Page 70 of Grady

“Son, we just said she’s always right. I’m not going to the doghouse for you.”

Grady laughed. “Thanks a lot.”

“I’m going back inside to make dinner.” His mother stood up and put her hand on his shoulder. “You need to call Savannah. You’ve been here almost a week now.”

Grady sighed. He knew she was right, but he wasn’t sure he could yet. She hung up on him, but he also knew he deserved it. He should have trusted her, but maybe this was for the best. He didn’t like the idea of getting in too deep.Hell, you’re already in too deep.

“So, what’s your problem with settling down?” his dad asked,and Grady wondered if he could read minds.

“I don’t know, Dad. I like my freedom.”

“Your freedom will make you lonely one day. You know, the right woman doesn’t make you feel like you lost your freedom.” His dad stood up and entered the house.

Grady thought back to telling Savannah he enjoyed his freedom but then told her he enjoyed being with her, and he did. His dad was right. Freedom was one thing, being lonely was another. He did enjoy his freedom but if he lost Savannah, would his freedom be worth it? It was time he admitted, at least to himself, that he was in love with her.

He stood up, walked to the rail of the deck, leaned against it, removed his phone from his shirt pocket and called Savannah.

“Hello?” a male voice answered.

“Who’s this?” Grady frowned.

“Kirk.”

Grady could feel his blood boiling.

“Why are you answering Savannah’s phone?”

When Kirk laughed, Grady squeezed the phone in his hand.

“She told me to since she didn’t want to talk to you.”

“Bullshit,” Grady growled out.

“Why else would I be answering her phone?”

“Let me talk to her.”

“Savannah? Man, she’s already shaking her head.”

“Fuck you,” Grady snapped and hung up, then he threw his phone across the yard, then sighed as he walked down the steps to get it.

****

Monday morning, Savannah arrived at the shop and headed straight for the coffee maker. She was in desperate need of caffeine after a sleepless night and wondering where she lost her phone. She remembered having it yesterday because she talkedto her mother while shopping.

Maggie walked in and greeted her with a smile. “Good morning.”

“Hi, Maggie.”

“Did you talk to Grady?”

“No, I couldn’t find him. I think he might have left town.”

“I see. Well, you could call him.”

“Oh yeah, that’s another problem. I lost my phone.”

“Oh no, where did you lose it?”

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