Page 6 of It's Always Us

SLADE: U ok?

SLADE: Krissy’s on her way.

I haul myself the four feet to my dresser, needing to get downstairs and make coffee before the house fills with questions about why I left theparty. I know my mom will be here any minute, but Krissy will be a good buffer.

I tug the shirt over my head, tossing it aside, and pull on a sweatshirt. I force myself down the stairs, not even bothering to stop in the bathroom, even though I know I look like I’m in need of a rehab facility—one that specializes in compulsive lying. I wonder if it would be an in-patient facility. Maybe then I’d be excused from having to tell Seth our engagement was off.

“Well, you look like you’ve been dragged behind a truckload of shit. Are you hungover?”

Grandpa sits at the table with his coffee and newspaper, as he has every morning since I can remember.

I shove a single-serve coffee pod into the machine and hit the button. “No.”

I’ve not been hungover often, but I’d trade a good case of too much liquor for the emotionally sick feelings swirling in my belly. I shove a mug under the spout, and it clangs.

“Something crawl up your ass, then?”

I rest my back against the counter, turning to face the man who stirred the pot and left me to deal with the boilover. I slump in surrender, knowing he’ll understand. He might be the only one, so I need to spill it before my mom and Krissy get here.

“Grandpa, I need to tell you something.”

His gray eyes move to mine over the rim of his reading glasses. I slide my hands in the front pocket of my oversized sweatshirt. I know this man will support me, but it doesn’t make my admission any easier, so he’s the best person to test it out on.

He folds and closes his newspaper, waiting patiently.

“I’m not marrying Seth.”

I might be wrong, but I’ve known this man my whole life. Unless I’m losing touch with reality, I think I see the slightest hint of a smile.

“Ok.” He clasps his rough and worn hands, resting them on his paper. “Is that it? Anything else you want to tell me?”

I focus on my neatly painted pink toes, wishing I’d picked purple. “I’m not sure.” I don’t need to look at him to know that one of those overgrown eyebrows creeps upward again.

“Does Seth know?”

“No. I’m telling him this morning.”

The coffee maker spurts and sputters beside me as it finishes its task.

“Well, shit. That’ll be fun. I guess you’ll need the morning off?”

I can’t help my soft smile. “Yes, that would be appreciated. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. I never thought you should marry him.”

My head pops up. “You didn’t? Why didn’t you say something? You waited until last night to fill my head with all that Buick-Mustang talk, but didn’t think to say something before.”

“Would you have listened?”

My head falls to the side. “Maybe.”

He laughs his boisterous, low chuckle. “Pal, we both knowyouneeded to see this. I’m just glad you opened your eyes.”

He sips his coffee while I stir enough caramel creamer in mine to double the quantity.

“Anything else? Hurry up before you have to break your mother’s heart with this news.”

I dread telling her about as much as I dread talking to Seth.

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