Page 98 of Tell Me It’s Right

“This is my present? Don’t mess with me, Leo.”

He grins. “So youdolike it.”

“Like it…oh my God, Leo!” I throw my arms around his waist and tug him into a hug. With me living rent-free in his house for months now, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he hadn’t gotten me anything at all. “This is amazing. I can’t believe you built this. Thank you so much.”

He pats me awkwardly on the top of the head. “Now you can stop stealing mine. And with the weather cooling off here pretty soon, didn’t want you stuck with just a bike.”

I pull away and smirk at the way he’s avoiding eye contact now.

I nudge him with my shoulder. “Love you too, bro.”

The next hour passes quickly as I catch up with everyone, sip wine, and devour a few too many chocolate-covered strawberries. We take about a million pictures until everyone has something they’re happy with to post on social media—with the drinks, with the decorations, with each other. But whatI’mmost looking forward to is the cake reveal. Mom’s something of an artist with all baking, but especially cakes. I’m expecting nothing short of a masterpiece.

I’m starting to think Liam isn’t going to talk to me one-on-one tonight at all until I’m refilling my drink alone in the kitchen and he walks in behind me.

“Hey,” he says quietly as he props a hip against the counter.

I peer at him out of the corner of my eye. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry about Leo. I didn’t want to ruin today for you in case it didn’t go well. I promise, I’m talking to him first thing tomorrow.”

I nod slowly and sip my drink. It makes sense. It’s logical. So then why doesn’t it lessen the knot in my stomach that’s beenthere since the other day at the beach with Leo? If I’m really being honest with myself, it’s been there long before that.

“Gracie.” His touch ghosts along the small of my back. “Are we okay? If you’d rather I talk to him right now, I’ll do it.”

I sigh and let myself lean into his touch. “No, you’re right. I just…I’m feeling worse and worse about hiding this from him.”

“I am too. I promise.” He ducks his head until I look at him straight on, and he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You look beautiful. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to show up for you tonight the way I wanted to.”

“I get it. And thank you for the gift this morning. It was really nice.”

His thumb trails down my cheek. High heels clank against the tile behind him, growing louder. He drops his hand just as Carson appears around the corner.

“Time for dinner!” she says with a smile that lets me know she was definitely eavesdropping.

Liam heads out first, but she grabs my arm before I can follow him.

“Carson…” I start under my breath.

But all she says is “Nicework, Collins” before leading us both to the dining room.

Mom is lingering in the opposite doorway as I step inside. She nods for me to follow her to the front room, where Dad and Grandma are already waiting.

“We’ve already set the table,” she says. “Would you mind too much if you get started without us?”

“We need to get Grandma back to the nursing home,” Dad adds, one hand on his mother’s shoulder. “It’s been a long day for her.”

I wave them off. “Of course.”

Grandma is all but asleep in her chair already, but I kneel down to her level and gently pull her into a hug. “It was so good to see you, Grandma. I love you.”

“Oh! Gracie Belle!” She chuckles as she pats me on the back, then lets out a surprised gasp as I pull back. “You’rebeautiful.”

I squeeze her hands. “Of course I am. I look like you.”

She explodes in a fit of giggles, and I lean forward to kiss her cheek.

“It shouldn’t take long,” Mom says behind me. “We’ll be back before the second course.”

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