Page 225 of Waiting Game

I don’t deserve him—she’s right.

There has to be a reason why the only people I can keep in my life are staff or clients.

Gracie’s lips pucker. “Will you guys leave the room? I want to talk to her.”

“No, she’s been through hell tonight. She doesn’t need to get shit on by you.”

Honestly, tonight couldn’t get much worse so there’s no bullet to even bite. I want to get this over with.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“Mia—”

“Please.”

He heaves a sigh but the look we share has him grousing, “Shout out if she gets nasty.”

“Jesus Christ, Cole. What is this? Middle school?” Gracie mumbles as he clambers to his feet.

That has him sniffing. “If the vibe fits…”

She rolls her eyes as Liam joins Cole when they leave the kitchen. Immediately, they’re bickering.

“…asshole. Should have left?—”

“You don’t know her!”

“—Gracie is?—”

“—she’s wonderful. Kind. Generous. Her?—”

To that soundtrack, Gracie clambers off the stool and steps toward me.

Like there’s nothing unusual about my position, she takes a seat beside me. “Why are you on the floor?”

“Panic attack.” I cup my elbows as I hug myself. “The cops accused me of insurance fraud. I freaked out.”

She grunts.

“I didn’t do it!” I can hear her condemnation in that harsh susurration. “You know what that bar meant to me. It’s all gone, Gracie. Every filthy counter, each dust-stained item ofmemorabilia, all the battered arcade games…” A soft sniffle escapes me. “I can’t believe I’m the one who lost Chuck’s.”

She purses her lips. “I didn’t expect to ever see you again.”

“Why would you? We deserved to be cut out.” I stare at my knees. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“It’s worth nothing.”

“I figured as much, but I wanted you to know anyway. I regret it. I never thought I was the kind of person who could do… that, never mind to someone I cared for deeply, but you live and learn things about yourself along the journey. Some good, some bad.”

“If it weren’t for Liam, you could have derailed my whole life.”

“I’m sorry.”

“He gave me a job and that saw me through my final year of school?—”

“I’m sorry.”

“You brought the whole city’s eyes on me?—”

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