Page 77 of Perfect Harmony

Kira set the bag on the table. “A guy fromUber Eats just dropped it off. I’m assuming it’s from Gideon.”

She opened the bag and pulled out the cartonof takeout before laughing. “Yep, it’s from Gideon.”

She set the rectangular box in front of Grace.Written on the lid in Nan’s neat handwriting, it said, ‘Eat your lunch, thenhave a nap. G.’

“You heard the man,” Kira said. “Eat yourlunch.”

Grace opened the container. It was a grilledchicken sandwich with Nan’s famous potato salad on the side… her favourite.

She dug into the food, suddenly ravenous,as Kira sipped at her tea. “Gideon said you’d be staying with him until yougot your new living arrangement sorted out.”

“Did he?” Grace said.

Kira nodded. “Yep. You know you’rewelcome to stay with me and Connor, but -”

“You and Connor?” Grace said.

“Didn’t I tell you? Connor is officiallymoving in with me. He spends all his time at my place anyway. His lease is upnext month at his apartment, so we figured, why not. Once his cast is off and hehas a bit more mobility, we’re gonna start packing up his stuff.”

“That’s great,” Grace said.

“Yep. I haven’t told Gideon yet, though,so keep it to yourself for now. Not sure what he’s gonna think about his babysister living in sin,” Kira said with another laugh. “Anyway, you’re welcometo stay with us, but I actually think it would be good for you and Gideon ifyou stay with him.”

“Why do you think that?” Grace tried to keepher tone casual.

Kira shrugged. “There’s been a lot oftension between the two of you the last few months. You can hardly be togetherwithout fighting. I know that siblings fight, but, man, it just seems a littleover the top to me. It’ll be good for you to spend time together and get overwhatever it is that has the two of you at each other’s throats half the time.”

“We’re not at each other’s throats,” Grace said.

“Well, you’re not as close as you oncewere,” Kira said. “You can’t deny that. Oh, hey, I talked to Addie thismorning. She’s doing better. It’s only been a couple days but just being outof Harmony Falls has helped, I think. She tried to cancel a bunch of stuff forthe wedding, but apparently Harrison had already done it. Douchebag. He couldn’tbe bothered to help with any details to plan the wedding but can’t cancel the thingfast enough. God, I’m so glad Addie isn’t marrying him. She’s way too good forhim. She’s super worried that people are gossiping about her and Harrison cancelingthe wedding, but I haven’t heard anything yet, have you?”

“No, but they know we’re best friends withher.” Grace bit into her sandwich.

“True. Still, I don’t think that manypeople know yet. This isn’t news that people keep to themselves. But I toldAddie it didn’t matter what people said and if Harrison even tried to make itsound like this was her fault, she absolutely was in her right to tell everyoneabout how he wears a dog collar and a leash during sex. There isn’t anything wrongwith that, but the cheating asshole deserves to have the entire town know abouthis kinky side. In fact, I think we should …”

As Kira went on with her revenge fantasy onHarrison, Grace smiled to herself and listened silently as she ate. Gideon’sthoughtfulness was making her feel rather… gooey inside. He’d taken care of everythingfor her this morning and while that was a foreign feeling to her, she couldn’tdeny that it was nice to be taken care of for a change. To feel like shemattered to someone.

“Anyway, I should get going. I have ashowing in half an hour.” Kira stood and kissed her on the forehead. “Do whatGideon says. Eat your lunch and have a nap.”

Grace smiled at her. “I might sneak in ahot bath as well.”

“You do you, boo,” Kira said. “Love you, Gracie.”

“I love you too, Kira. Thank you for thestuff.”

“You bet. Text me if you need anythingelse.”

She left, and Grace flipped the lid over onher takeout container. She traced the message from Gideon before smiling andeating the rest of her lunch.

Chapter Fifteen

Gideon took the chicken out of the roasterand set it on the cutting board. “Don’t even think about it, Tank.”

The big dog huffed loudly before backingaway from the counter and sitting.

“Don’t give me that look.” Gideon added thesliced zucchini to the hot pan. “I learned my lesson about letting you standtoo close to the counter the first time you stole the chicken. You keep yourbutt three feet from the counter at all times.”

He shut the rice off and moved it to theback burner. He would finish sautéing the zucchini, and then wake up Grace.He hated to wake her, but it was almost seven thirty and she needed to eat.

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