Page 49 of Return To You

“Coffees was a good start,” he says.

I clench my jaw. He’s just trying to help. But help what? What am I trying to accomplish here?

“It’s only a start, though. Won’t get you very far,” he continues.

“We are talking about your sister, right?”

“Yeah,” he says softly, turning onto the long driveway to the farm.

“That don’t bother you?”

He turns his head briefly to me. “I love her. I want her to be happy. Lemme be straight with you. I think you’re the only one who can give her that.”

The only one? “Give her what?”

“The love she needs. You’ve always been it for her.”

That’s bullshit. That girl is gone. Look, he’s her brother. What does he know? Take me—I know nothing about Haley. Colton’s just trying to be nice. He was always a nice kid. I’m surprised he’s into relationship advice. I wouldn’t have pegged him for one of those. I need to let him down easy. “Naah. It was never that way.”

“You know, this is getting a little old.” He slows to a stop in front of the farm. “This driving you home drunk because you don’t have the guts to do what you need to do with my sister.”

I turn my head slowly and stare at him. “You guys let her marry some guy nobody heard about and was barely old enough to shave, and I wasn’t good enough for her? You’re fucking kidding me, right?”

In my drunken anger I do see the puzzlement and some degree of pain on his face. So I add, “Pardon my French.”

“You were gone four years when she got married, man. You expect to roll into town and she’ll be in your bed? I’ll say it again. It’s gonna take a little more work.”

I stay in my seat, looking into nothingness. “Besides... I’m leaving soon. Be far away.”

He looks at me with disappointment mixed with anger. “Then you better stay the fuck away from her while you’re here.

“She’s been through enough shit in her life. She’s in a good place now. Don’t mess it up.” He looks out the window, and even in my drunkenness I can tell he’s not done talking. “Look, man. I love you. Love you like a brother. Never forget what you did for me. But Grace? She needs a break, and she’s found it here. She’s in a good place now. Don’t fuck it up. If you can’t give her what she needs, stay away.”

Half of the stuff he says, I have no idea what he’s talking about. The other half, I get him loud and clear.

Saturday, I wake up with a splitting headache and go for a long run in the hills. I come back to a message for me on the kitchen counter. Mom and Dad are out and about, and I am to call Thalia and Lucas back for a small favor they need. Their number is scribbled on the note.

“Thanks for the call back,” Lucas says. “We have a small job, was hoping you could jump in for us and do it first thing today, if you’re available. It’s for someone who knows someone in town—you know how it goes. Anyhoo, they have a door that keeps getting stuck. A closet door in the bedroom. It’s an old house, and the woman wants someone who knows what they’re doing. Won’t break anything, respects antiques, yadda yadda. You get the picture. I’d go, but I have this big job starting and—”

“I gotcha, man. Lemme shower and I’m on my way.”

"Come and grab my truck, so you can use my tools.”

“Cool. What’s the address?”

thirteen

Grace

Saturday morning, I go straight to the spa without stopping at Easy Monday. I’m taking no chances. I don’t want to risk seeing Ethan. Or Amy. Or anyone.

The lights are on when I enter, door unlocked, classical guitar playing softly through hidden speakers, the soothing scent of beeswax candles and essential oils instantly calming my nerves.

Claudia is nervously arranging magazines on the small tables in the big room. “Grace. What are we going to do?”

“We’ll figure something out. Coffee?”

“But—they’re coming in thirty minutes! What are we going to do about the clients?”

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