Page 64 of Deception
“Hailey’s with the kids,” her brother assures. “I came to see if I could get any update on when the vote was going to be. Dad’s been avoiding my calls.”
“Did he give you anything?” Kent asks.
Shaking his head, Gavin sighs and leans on a table. “Just that it’s tomorrow. For all three of us.”
“At least the other Prospect is behind the bar tonight. He may not be my favorite guy in the world, but he’s not the worst tocome through here,” he says. “Kind of entitled, but that’s easily overcome.”
She continues to hold his hand as they walk to the bar. “Why does he seem entitled?”
The moment her eyes land on the Prospect behind the bar, she freezes. Kent continues talking without noticing, and she feels like she can’t breathe. “Because he’s dating Colt’s sister.”
“Cole,” Gavin calls out, “this is my sister. Gracie, this is Cole Walsh.”
Kent offers him a fist bump, and Gracie’s mouth goes dry.Breathe, Gracie. Breathe.
Forcing a smile, she nods to him as he smiles at her. “You know, I should call Hailey quickly to check on Nolan. Make sure she’s doing okay with both kids. Get me a soda?”
The confused looks from both Kent and her brother don’t deter her, and she hurries out the back door, resting her back against the building as she gulps in air.I can do this. I can pretend to be normal.
“Look, I don’t want any problems,” Cole says before walking out from the shadows.
She jumps and looks at him. “Any problems?”
“I couldn’t try to join when I graduated. I made a promise to my parents to give college a try, but I’d really like to be cordial, Gracie.”
Her eyes narrow as she stares, dumbfounded. “Cordial? Of all the things you could say to me, this is the best you can come up with?”
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know. How about asking how your son is? He’s great, Cole. Not that you care.”
“I told you, he’s not my kid. And if anything, I should be angry at you. You were going to try to ruin my life.”
“You’re the only guy I slept with,” she says, her voice low. “And how the hell was I going to do that?”
His jaw clenches. “We both know how you got around. You practically threw yourself at me, and I was a weak man. I gave in, but I shouldn’t have. But that is not my son.”
“I didn’t say anything because I found out afterwards that you were with Klaire, but you cannot join my father’s club.”
The smirk he gives her makes her want to reach out and scratch his eyes out. “Try to stop me. I’m dating the President’s sister. I’m as good as in, Gracie. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
The doors open, and Cole disappears into the shadows. Vomit rises in her throat, and she hurries to the dumpster as her dinner reappears.
“Gracie? Are you okay?” Kent asks, quickly at her side.
“No,” she whispers. “I’m far from okay.”
His worried gaze breaks her, and she bursts into tears. She moves to sit on the picnic table, and he rubs her back. “Are you sick? Is it dinner? Do you want to go home?”
Far, far away from here is where she’d like to be. “Yeah, actually. I know you wanted to hang out here tonight—”
“We have years to do that. Are you okay to ride, or do you want me to borrow one of the pickups?”
“I think the air will be good,” she says and walks towards his bike.
I have to tell him, but how? It was the one thing when the embarrassment of being led on and fucked by someone who left me and Nolan was a faceless man. It’s different admitting who he is. How can he join my family’s club?
They arrive at her house, and Gracie still hasn’t figured out how to tell him. Kent walks her to the door, and she can’t look up into his eyes. His concern is too much right now.
