Page 31 of Saving Grace

“Stop fighting, Mack.”

We fall silent and watch the TV. The men run around chasing a ball to entertain the masses. I zone out.

You got this backward.

Not everything is about you.

Grace is here, even though I asked them not to find another carer. Does sheneedto be here?

The fleeting moment of empathy fades.

What the hell does that have to do with me? She can find her refuge someplace else. The last thing I need is temptation I have to squash every time she walks past, or when we’re caught in the same space as each other. She’s too young. She must be at least ten years younger than me. She should leave and find herself someone who can give her everything. That Joel guy. He keeps texting.

Not stay here and end up anchored to half a man.

The bitter thoughts send a sardonic laugh up my throat. Laws glances at me before returning to the game in front of us. Here I am, assuming she would be into me. I highly doubt it—she barelytolerates me. Pretty sure if the paycheck dried up, she’d hightail it out of here on the next wind change.

On that note, I slump further into the chair, letting the pity party I’m throwing myself pull out all the stops.

When the cake is cut and the clowns are sent in, I let the fire consuming my chest take me down.

Fuck my miserable life.

The delight on Grace’s face drains as the words I spat at her sink in.

“Addy said?—”

“Don’t care. Not doing it. Anddefinitelynot with you.”

Her eyes widen, mouth gaping, brows snapping down. I take in the spare room she’s spent hours turning into a home gym, all set up to accommodate my exercises and physio routine.

I’m an asshole. I’m aware.

“Mackinlay. Youhaveto do this. The doctors?—”

I hold a hand up. “Stop, Grace. I’m not doing it.”

I don’t dare raise my voice, lest the cavalry—in the form of my older brother—hears and falls in to help defend her position.

“You are a stubborn ass, you know that, right?”

“Not very quick on the uptake, are you, young’un.”

She scrunches her face with a head tilt. “Did you just call me young’un? What are you, ninety? For your information, I’m not as young as I look.”

“Okay, Miss Sorority.”

“Fine, if you won’t do it for yourself or even your family, do it to get rid of me.” The hurt flashing through her eyes sends thestone that lodged in my throat with her last words sinking to my gut.

I open my mouth to respond, but Laws appears in the hallway, leaning on the opening, still in his running clothes, arms folded over his chest, eyebrow raised.

“Fine, out of my damn way.” I wave a hand toward the door.

Grace retreats, and I swear a glint of moisture lines her eyes. She’s halfway down the hall before I have the chance to repair the damage I did. I walk into the gym space. The posters from the physio are up on the wall. Towels sit rolled up on a small table. A water station. A radio. The equipment is set out in the exact order I need to use it. A new fan in one corner.

Guilt washes over me like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head.

Fuck me.

---