Page 29 of Heart Strings

She smiles weakly, the aroma coaxing a more genuine smile as she takes a sip. “This is really good, Connor. Thank you.”

We eat mostly in silence, the crackle of the fire filling the space between us. Once we finish, Gracie sets her mug down and shifts on the sofa to lay her head in my lap, still wrapped in the blanket.

I automatically start stroking her hair, a comforting gesture that feels as natural as breathing.

She sighs, a sound filled with weariness. “I need to start dealing with the mess in the morning. There’s so much to do... paperwork, talking to the insurance company. It’s going to be a nightmare.”

I continue running my fingers through her hair, trying to think of how best to support her. “Hey, I can help with that if you want. Whatever you need, I’m here.”

Her expression tightens a little. “I know, and I appreciate it, Con. Really, I do.”

There’s a pause, and I can tell she’s wrestling with something more. Finally, I just lay it out there, “Look, Gracie, if it comes down to it, I can help financially too, to get the shop back in order.”

She sits up immediately, her eyes wide and a bit alarmed. “Connor, no. I can’t let you do that. I appreciate the offer, really, but I can’t accept money.”

I sit back, watching her face flush with a mix of pride and panic. “It’s not a big deal for me. I want to help.”

“But it’s a big deal to me, Connor.” Her voice is firm, her gaze intense. “I need to handle this on my own. It’s important to me.”

I nod slowly, understanding her need for independence, even if it frustrates me not to be able to do more. “Okay, I get it. But my offer stands, alright? No strings attached, just me helping out a friend.”

Gracie relaxes a little, leaning back against me, her body gradually uncoiling. “I know, and that means the world to me. Just... just being here like this, supporting me, it’s more than enough.”

We sit in silence for a while, just the sound of the fire and the occasional shift of logs. I keep stroking her hair, thinking about how much she means to me, how hard it is to see her struggle.

But I can’t force her to accept my help.

After a long pause, Gracie speaks up again, her voice soft but clear. “It’s just... the shop was my mom’s dream, you know? And now it’s mine. I need to do this, to prove I can handle it, to myself and to her, even if she’s not here.”

I understand then, the depth of her determination, her connection to the shop not just as a business but as a legacy. “You’ll do it, Gracie. You’re one of the strongest people I know. You’ll rebuild, and it’ll be amazing.”

After slipping back into a comfortable silence again, I continue stroking her hair, the repetitive motion comforting for both of us.

“Connor?” Her voice is barely above a whisper.

“Yeah?”

“Stay close to me tonight? Just... I don’t want to be alone.”

My heart swells a little at the request, warmth spreading through me. “Of course, I’m not going anywhere.”

As we sit there, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the room, I think about everything that has happened. Despite the chaos and the challenges, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Gracie is my best friend, the person who knows me better than anyone else, and now, maybe, something more.

“I’m really glad you’re here, Connor,” she whispers after a long silence.

“So am I, Tink.”

Chapter 22

Connor

I’m jolted awake by the sound of Gracie’s voice, sharp and distressed, piercing through the quiet of the morning. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sit up and listen, trying to gauge what’s happening.

Last night after she fell asleep, I took her to the guest room. Even though she asked me to stay with her, I couldn’t bring myself to sleep in the same bed as her, so I tucked her in warm and went to my own room.

I push myself out of bed and pad into the living room, where I find Gracie pacing back and forth, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She looks stricken, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock. As she ends the call, she looks up at me, her bottom lip trembling visibly.

Without a second thought, I close the distance between us and pull her into a tight embrace. She collapses against me, her body shaking as she begins to sob.

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