Page 13 of Falling for Grace

That was a bit of a low blow, wasn’t it? I broke his heart?

Danny comes to my rescue.

“Oh, Brandon, you just can’t handle her. Luckily for you, I’m more of a man, and I’m more than willing to take her on.”

Sue lays her last card in her hand, and then I play my three, making Danny pick up.

“Case in point,” Brandon says, winking.

Fucking winking.

He knows he’s pissed me off and he’s trying to placate me by winking.

I want to punch him in the face and shove that wink up his ass.

Jackass.

“I need a wee,” I announce suddenly, throwing my cards down and jumping to my feet.

“I’ll make some coffee, and no cheating, you,” Sue says, pointing at Danny, who gasps theatrically.

“Me cheating? What about Dad?”

I ignore the burning feeling of Brandon’s eyes on the back of my head.

That comment stung so what do I do?

I run and hide.

Not entirely, just for a quick time out to compose myself.

How had I broken his heart, and messed him up?

He broke my heart when he left me behind, actually I lie, he continues to break my heart every time he leaves me behind after relighting the flame. I was just trying to save myself from the cycle that had lasted over the last five years.

And let us not forget the whole girlfriend incident. How little does he respect me, to want to double-dip like that? And to take it so hard when I refused to be the third person in this relationship. I assume he’s still with her, a year later, and acts like me calling things off tonight was me breaking his heart?

Urgh.

I hate being a grown up.

Can I have that tantrum now?

The harsh light of the bathroom hits me, my eyes taking a minute to adjust as my head aches. I look at myself in the mirror and wipe at the slight black smudges of makeup under my eyes and in the corners.

“A few more hours, Gracie, that’s all.” He’ll be going home soon, and then I won’t need to talk to him until I’m ready. It will be on my terms then, and I’ll be prepared. I’ll be over it, over him. Even though the little voice in my head will regularly whisper that I will never be over him.

But I have to ignore her, she can be an unhelpful shit at times.

There’s a small tap on the door, and before I can even check that I locked it, it swings open and Brandon steps in.

“Excuse me!” I spin round from my position in front of the sink, but he’s already in, closing the door behind him. His huge frame makes the bathroom seem even smaller.

“I’m sorry, I was an asshole I didn’t mean what I just said then, but fuck, Gracie, you’re so...you’re so you.”

I fold my arms over my chest and watch as his eyes look down at the movement.

I immediately drop them and sigh.

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