Page 68 of Tell Me It’s Right

“You have a camera?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure.” She smiles uncertainly at me over his head, and I mouth a quickthank youas they turn and head for the back of the shop. Casey grabs Gracie’s hand like he’s known her for years.

My stomach sinks as soon as they’re gone and I have to turn back to Christine. Ifsheknows about Miles, I’m guessing everyone else in the family does too. I’m sure they see it as just another screwup to add to my tab. Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long. The arrest happened a week ago.

“Michael Cushing came by the house earlier.”

I sigh and rub my eyes. “I’m surprised you’re here and not my dad then.”

“He’s out of town. He doesn’t know.”

I eye her warily. “You didn’t tell him?”

She shakes her head and chews on her lip. “Do you want to tell me what happened? Because I have a feeling the version I heard isn’t the full story.”

I glance at Gracie over my shoulder. Casey’s sitting on the table farthest from the door with her camera in his lap. She’s hunched beside him with her hands at the ready in case he drops it, but I can tell from the tilt of her head that she’s listening to every word up here.

I don’t know the legality of what happened between Gracie and Miles, if there would be any way to punish him for that. Being a douchebag isn’t illegal. Reckless endangerment, maybe. Or driving under the influence, but what proof do I have for any of it? Maybe I should’ve encouraged her to go to the police that night. But in the moment, all I’d thought about was making sure she was okay.

When I turn back to Christine, she’s already followed my gaze.

“He deserved worse,” I mutter. “If he wants to press charges, let him.”

“He won’t get that far. I’ll make sure of that.” There’s a fierceness in her eyes I don’t think I’ve ever seen before.

“No offense, Christine, really, but what could you possibly do?”

She gives me a flat smile and lays both hands on the desk. “Oh, you have no idea how scary and convincing I can be. And I have a feeling Michael’s son’s behavior isn’t something he wants to be the latest town gossip. Reputation matters, especially for someone like him. What clients are going to hire him with a delinquent son running around? Don’t think I don’t know what he and Asher get up to. But I need you to tell me exactly what he did before I talk to Michael again.”

I glance at Gracie, feeling like it’s not my place to share if she doesn’t want me to. She blushes a pretty pink color when I catchher already looking my way. She looks from me to Christine, her teeth worrying at her lower lip, and nods.

“Can I take a picture with you?” Casey asks.

Gracie blinks back to him. “Are we smiling or is it a silly one? You have to press this button here…”

I turn to the very last person I would have expected to come to my rescue and sigh. “Okay.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

GRACIE

It quickly becomes clear Casey is an even better eavesdropper than I am and too smart for his own good. He smiles and pretends to be interested in the camera in his hands, but his eyes shift and his head tilts every time a voice drops a little too low to hear easily. As Liam and Casey’s mom drift to the green velvet chairs in the waiting area in the corner, I offer to take Casey to get ice cream three shops down.

He’s also about as far away from Liam’s personality as you can get. He’s friendly and bubbly and takes my hand with a huge smile as we head outside, then swings our arms between us as we walk.

“What flavor are you thinking?” I ask.

“Do I get one scoop or two?”

“Let’s start with one. But I’ll get a different flavor so you can try mine too.”

“Okay!”

I reach for the door, but he beats me to it. It takes him a second to get it open, then he holds it wide and waits for me to pass.

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