Page 15 of Perfect Harmony

“Gideon…”

“You’re not driving. You’re too tired.”

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t and the part of hermind that wasn’t filled with fog knew he was right, but she’d never admit it tohim.

“You’re not.”

“What’s going on?” Kira joined them in thekitchen, carrying some empty bowls. “Gracie, why is your face so pale?”

“She’s not feeling well and she’s exhausted,”Gideon said. “I’m driving her home.”

“No, you’re not.”

Kira peered at her. “Honey, I think heshould. You do look really tired and with the insomnia this bad, should you bedriving?”

Grace sighed and admitted defeat. “No.I’ll take a cab home.”

“Don’t be silly. Gideon said he’d driveyou home,” Kira said. “Text me tomorrow when you’re ready to get your car andI’ll come by and pick you up. We’ll go for coffee, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” Grace said.

Kira pressed a kiss against her forehead.“Try and get some rest, honey. If you’re still this tired by Monday, you needto see the doctor. Promise me.”

“I promise,” Grace said.

Chapter Three

“When was the last time you slept?”Gideon’s voice cut through the fog.

Grace stared out the passenger window,refusing to answer. It was petty of her, she knew, but she didn’t care. Hewas acting like she was his bratty little sister that he was being forced totake care of, and nothing pissed her off more. She took care of herself,always had and always would.

“Answer me,” he said.

“How is it any of your business?” she said.

He stopped at a red light, his handswrapped tight around the steering wheel. “It’s my business if you’re going tokeep driving and putting lives in danger. It’s my job to keep people safe,remember?”

“I remember,” she said. “Which is why I’mallowing you to drive me home instead of driving myself.”

She could almost taste the frustration thatcoated his entire body. “I will ask you once more, when did you sleep last?”

Her own frustration boiled over and shestared frostily at him. “I don’t even fucking remember the last time I had asolid sleep. There, are you happy?”

“Grace -”

“No, wait, I do remember,” she snapped.“It was the night I fell asleep in your goddamn bed. I have no idea why butsleeping in your bed gave me the first good sleep I’d had in weeks.”

She needed to stop talking, but the wordswere still tumbling out of her. “I’ve barely slept since that evening.”

“That was almost a month ago.” His voicewas tight with an emotion her tired brain couldn’t identify.

“Yeah, tell me about it. You want to hearthe really pathetic part? I’m so goddamn tired, so willing to do anything thatmight help me sleep, that I actually considered stealing Kira’s key, sneakinginto your house while you were at work, and lying in your bed again. How’sthat for fucked up?”

He didn’t reply and, on the verge of tears,and mortified by her own behaviour, she leaned her head back against theheadrest and closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Please take mehome.”

* * *

Gideon parked in the driveway. Gracedidn’t open her eyes or move. He might have thought she was asleep if not forthe way her hands remained curled into tight fists.

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