Page 121 of Peppermint Bark

“Grace,” I answered emphatically, clearly, without reservations.

“Then go get your girl,” he said. “She’ll be worth the discomfort of the call you know you need to make next.”

Oh shit.

After hanging up with Nick, I stared at the bathroom wall for almost an hour.

Did I really need to call her? Couldn’t I do this without her?

Maybe I could ask without saying it aloud. I’d send a fruit basket, or a trophy with a tongue sticking out and an engraved plaque: ‘Yep, you told me so.’

But those took time. And I didn't want to waste another day without having Grace in my life. Recounting the story to Nick reminded me of all the ways I'd messed up, all the reasons I'd have to grovel … and planted a kernel of hope that since she was the most generous woman on the planet, she'd find a way to forgive me and give me another chance.

But I had to figure out how to make it up to Grace before I called her.

Which meant I had to make this uncomfortable call, now.

My fingers shook as I pressed the green button.

"Lex?" her normally peppy voice answered cautiously.

Knowing she would gloat about this for the rest of our lives, I blurted out: “You were right and I was wrong.”

“What else is new?” my sister said dryly. “You've finally come to your senses?”

“Yes, and I need …” my voice cracked as my mouth went dry. Grace, I reminded myself. I was doing this for Grace. Gripping the bathroom counter for strength, I gritted out, “I need your help.”

“It’s about fucking time.”

I unlocked my phone to put it in airplane mode when Grace's name showed up on the screen for the first time in weeks. The only name I wanted to see … at the worst possible time.

When I fumbled to answer, it fell and slid down the aisle. I unbuckled and crawled for the phone as it skidded under the flight attendant’s shoe. She glared as I half-fondled her pumps. “You need to turn that off, sir.”

I scrambled to retrieve it, clutching it to my chest. “It’s a really important call.”

She restrained her ‘everyone says it’s an important call’ eye roll.

“I’ll make it quick,” I promised. She tapped her wrist and looked away. First class perks.

The ringing had stopped. Fuck.

Grace answered on the second ring.

“Hey,” she said. Such a simple sound, but god, I missed her.

“Hey,” I said, almost breathless. “It’s so good to hear your voice.”

“Listen, I've been thinking about your offer, and if you’re open to it? I’m ready to negotiate.”

My heart, which had been on life support since my last flight in the opposite direction, stumbled into an irregular beat.

“Sir, you really need to turn that off,” the flight attendant said again.

“That’s not going to happen,” I growled at the flight attendant.

“Oh,” Grace said, her voice meek. “Well maybe I should —“

“No, Grace, not you,” my voice emerged frustrated.

---