Page 148 of Fake Married to the Grumps

“Fine, I’ll stop,” she says with another snicker. “But you’re not fooling anyone, Gracie. If you want him, then go for it. Who knows, it might just be true love …”

The mention of true love nearly makes me scoff.Trevor doesn’t believe in such fairytales,I think, as the bitter taste of bile rises deep in my throat and makes me shake my head.

“We want different things,” I say to my best friend. “There’s no use wanting someone who won’t let himself feel the same way.”

The solemn echo of my words settles deep inside my heart. All I have to do is forget about Trevor and hope it’ll get easier to forget the memories we shared as the days roll by.

***

Forgetting is harder than I anticipated it to be. I tossed around on my bed that evening after closing Espresso Books for the dayand found myself itching with the urge to call him and listen to the velvety, smooth timbre of his voice.

“Chapter fifteen,” I murmur after sitting up on my bed with a deep sigh. It is time to make a decision and have my characters make a choice that could change their lives forever. “Love … What if it doesn’t work out?”

I drop down on my bed and spread my arms out before staring at my ceiling. Another sweet memory of Trevor laughing and holding my hand comes to mind. The warmth that spreads through my heart makes me smile, and, for a moment, I forget all about how hard it is to pretend I don’t miss him every day.

My phone buzzes and interrupts the moment. I answer it without checking the caller, and the lower octaves of Trevor’s deep voice make me jerk upright on the bed.

“Gracie?” he murmurs again, sounding fainter this time.

“Trevor?” My heartbeat doubles. My nerves are alive now, and my pulse skyrockets.

“I miss you,” he murmurs before dragging in a deep breath. “I think I was wrong, Gracie … Not having you here is worse, and I think …”

He stops, and I hear a grumble in the background before my brother’s faint voice reaches me.

“Trevor?” I call, wishing he would say more. “Trevor, wait …”

“He’s wasted, Gracie,” Jace says on the other end. “He’s wasted, and he drunk-dialed you,” he continues.

“Oh …” The heavy weight of disappointment drapes over my heart, carrying an ache with it. “Is he alright? How’s his ankle? And … Why is he drinking? Are you sure he’s alright, Jace? If he needs me then—”

“I’m handling him, Gracie,” Jace cuts in. “You shouldn’t worry about Trevor anymore.”

“Sounds like he needs me,” I murmur before biting on my lower lip.

“He does,” Jace admits. “He’s miserable without you here, Gracie, but he needs to realize that for himself. No matter how hard you try, he needs to realize that his life is meaningless without you in it. Trust me on this.”

“You’re right,” I sigh, then rub a hand over my forehead. “You’re right, Jace.”

I can’t keep giving without getting anything in return.

“Goodnight, Gracie,” my brother says just before the call ends, and I sit in silence for a long moment as different thoughts spiral through my head.

An idea pops into my mind, and it’s refreshing because it feels like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I grab my laptop, head to my living room, and sit down to pour out the words.

It suddenly doesn’t feel like all hope is lost anymore because Trevor’s drunken call has reminded me of one important fact.Love is patient.And I choose to hold on to the hope that he’ll realize soon enough that love is also a gamble worth taking.

Chapter 18

Trevor

The pang in my head is too intense to bear, and it leaves me with a parched feeling in my throat. I realize after sitting up on my bed that the constant ringing in my ears is my alarm.

Shoot! I’m late for my game.

I scramble out of bed and head for my shower. Jace is in the living room when I head out, and he looks at me briefly before shaking his head. It’s only been two weeks since Gracie has been away, and my life is a mess.

“You okay, man?” he asks. “Sure you can make it for the game in time?”

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