Page 46 of Heart Strings

My chest tightens when she abruptly leaves, and without a second thought, I flag down the waiter, asking him to pack up our breakfast to take upstairs.

The elevator ride to our room feels longer than usual, my mind racing with possibilities. What could have upset Gracie so much that she’d leave like that? When I reach our door, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for anything.

Opening the door and walking to the bedroom, I find Gracie sitting on the edge of the bed, her shoulders shaking with sobs. My heart breaks at the sight. Dropping everything on a table, I rush over to her, sitting beside her and pulling her into a hug.

“Gracie, what happened?” I ask softly, stroking her hair.

She leans into me, her body trembling as she tries to compose herself enough to speak. “It was Ava,” she finally manages to say, her voice a whisper. “She sat down after you left, and she said... she said such horrible things.”

I stiffen, my mind already forming dark images. Why the fuck is Ava in Rome? In the same damn hotel as me? “What did she say?” I ask, while trying not to lose my absolute shit.

Gracie pulls away slightly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “She told me that she found a ring you bought; that you were planning to propose to her before you came back for my mom’s funeral. That you never really loved her, that she was just a consolation prize who looked pretty on your arm,” she chokes out, each word laced with hurt.

Anger surges within me, hot and fierce. “Gracie, look at me,” I say, tilting her chin up so her eyes meet mine. “I was never going to propose to Ava. There was no ring. She’s lying to you, trying to hurt you because she’s bitter and twisted.”

Gracie’s eyes search mine, looking for the truth, her breath hitched with lingering sobs. “Really? But she seemed so sure, and the way she said it—”

“I promise you, she’s manipulating the situation. She’s known for playing games like this,” I say firmly, my jaw clenched at the thought of Ava twisting the knife in Gracie’s heart. “Remember what Ty said? How he suspects Ava was behind him being drugged? It’s her, Gracie. She’s trying to mess with your trust.”

Gracie nods slowly, absorbing the information. “She also asked about the bookstore, Connor. There was this smirk on her face, like she knew something bad had happened there.”

That revelation sends a chill through me and the gears in my head immediately start turning. “She’s trying to get under our skin, Tink. But we won’t let her. We can’t let her destroy what we have. I won’t allow it,” I assure her, my determination steeling my voice.

She looks at me, a fragile smile tugging at her lips. “I’m trying not to let her get to me, but it’s hard. She knew exactly what to say to bring me down.”

“I know, babe,” I say, pulling her into another hug. “But you have me, and I have you. We’re in this together, remember? We’re stronger than her petty attempts to make us miserable.”

We sit there for a while, just holding each other, the silence of the room enveloping us in a comforting embrace. Eventually, Gracie pulls back slightly, her eyes brighter, a bit of her usual spark returning.

“Thank you for this,” she says, breathing out a sigh. “I don’t know why I felt so powerless in front of her. Thank you for calming me down.”

“You’re my priority, and I’ll always be here to protect you, to support you,” I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

After a moment, I stand and pick up the breakfast tray that was brought up, bringing it over to the bed.

“Let’s have our breakfast here. Just relax and spend some time together, okay? We can plan our day, maybe visit some places we haven’t seen yet.”

Gracie nods, managing a small laugh. “That sounds perfect,” she says with a weak smile, and I can tell the thing with Ava is still bothering her.

So as we eat, I make it my mission to make her laugh, to bring back the lightness to her eyes. By the time we’re done with breakfast, Gracie is smiling genuinely, the shadows of Ava’s words slowly dissipating in the light of our shared love and resilience.

Today, like every day with Gracie, is about us. And no one, not even Ava, can take that away from us.

Chapter 35

Gracie

The curtains are drawn, and outside, the city of Rome buzzes with life, unaware of the turmoil inside me. It’s been a few days since the encounter with Ava, and her words still echo in my mind, unsettling and sharp.

Connor is out at a business meeting, discussing potential gigs with local promoters, his career always on the move. I’m so proud of him, truly, but tonight, his absence feels more pronounced, leaving me with too much space for my thoughts.

I sit at the small desk by the window, my laptop open in front of me. I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to college, something to focus on that’s mine alone, something that makes me feel like I’m moving forward.

I browse through different programs, my interest piqued by courses in Creative Writing and Literature. As I read through the course descriptions and the possible career paths, a spark of excitement ignites within me. This could be my chance to expand my horizons, to build a future that’s not just about running a bookstore or being known merely as Connor’s girlfriend.

The soft chime of an incoming message breaks my concentration. It’s from Connor:

Hey Tink, just wrapping up here. Miss you. How’s your evening going?

---