Page 23 of Falling for Grace

She’s referring to the fact that I keep everyone at arm's length, really it’s a defence mechanism.

I never really open up too much about my past. I mean, sure, she knows something has happened as I change the subject every time she asks anything remotely probing, and it only takes someone so long to work out that something shitty happened.

Luckily for me, Theresa talks enough for the both of us and she stopped pushing that specific area about six months in.

“Do you believe in second chances?”

She shrugs. “Depends. Second chances at love? Sure. Although…” She takes a sip of her OJ. “I do believe we get one real love in life. You know that one person you will do anything for, be completely selfless for them. Everything in the world revolves around them and them alone. Those types of loves, I believe we only get one of those. It’s just that a lot of people settle before they find that. So what sort of second chance are we talking about here?”

“As in if you had a friend from your childhood and you drifted apart, but you want to try and put it right, even though something happened…something bad.”

She studies me for a moment. “We’re talking about you, right?”

I nod in response, and she continues, “I don’t know what the circumstances are, but I’m guessing you were close, right?”

I nod again.

“Do you think it’s recoverable?”

I nod again, like a sodding nodding dog, because I genuinely believe that it is.

“Then hell, yes, Grace. You're secretive, yes, but you’re amazing. You’re funny, you’re caring, and you put everyone else first. You’re like a mother hen to everyone. Do you not remember that drunken ho at the rodeo? You totally looked after her ass, and she rewarded you by puking on your shoes, which you had just bought.”

“Dude! I’m eating.”

She ignores me. She’s in full flow now. Like I said, this girl can talk. “If this person has known you longer than I have and knows you a fraction of what I do, they will be climbing up that olive branch like it’s a fucking chocolate bar with a bag of gold at the end.”

I smile because that was exactly what I needed to hear. T didn’t know anything about my relationship with Danny, but what she said gives me a little bit of confidence and hope. Danny and I, we saw each other practically every day for over ten years, nothing could come between us.

So he didn’t answer the phone. So what.

That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to talk to me. It doesn’t mean anything. I am in real danger of going into my head and over-thinking all the what-ifs, if I’m not careful. I have no control over the situation. It’s just a waiting game, and that is precisely what I will do. Wait patiently, or at least wait at the pub while drinking copious amounts of alcohol so I can forget the fact that I am waiting.

“I’ve got to shoot but I’ll be back at six and we can go for some beers,” I tell Theresa, getting up from my seat.

“Have fun at work doing whatever the hell you do.”

“HR and shit, remember.”

“Ah, yes, go save the world one grievance at a time.

I flip her off then head out the door, my spirits lifted at the possibility that some of the old Gracie maybe rediscovered through reaching out to Danny. I should tell my therapist.

Chapter 9

“Okay, we are playing ‘I have never,’” Theresa announces as she arrives back from the bar, a tray of tequilas in hand. I gag at the mere smell of the liquid. How the hell am I going to drink these things?

“You are on a mission tonight,” I say, grabbing my beer and tipping the contents down my throat, the cold liquid soothing after spending the last hour shouting over the music.

“Hell, yeah, I am, and this is the best game. I have vodka, tequila and water in this little roulette of shots. And to make things even more interesting I’ve invited those two guys over to join us.” She points to the bar and I follow her manicured hand to the two chaps chatting with the barman.

They are tall, which is a tick on my list. One has dark hair, which is well kept and styled neatly; the other has messy, sandy-blonde hair with a slight curl at the ends where it needs a trim. I’m checking out the blonde’s ass when he turns around and totally catches me.

“Busted,” T mutters with a giggle.

“Shotgun Blonde Dude,” I blurt out on seeing him wink at me across the room. He looks like a young Matthew McConaughey who also happens to be on my top five, and as he smiles at something his friend says he shows a cheeky dimple in his right cheek.

Hot.

---