Page 76 of First Love, Second Draft

She didn’t answer. He didn’t press. Something had shifted between them this evening. Something good. Something flirty. Something like how things used to be between them.

If only they didn’t have to dredge up the bad times to remember the good for his memoir.

He finished with the bowl and a few other random dishes sitting out on the counter, then pulled the drain in the sink, letting the water gurgle down to nothing as Gracie finished drying everything off.

She folded the towel over the oven handle. “I’m going to check on Matt, then call it a night. Thanks, by the way. For picking him up from the ER.”

“Of course. I’ve always loved that kid like he was my own, you know that.”

She gripped the back of a chair, meeting his gaze with a soft “I do” before heading out of the kitchen. At the doorway, she turned. “Tomorrow we really need to dive into this memoir project. So be ready. We’ve got to get this done before we run out of time.”

As if Noah needed the reminder. He felt the clock ticking on them more than Gracie knew.

43

The next afternoon, after filling two of the largest coffee mugs she could find, Gracie ordered Noah into his seat, ready to use duct tape if necessary. “I need you to focus. No more getting distracted.”

“Who’s getting distracted?”

“You. Every time we attempt to work on this memoir.”

“I was in the middle of making breakfast when we attempted earlier.”

“Which turned out to be a twelve-course meal, apparently.”

“Hey, toast might be enough for you, but Matt and I needed real food. And real food takes time. Especially when you’re making up for lost calories.”

Noah wasn’t kidding. Gracie wouldn’t be surprised if Matt had eaten a pound of bacon and an entire carton of eggs this morning. He’d obviously gotten his appetite back after fourteen hours of sleep. She’d been on the verge of checking for a pulse when he finally popped out of bed, saying he felt like a new man.

Something told her his rapid recovery had a lot to do with whatever was developing between him and Rachel. Didn’t hurt that he was still in his twenties either.

Oh, to be young again. Here she was still walking with a limp more than two weeks after her tumble. “Okay, fine,” Gracie said,powering up her laptop. “The big breakfast I get. But what on earth have you been doing in the garage that’s so important?”

“Checking out Buck’s old Chevy. After I dropped Matt off at his house, I realized he was going to need another car until his truck gets fixed. I decided to see if the old girl had any life left in her, and you know what, she does.”

“Ha! You think Dad’s going to let Matt drive his ’65 Corvette?”

“Uh, yeah, actually I do.” Noah reached for his coffee. “Because Matt and I already talked to him about it, and he said yes.”

“What? Betty?” No way. Gracie yanked her phone off the desk and punched Buck’s contact button. “Are you dying?” she said as soon as he answered.

“Aren’t we all?” he returned in a sleepy voice.

“I mean today. Right now. Why are you letting Matt drive Betty? Betty’s your baby. Nobody drives Betty but you.”

He hacked a few times into the phone. “Well, now that I know what it’s like to be trapped inside four walls, gathering dust, I’ve realized somebody needs to break Betty free. And it’s not going to be me. Who better than Matt?”

Guilt punched Gracie’s gut. She hadn’t visited her dad in far too long. “I’m coming to see you. This afternoon. I’m sorry it’s been so long. I’ll be over in about—”

“No, no, no, honey, I’m fine.” He gave another few coughs. “Noah told me you two were working on a new project together. You work on that. Let Matt use the car. Really, I don’t mind. I’m good. Don’t worry about me. I’m too tired for visitors today anyway.”

“You sure?”

“You’d just be watching me sleep. Plus I think Mona’s already on her way over.”

“I thought you were too tired for visitors.”

“That’s how I get through Mona’s visits. I sleep.”

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