beside him. “Why am I awake?” he mumbles.

“Miss Polly’s fried chicken,” I remind him.

He slowly lifts his head and graces me with a crooked grin that reminds me of when he was younger. “Right. It’s worth it.”

Brutus walks over to Grayson and drops in front of him, all four legs spread out. Grayson reaches down and scratches the top of his head and Brutus lets out a pathetic moan. “He’s so lazy.” I just sip my coffee. I don’t need to agree to what he already knows is true. “Breakfast?”

“Shower first. I’ll make you some eggs while you’re getting ready for church.”

His head jerks up at my offer. It’s not that I’m not always willing to make him breakfast but lately I’ve been making him do it on his own. “Really? Thanks Walker. You’re the best.”

“Don’t you forget it.”

He stands up and starts for the stairs then stops in his tracks. Straightening to his full height, which is just a little shy of my 6’2”, he slowly turns around and points at me, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. “Wait. Why are you so cheery this morning?”

I shrug, not meeting his eyes. “I just got a good night’s sleep last night.”

“Liar. You’re hoping Miss Polly convinces Ellie to go to church with her today.”

“Why would I care if she comes with her?”

“Because you like her,” he states simply.

“How can I like her? I talked to her for all of ten minutes.”

“I’ve asked girls for their Snapchats in less time than that.”

“Yes, but I’m not a teenager.”

He looks at me for a second. “You’re right. You are pretty old. In fact… is that a gray hair coming in?” he asks, inspecting my head a little closer.

“Shut up, you punk. I do not have gray hair,” I growl.

“Maybe you’ll get lucky and Ellie likes a silver fox,” he teases.

I playfully push him away from me.

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