Page 18 of Fire

“I’m happy for you,” I reply, wincing because I’m overusing that word happy. I can’t help it. I just want this entire conversation to end so I can leave. He is clueless. The man doesn’t even realize how much he’s hurting me by making it clear that he didn’t want me to be one of thosegoodpeople around him while he healed. If I needed a clearer picture of exactly how little Andrew thought of me, I have it now.

“You’re being nicer to me than I deserve after refusing to accept your letters or your calls, Grace.”

“I won’t say you didn’t hurt me. At the time, I felt like my world was ending. I was desperate to find out if you were okay. I wanted to be by your side. After speaking with your father,” I shrug. “It was clear I didn’t really fit into your world, Andrew.”

“Shit,” he hisses.

“I think we can agree your father is a piece of work.”

“He was a fucking asshole,” Andrew grumbles.

“Yeah, I picked up on that.” I frown, looking around me as a chill slithers down my back.

“You, okay?”

“Yeah, it’s just, um, do you ever get a feeling like you’re being watched?” I ask, looking around behind me. When you live the life I have, you have a sixth sense about someone watching you or danger. That’s exactly what I’m feeling. I continue looking around, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe seeing Andrew after all this time is leaving me even more unsettled than I thought.

“It’s probably Ford,” Andrew laughs, motioning over at the man in question who is heading our way. I didn’t even look toward the lobby, which I should have. It stands to reason Ford was looking for me. In the short time I’ve known him, it’s clear that he can be very intense and possessive. Oddly enough, those traits seem to put me at ease, maybe because he doesn’t back them up with anger, but only gentleness.

“I guess it could be.”

“For what it’s worth, Ford’s a good guy. You can trust him. He’s a straight shooter. It’s kind of funny, actually. I’ve known him for a while. I’ve never seen him with a woman.”

“Grace isn’t just any woman,” Ford responds for me, coming up behind me, placing his hands possessively on my shoulders.

“You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve known that a long time. Tonight just cemented that fact. I’m going to go join Roman and Cowboy. You two have a good night. Grace, if you ever need anything, I hope you know that you just have to ask,” Andrew adds.

“If she needs anything, she has me,” Ford rumbles and for the first time since I met him, he sounds pissed.

“Fair enough,” Andrew responds, not bothering to hide his smile.

“You ready to go up to our room, sweetheart?” Ford asks me.

“If that offer includes the room service you promised, then absolutely.”

“Already ordered.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I didn’t tell you what I wanted.”

“Nope, but you’ll like what I got,” he quips, and I snort. Ford doesn’t lack having an ego. That much is for damn sure.

“Goodnight, you two.”

“See ya’ around, Vector.”

“Bye,” I murmur, letting Ford lead me upstairs, praying I never see Andrew again.

13

GRACE

“Are you going to tell me what that conversation was about?” Ford asks as we make it to our room.

“It doesn’t matter. Andrew and I share nothing but a past.”

“Well, I’d like to hear it—especially since I’m your future.”

“Ford—”

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