Page 21 of Butter My Biscuit

“Gracie,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Brought you something.”

She glances at me, and I smile, handing her a glass.

She sniffles. “You filled this full.”

“Of course I did. Thought you could use a hefty dose of theI don’t give a fucksyrup.”

I hold up my glass, and she does the same.

“To friendship and always being there,” she says, then clinks her glass against mine.

“To always being there,” I repeat.

Her nose and cheeks are red, and her eyes are swollen from crying.

We shoot down the shots, and she does a little wiggle at the end.

“Will you bring me the bottle?”

“You might feel like shit tomorrow,” I warn.

“I feel like shit right now.”

I nod and make my way to the living room, changing into something more comfortable. Then, I grab the whiskey and return to Grace. I slide in next to her, handing her the bottle. She chugs. Then, I open my arms, and she falls into them.

“It’s gonna be okay. I know you’re hurting, and I’m fucking livid over it, but it’s better to learn these things now.”

“Why does this happen? Why am I the queen of failed relationships?”

I keep my hold on her as she cries on my T-shirt. “I’m probably not the best person to give advice. But I’ll tell you this, it ain’t you, princess. You’re not the problem.”

“I am.”

I pat her arm, and she pulls away.

I tuck her hair behind her ears and study her pretty face. “You’re a bit too gullible.”

She crisscrosses her legs, leaning her head against the headboard as our arms brush against one another.

“How did you know he was married?” She takes another swig and then hands me the bottle.

“It was all the red flags.”

She sniffles. “Tell me.”

“He never went out of his way to visit you. I’d drive across the fucking world for someone I was in love with. I’d literally walk five hundred miles over hot coals. Oh, and how he canceled on Halloween and didn’t come to the party. That was bullshit. And even though you told me he might visit for Christmas, I knew he wouldn’t. That’s not love.”

When he canceled visiting her on Halloween, she was devastated. So, I found her a Princess Peach costume to match me and my younger brother Colt’s Mario and Luigi costumes. Had she and I planned it together, I’d have probably been Bowser because Lord knows I will steal Grace away from any man and fight them for her.

Her bottom lip quivers. “Oh.” Then, more tears fall. “He was supposed to join me for my sister’s wedding. Guess I’ll be going to that alone, too, like always. I was hoping next year would be different, that I’d be in an incredible relationship. I was looking forward to Hawaii. Now, not so much.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Really?” She looks at me.

“Yeah. Why not? I don’t think I have anything going on other than work. What do I need to do?”

“Nothing. It’s all paid for. I just need to change the reservation.”

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