Page 85 of Forbidden Kisses
They stepped out, but Grace continued talking, afraid that if she let herself second-guess, she’d end up taking Jack home with her tonight. “You blamed everything on my mother, Jack, when the truth is, I was in that hospital bed because of you. My mother asked me to help fix her wrongs. The reason I wanted to do that so badly, though, is because I knew you and I could never be together if I didn’t. And I wanted to be with you. There’s nothing I’ve wanted more since I was fifteen.”
He stared at her.
Grace guessed that if she were to look around, she’d see at least half a dozen others staring at her in the hospital lobby, too. “That’s not how it works, though. I shouldn’t have to do something to make it work, Jack.” She took a retreating step and dared to glance around the room.
Joey was standing there. He’d taken the stairs and must have gotten sidetracked from leaving immediately. She lifted her bag from Jack’s hand with her right arm. “Goodbye, Jack.” Turning, she headed toward Joey before Jack could say anything. Really, there was nothing else to say. He couldn’t argue with her because it was all true and he knew it.
So did she, and it was shattering her heart.
Joey took her bag, but she still felt heavy. Forget the shower, she just wanted to go home to bed and sleep for a week.
—
Jack wanted to punch something. Apparently, the something or someone who needed punching, though, was himself.
At least he’d be alone when he got home. Tristan was spending the night in his new RV.
Pulling into his driveway, Jack cursed. He wouldn’t get to be alone. His brother Sam was sitting in his truck, waiting for him.
“Who called you?” Jack asked.
“Noah. Krista called him after Grace called her.”
Jack cursed again. “Don’t people in this town have better things to talk about?” Jack pushed his hands on his hips and turned to Sam. “If I asked you to, would you punch me?”
Sam stepped up beside him, seeming to actually consider the question. “No, I wouldn’t.”
Jack nodded. “I’ve got beer. Want one?”
“I’d love one.”
“So it’s your fault?” Sam asked, popping the tab on beer number one as they sat in Jack’s living room.
Jack leaned back on the couch and propped one foot atop his opposite knee. He took a long pull from his beer. “She’s right. I can’t get along with Tammy.” He looked at his brother. “I just can’t. Grace made dinner the other night for both of us and I could barely stand to sit there. I’ve always considered myself a forgiving guy, but Tammy Donner sold off our mother’s things.” The muscles in his jaw ticked. “How did that woman ever have a daughter as good as Grace?”
Sam shrugged. “No clue.”
Sam and Jack had commiserated over beer after Abby had walked out, too.
“So does that make this my fault then?” Jack asked. Because the way he saw it, it was just one more casualty of Tammy’s, and yet another reason to never want to see his ex-stepmother’s face again.
“I don’t like the woman, either,” Sam said. “Mom’s ring should’ve gone to Abby when I asked her to marry me.”
Jack slid a hand through his hair. “Grace says her mother’s changed. Apparently, Tammy regrets everything, but some things just can’t be forgotten.”
Sam nodded. “I know that all too well, brother. I’d give my left nut if Abby would forget the last two years of our marriage. But then I’d have to forget how she gave up on us so easy. Life’s a chain of things you wish you could forget.”
Jack stared at his brother. “Since when did you turn into a big philosopher?”
Sam laughed. “The more hard hits life throws you, the wiser you become.”
Jack tipped his head back and finished off his first beer, then got up to go get his second. “I should be the wisest man on earth, in that case.” He dipped into his fridge. “What about the more beers you consume?”
“What’s the opposite of wiser?” Sam asked.
“Dumber, I think. Want another?”
“Sure,” Sam said.
