Page 109 of The Mistake

I spin around and hurry back upstairs, where I grab my phone and dial Grace’s number. After it goes straight to voice mail, I shoot off a quick text.

Me: Baby, please come back. I’m such an ass. Need to make this right.

There’s a long delay. Five seconds. Ten. And then she texts back.

Her: I need some time to digest your stupidity. I’ll call you when I’m ready to talk.

Damn it. I drag both hands over my scalp, fighting the urge to strangle myself to death. Why do I always screw up when it comes to this girl?

Footsteps echo in the hallway, and when Garrett appears, I stifle another curse. “I can’t deal with a lecture right now, man. I really can’t.”

“Wasn’t gonna lecture you.” He shrugs. “Just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

I sink down on the edge of the bed, slowly shaking my head. “Not in the slightest. I fucked up again.”

“Damn right you did.” My best friend props his elbow against the wall and sighs. “Wellsy and I heard her reaming youout.”

“I think the whole neighborhood heard it,” comes Tucker’s voice. He enters my room and leans against the dresser. “Except maybe Dean, but that’s because he’s balls-deep in a puck bunny down in the living room.”

I groan. “Seriously? Why can’t he ever fuck in his room?”

“Do we really want to discuss that perv’s sex life?” Tuck counters. “Because I don’t think that should be at the top of your priority list right now.”

He makes a good point. At the moment, my only priority is fixing things with Grace.

Christ, I shouldn’t have spewed all that bullshit. I hadn’t even meant it, at least not the part about her breaking up with me. That was my fear talking. And she’s right—Iwashaving a pity party. I was so freaked out about everything that happened with my dad last night, not to mention everything that happenedafterward. When I cried in her father’s arms.

Icriedin herfather’s arms.

I let out another groan. “What if I lost her for good this time?”

Garrett and Tucker instantly shake their heads. “You didn’t,” Garrett assures me.

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“Because she told you she loves you.”

“You stupid jackass,” Tucker adds with a grin.

I love you, you stupid jackass. Not the words a man wants to hear. The first three, sure. The last three? Pass.

“How do I fix this?” I ask, sighing.

“Quick. Write her another poem,” Garrett suggests.

I scowl at him.

“No, I think G’s onto something,” Tuck says. “I think the only way to save this is to bust out another grand gesture. What else was on her list?”

“Nothing,” I moan. “I did everything on the list.”

Tucker shrugs. “Then come up with something else.”

A grand gesture? I’m a guy, damn it. I need direction. “Is Wellsy coming back here?” I ask Garrett.

He smirks at my pleading tone. “Even if she is, I’m not letting you pick her brain. You’re gonna have to fix this one all on your own.”

There’s a pause, and then…

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