Page 38 of You Shouldn't Have Come Here

Joe patted my shoulder, and his eyes glistened. “I’m glad you’re moving on.”

I didn’t say anything and just nodded. I knew Joe wanted me to date again. Probably more for his sake than mine.

He tilted his head. “Introduce me, so I can find out what’s going on with her car.”

“Fine, but don’t say anything weird,” I warned.

He ran his fingers through his hair and straightened out his belt buckle. “I’m cool as a cucumber, bro.”

“I’m serious.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t want you scaring her off.”

“I won’t.”

I relaxed my face and led him toward Grace. A pair of oversized sunglasses covered her eyes, and her nose was in a book. It was obvious she spent time in the gym because her body was toned from her arms down to her legs.

“Grace,” I called out.

She looked up from her book and pulled off her sunglasses, revealing those blue, blue eyes.

“This here is my brother, Joe.” I pointed to him.

He bent down, extending his hand.

“Nice to meet you.” Grace shook his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine,” he said, emphasizing the wordpleasure. He did that sometimes now—put emphasis on the wrong word when he spoke.

She gave me an odd look.Sorry, I mouthed.

“You here to look at my car?” Grace asked.

Joe clasped his hands in front of him and his biceps flexed. Hislittle-dogcomplex was at work.

“Of course. Calvin here couldn’t handle it without me,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s take a look at that car.”

Joe redirected his attention to Grace. “Tell me what happened to it.”

She sighed. “It was fine all the way here, and I drove a long way. But when I left Betty’s Boutique, the check engine light came on. It started vibrating and shaking, even more so when I accelerated,” Grace said. I could see the worry on her face.

Joe nodded. “All right, I’ll take a look at it.”

“Thanks,” Grace said. “Keys are on the kitchen table.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re not stranded here with my big bro.” He laughed.

Grace’s eyes bounced from me to Joe and back again like a pendulum swinging. My jaw tightened but I smiled anyway and steered my brother toward the house. The less he said to her the better.

21.

Grace

I watched the two of them walk away. Joe was nearly six inches shorter than Calvin, but they were different in more ways than just height. A lump sat in the pit of my stomach. It had begun to form a few days prior, and grew with each passing moment. It was like a tumor; maybe benign, maybe cancerous. Regardless, I’d find out soon enough. Joe’s presence was like Miracle Grow for the lump. There was something off about him. He seemed like a man with a guilty conscience. It gave me that sinking feeling like when you sense something bad is going to happen—a primal instinct for impending doom. Like a cold sweat. Hairs that stand upright. Goose bumps on hot skin.

It wasn’t just Joe though. It was this ranch. It was Calvin too. He seemed apprehensive about his brother’s very presence—like a zookeeper with a wild animal, careful to keep their guard up while also anticipating the ferocity of the creature. The two walked side by side, playfully pushing each other and laughing like a pair of brothers would.

Then again, looks could be deceiving. I’m sure Abel loved Cain right up until the very end.

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