Page 77 of Holding Grace

Chapter 28

Michael

“How’s married life treating you?”

I looked up from the desk where I sat as Jamey walked into the office at the pub and slumped down on the couch.

I was taking a break from the kitchen while I ate some dinner and worked on the schedule. Jamey had been working alongside me in the kitchen. His presence in the office told me things were well under control.

I thought about his question. “I’m not sure how to answer that.”

“Yeah?” Jamey eyed me, clearly surprised. “I thought you and Grace were doing great. You certainly looked happy and cozy at your wedding celebration.”

“It’s not that I’m not happy.” I wasn’t going anywhere near “cozy”, whatever the hell that meant. “It’s only been a week,” I hedged.

“Uh huh.”

He wasn’t buying that any more than I was. I pushed my hand through my hair and leaned back from the laptop I’d been working on.

“Grace is amazing, pretty damn close to perfect, in fact.”

“Not seeing the problem,” Jamey interjected.

“The problem is we’re married, but we’re not married.”

“Ah.” Jamey nodded in understanding. “I thought the two of you were close and heading in the direction of getting closer.”

“We were. At least it felt that way.” I thought about the kisses Grace and I had shared, each one hotter than the last.

“And?” Jamey prodded.

“And then she was attacked. And moved in with me – reluctantly. And married me – again, not her first choice. She still can’t drive or go out by herself. She’s dependent on me for a lot.”

Jamey heard everything I wasn’t saying. “Grace knows her own mind, Michael.”

“Does she, though? This whole situation is fucked up.”

Jamey stood, preparing to head back into the kitchen. “I have a radical suggestion.”

“What’s that?”

“Talk to her.” I shook my head – like it was that simple – but Jamey wasn’t deterred. “I mean it, man. Fucked up situations are what happen when you don’t talk to each other. You know I speak from experience.”

He did. His relationship with Meg had been a rocky road at times.

“What if I tell her I want more, that I want our marriage to be real, and she doesn’t want that? She’s basically trapped with me right now. It’ll be awkward as hell.”

“What if you tell her and she wants the same? Isn’t it worth the risk?”

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