Page 65 of Together

I think she could breathe fire for how mad she is at me right now. We’ve only just met and she’s working her lawyer-y ways on me. Sitting across from me, staring me down, trying to throw me off.

Ashley told me that Grace isn’t judgmental about people, and that she might be highly educated but doesn’t think down on those who choose a different path. Something tells me Ashley’s wrong about her sister.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Ashley walking into the living room, glancing back and forth between Grace and me. “Everything okay in here?” Ashley asks timidly.

I peel my eyes away from her, not to give in, but because Ashley deserves my attention far more than Grace does.

“Everything’s great.” I stand up and move to her, kissing her cheek. “You look amazing,” I add, taking in her loose fitted jeans that have a few holes already ripped in the denim and baggy black and white striped sweater. Her boots have a short, wide heel and only go up to her ankles. She doesn’t only look amazing. She also looks adorable.

“Thank you,” she says shyly, dipping her face and tucking a long strand of her beautiful dark hair behind her ear.

“You’re welcome. Good to meet you, Grace. I hope to have that dinner with you and the rest of the family real soon,” I tell her with a smile.

“Sure,” Grace agrees, sounding like she’d rather eat dirt than share a meal with me.

I’m not so easily deterred, though. “Set it up, Grace.”

“You ready to go?” Ashley asks, placing a hand on my arm.

“Absolutely.”

“Grace, are you going home or to the office?” Her voice is so full of hope, it’s almost comical. I have no idea why Grace is here but it’s clear that Ashley’s ready for her departure.

“Not home. Think I’ll just work here for a while today. That way I can talk to you after your appointment.”

“Oh.”

“That’s okay, right? You said I could stay here?” Grace points to where she’s set up a workstation of sorts.

“Yes, it’s fine with me,” Ashley says warily. “Just make yourself at home. Should be plenty of food in the kitchen, but I don’t have much for caffeine. You might need to go somewhere for a good cup of coffee.”

“You’re seriously not drinking caffeine?”

“I’ll have half a cup of coffee if I have a headache or something but otherwise, no.”

“Wow. I’m not sure how you survive,” Grace says. “Be careful and call me after.” She gives Ashley a hug and looks at me over Ashley’s shoulder. It’s not hard to ignore the fact that she’s trying to give me the stink-eye because I honestly don’t care. She’s made up her mind that I’m not trustworthy and I’ll do my best to change it, but unless she’s getting into Ashley’s head with the same junk, then I’m not going to spend my time worrying over it.

“We will,” I answer for Ashley.

Once we’re in my truck on the way to the doctor, she launches in.

“I heard your conversation, you know.”

I smirk. “Figured.”

“She had no right.”

“No.”

“It’s not about you.”

I look over at her and back to the road. “What makes you say that?”

“She found out her husband was cheating on her with a lady from his work and also lost his job because he was sending inappropriate pictures to her.”

I press my lips together and bite my tongue. I want to say something incredibly insensitive right now about not being surprised but that won’t do either of us any good so I keep my mouth shut aside from saying, “That sucks.”

“Yes, it does. It’s also not an excuse to treat you like she did. I’ll talk to her.”

---