Page 128 of The Breaking Point

And then I saw him. Brady sat on the couch, like he’d been waiting for me to return.

Dad cleared his throat. “Uh, we’ll let you two talk.”

My parents grabbed their things, which only confused me more. “Where are you going?” I asked.

Mom gave me a kiss on the cheek. “A late movie and maybe we’ll go to a bar. We haven’t done that in forever.” She patted my arm. “Be nice to him,” she whispered.

Then my parents were gone, and it was just me and Brady.

GRACE

We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.

I drank him in like I hadn’t seen him in years. He was as handsome as ever; his hair was a little longer, and he had scruff on his cheeks. He also looked a little thinner, and I wondered whether he’d been taking care of himself.

“Grace,” he said at the same time I said, “Brady.”

We both smiled. Then Brady said, “You first.”

I sat down next to him, but not quite close enough for him to touch me. I wasn’t sure if I could handle that right now. I realized I was shaking, and I had to hide my hands under my thighs.

“I’ve been looking for you all day,” I said.

Brady’s brows rose. “Really?”

“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I thought something was wrong.”

Brady pulled out his phone from his back pocket and grimaced. “Shit. The battery’s dead. I hadn’t even realized. I’m sorry for freaking you out.”

I took a deep breath. Then I looked more closely at his phone, taking it from his grasp. “How old is this thing, anyway?”

“It still works.”

“Um, clearly not.” I handed it back, trying not to laugh at Brady’s grumpy expression. “I’m glad you’re okay. Were you waiting here long?”

Now Brady looked uncomfortable. “Yeah, but I needed to talk to your parents. We hashed things out. Your mom really told your dad off. I’m sorry you missed it. She was pissed about him making me stay silent about Ben.”

I closed my eyes. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I have so much I need to say. I don’t even know where to begin.”

“I’m just glad you’re talking to me.”

I opened my eyes again. Brady was looking at me like I was an oasis in the desert. My heart soared. That dangerous, dangerous hope bloomed inside me again.

“I want to make things work. I don’t even care about Tatiana,” I said.

Brady looked confused. “Tatiana?”

A blush climbed up my cheeks. “I saw her going into your apartment a week ago. I wanted to talk to you, but then I saw her, and I just couldn’t do it.”

Brady gaped at me, and then he groaned. “Oh Christ, it’s not what you think. Tatiana was at my place, but nothing happened. I swear.”

“How did she know where you live?”

Brady grimaced. “We’ve hooked up before. At my place. But that was a long time ago. She just showed up that night because her flight was delayed, and she was bored. I sent her away.”

I could tell by the intensity in his expression that he was telling the truth. I let out a sigh of relief.

“I was about to go fight her,” I admitted, laughing.

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