Page 83 of Falling for Grace

“And a kiss,” he adds, looking at my lips.

“This is my bet.”

“We’re haggling,” he says, raising an eyebrow. I lean back, tapping my lips with my fingers. His eyes are drawn back to them. “Deal,” I say, shaking on it.

He looks smug but then pauses. “How are we going to prove who wins?”

“Erm, I didn’t really think about that.”

“Useless. I should get a kiss regardless.”

“Now who's getting cocky?” I say, raising an eyebrow.

“Confident, not cocky.” He smiles and stands up.

“Touché.”

“I’ll be right back.” He walks round to my side and leans down, giving me a chaste kiss on the lips. His are warm and before I can really realise they are there, he’s gone.

I take the downtime as a chance to fire a quick text to Theresa to tell her that I’m out with Ben. When I pull out my phone I see I’ve got a missed call, from T, no doubt, demanding to know where her beer is. It was my turn to bring it home.

I click on the phone icon and my heart jumps as “B” is displayed.

He’s finally called me back.

I need to call him.

The waitress appears with our beer pitcher and cutlery.

“Excuse me, Sarah. Can you tell Ben, the guy I’m with, I’ve had to pop outside to make a call?”

“Of course,” Sarah says, smiling politely. I’m sure she is silently clapping as she now has his name and a reason to talk to him. I walk into the sticky evening and dial the number on my screen.

I feel sick.

My heart is racing and my palms are clammy.

I hate that he has this effect on me. It rings, and he answers but doesn’t talk.

“Brandon?”

Nothing.

“You’re there, aren’t you?”

Again, nothing.

“I can hear you breathing.”

I can hear his hand muffling the phone; he’s being petulant. He’s so like me. “I had a missed call from you, so I’m just calling you back.” I let the silence fill the void between us and look down at my shoes. “I get it, why you left.” My voice is small and quiet.

“Gracie.”

If my own name could break me, it would be the way it sounds on his tongue. Thick with emotion.

“Brandon,” I whisper.

“I can’t -”

---