Page 94 of Sweet Temptation (Men of Honor 2)
“No one is going to notice us next to you. I can’t wait until Cooper sees you in your dress,” Julia replies back with a smile.
“It is pretty epic isn’t it?” Kayla’s smirk turns into a laugh we all share.
Julia gets a text, pulling her from the conversation. As she reads it a major blush stains her face.
Kayla rolls her eyes, “Is the Hulk sexting you right now?”
Her smile says it all as she tucks the phone back into her purse before looking over at me. “Jax says they’re not too far away. Only about an hour or less.”
I nod, “I got one from Sawyer a little bit ago saying the same. They sure did travel far. Did Jaxson say where they were goin’?”
“No, but I didn’t really ask either.”
“They went to Virginia.”
I freeze; Kayla’s answer has my blood beginning to run cold as she says the name of the one place I try to forget exists.
Relax, Grace. There could be many reasons why they went there.
“How do you know?” I ask her, attempting to keep myself calm and collected.
She shrugs, “I overheard Coop talking to Jaxson about it over the phone. Whatever took them there has Coop in a stressful mess.”
And it’s now I know that this has nothing to do about getting stuff for the gym like I assumed. Like he led me to believe.
Betrayal, fear and anxiety slams into me like a freight train.
“Grace? Hey are you all right?” Julia asks, putting a warm hand on my shoulder.
I try to paste a reassuring smile on my face but I feel tears sting my eyes. I have to get the hell out of here. “Yeah, I’m all right, but I need to go. There’s somethin’ I have to take care of.”
Pulling money out of my purse I leave enough to make sure my portion is paid for. “Whoa. Hold on there, girl,” Kayla says, grabbing my wrist. “First off, I’m paying and secondly you don’t look okay. What’s going on?”
I try to swallow past the hurt clogging my throat, “I’m so sorry you guys. I need to go. I promise I’ll explain everything to you later, but I just can’t right now.”
They both watch me and can clearly see how close I am to losing it.
“Okay. I’ll take you now then.” Kayla replies, grabbing the keys from her purse.
I shake my head stopping her. “No, it’s not that far and I need the fresh air right now. Really you guys stay and have dessert. I promise I’ll call y’all later, okay?”
I give them both a hug then get the hell out of there before I completely lose it in front of them. My boots stomp the pavement as I walk with speed, a million emotions plaguing me.
How could he do this? He promised me!
Starting to shake with anger I pull out my phone and dial his cell. He answers on the third ring.
“Hey, Cupcake. We’re almost home.”
Hearing his voice has my heart skipping a beat, like always, before hurt takes over.
I swallow past the lump that’s lodged in my throat. “Wow, that was a pretty far drive for gym equipment. Where did you say you were goin’ again?”
I try to sound nonchalant but I don’t succeed. He goes silent, realizing I know.
I laugh but there’s nothing funny-sounding about it. “I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you lied to me!”
“I did not lie! Listen…”
“Yes, you did! You promised me, Sawyer.” My voice cracks along with my heart. “You promised you wouldn’t ever go there, that you wouldn’t tell a soul. How could you betray me like that? I trusted you with my secret.”
“Grace, we will fucking talk about this when I get home!”
“I don’t think so, buddy, you are not comin’ back to my house, you can sleep at your own damn place tonight!”
“Goddammit, Grace! …”
That’s the last thing I hear before hanging up. I’m too hurt and angry to talk to him right now, I don’t want to say somethin’ I’ll regret.
My phone begins ringing immediately. Knowing it’s Sawyer I throw it back in my purse and ignore it.
I can’t believe he did this. Why would he go there? Just to beat him up? Oh God, please don’t let him have killed him. Not that I care if Earl is dead, but for Sawyer’s sake…
God, now Jaxson and Cade know too. My own best friends don’t even know. I can’t believe he would betray my trust like this- whether his heart is in the right place or not.
Walkin’ up my driveway I get sad thinkin’ about sleepin’ without him tonight, and even though I’m mad as hell I consider callin’ him back, telling him he can come here. I love the big stupid dummy but I don’t want him thinkin’ what he did is okay.
Ugh, what the heck am I goin’ to do?
Walking into the house, with my mind racin’ and my heart heavy, I lock the door behind me before heading into the kitchen to drop my purse on the table. Then I clue in to Chuckie not doing his usual greeting.
“Chuckie boy, where are ya?” I hear him whine from my room. What the heck?
As I start down the hall to my bedroom, a familiar feelin’ begins to plague me, the same one I felt three years ago. Slowing my steps, I look around but don’t see or hear anythin’ out of the ordinary, except Chuckie’s whining.
My heart starts to pound so loud I fear it’s about to fly out of my chest. Pushing open my door, I turn on the light and see Chuckie hiding under my bed.
I look around again, but don’t see anythin’.
“Chuckie? Come here boy, what’s wrong?”
Continuing to whimper, he begins to crawl out from under my bed wearily, and I notice he’s limpin’. I worriedly start towards him when a loud bang sounds to my left, a second before a huge black figure rushes out of my closet. My reaction is fast. Turning, I bolt out the door just as he reaches for me.
