Page 40 of Zac

“We did, Grant. There isn’t anything else to say.”

He chuckles and something about his laugh is strange. It’s a cold calculated laugh, one that makes my heart race. I look back over my shoulder hoping to see a neighbor from one of the surrounding apartments approaching. This place is always loud and movement is taking place at all hours of the day and night. Yet here I am wishing for any kind of interruption and it is silent.

“No.” He starts to stand and I can’t help myself from stepping backwards, seeking more space. “We aren’t done.”

Gripping my car keys in my hand, the metal bites into my palm.

“You need to leave,” my voice vibrates as my nervous energy threatens to overtake me. I could run, but the chances of getting away were slim. Then there was endangering myself even more than my current situation, and I had to remember I am not only trying to protect myself.

“We should step inside.”

“I’m fine right here,” I say, turning a key around so that if anything I could use it to fight him off. “I can’t help you, Grant. I barely have a hundred dollars to my name. I’m just getting by, why do you think I’m working so many hours. Raising Grayson isn’t cheap, plus rent and bills, I’m struggling.”

“Then maybe we should sell that car of yours.”

“And what, get a few hundred dollars.” It’s a nineteen ninety eight Toyota Corolla. “It has more than one hundred and seventy thousand miles on it. It’s on its last leg.” I wasn’t lying, I get in it every morning and pray that I make it to my destination without getting stranded.

“Invite me in, we can come up with something. I’m sure there’s a way we can get some money.”

It’s the first time I notice how red and bloodshot his eyes are. He’s obviously strung out on something.

“What’s this?” I jump at the sound of a voice behind me. A voice I know and have never in my life been more thankful to hear.

Glancing back over my shoulder I see Jace walking up. He’s wearing his leather jacket, holding a helmet in his hands.

“Jace.” I take another step backwards, feeling him closing in behind me. “This is Grant.”

He may not know every single detail of my past, but he knows enough to understand how I wouldn’t want to be alone with him.

“You seeing this guy?”

“This is Au?—”

“So what if she is,” he interrupts me, placing his hand on my shoulder and offering me a squeeze.

“Presley and I have some things to discuss,” Grant ignores Jace, glaring at me, his nostrils flaring, his jaw ticking. “The two of you can catch up another time.”

“Nah.” Jace steps up to my side, squaring off, so that I’m protected as he positions his body more in front of mine than at the side. “I think I’ll stick around.” Crossing his arms over his chest he has at least six inches on Grant. He’s also broader and in my opinion much more intimidating. And in this very moment I see exactly why my cousin is madly in love with this man. “Why don’t you and I have a little one on one while the lady goes inside?”

“I don’t even know you,” Grant huffs. I can sense his nervousness, as his voice shakes a little more than before.

“Well, we can fix that.” Jace sneers with an arrogant chuckle. “By the time we’re done you’ll know me real well.”

Grant looks at Jace, then at me and then back to Jace again.

“I have the right to discuss my son with his mother.”

“Maybe that would be true if you actually fucking cared about your son. The way I see it Gray is her son.” He points toward me. “You offered one thing in regard to that boy and there’s no use for you now. I think we both know that this little conversation you’re trying to have has nothing to do with him.” Jace waits for Grant to argue, and he only shifts anxiously on his feet. “Like the lady told you earlier, I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Grant steps forward like he’s going to say something more, then abruptly stops. A few seconds pass though they feel more like very long minutes. I swear to it, you could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere was so tense.

“We’ll talk another time,” Grant finally says as he steps around Jace. Jace of course again shifts me behind him protectively.

“That’s not gonna happen,” Jace says and Grant pauses about ten feet away and looks back over his shoulder.

“You won’t be around long, you’ll get tired of her shit too.”

My stomach feels like it sinks to my feet, and suddenly I feel nauseous. When Grant is no longer in sight, Jace turns around and slouches enough to get in my line of sight. “You good?”

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