Page 103 of Grace on the Rocks

“Of course not.Itnever is, right?There’sother ways?Comeon.”

“I didn’t know what you wanted from me that night.Idon’t now!Thisisn’t—Ijust thought you could relax?—”

“I don’t need to relax.Iactually work better under pressure, but thanks.”Shewas breathing too fast, blinking back tears. “Iknow none of this is your fault, okay?Ishouldn’t have stayed here.Weswas right, it was silly—no, really.”Shestopped his protests before they could leave his lips. “You’rejust doing what you need to do,Iget it.Yourdeadline is sooner than mine, and asI’vetold literally everyone on this island, this is your place.I’mthe one in the way.I’mthe problem, again—Westried to tell me that.Youtried to tell me that.Andhonestly, ifIwould have just listened, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

“You d-don’t need to g-go,” he said, cursing himself for choking on his words now, when he needed them most. “You’ren-n—You’renot in the way.Ilo—I’min lo?—”

“Thanks,Bryan, truly.ButIshould go.Ithink we both know that.”

She was throwing clothes into her suitcase now, and he was powerless to stop her.Hecouldn’t get a word in.Whywasn’t she hearing him? “S-s-stop.”Heintercepted one of her t-shirts, but she refused to look at him.

“Let’s not try to force something where it doesn’t belong.Iwas always going to leave.Thisis vacation.It’snot real life.”

She threw the stupid laptop into a satchel and turned back to her suitcase.

“Rios—”

“It’s no big deal,” she said.

But there were tears in her eyes and he didn’t understand what was happening.Sure, he hadn’t originally included a bathtub in his remodel, and yes, maybe he’d bought it for her, but only because he knew how much she’d like it.Didshe really think he was trying to lure her into bed?

“It clearly is a huge deal, and not just about your novel.”

“Just?” she repeated, but the outrage she was reaching for had burned itself out.Herface and throat twitched and contracted like she was trying desperately to hold back the tears he could see filling her chestnut-colored eyes.

“Please talk to me.Ican’t fix it ifIdon’t understand.”

Grace slumped onto the bed beside her suitcase, holding the dress she’d worn to the ceilidh, andBryantook a hesitant seat on the other end.

“DidImisinterpret your desire for a bath?”

“I love a bath.”Sheshook her head. “I’msorry.I… panic.Sometimes.Especiallyin bathrooms.Withmen.”

Bryan wanted to hold her.Hewanted to understand, but he sat very still, squeezing the wrinkles out of the t-shirt still clenched in his fist.

“It isn’t you,” she started over. “Iknow you would never…”Shetook a shaky breath. “Itwas a knee-jerk overreaction.Thebathroom is beautiful.Thetub looks amazing.”

An overreaction to what?he wanted to ask, but he knew firsthand it was best to stay quiet when someone was having trouble speaking their truth.

“I’m tired is all.”

She hazarded a look at him and must have seen plainly from his face he wasn’t buying it, because she closed her eyes to start again.

“WhenIwas fourteen, almost fifteen, my best friend was this boy,JustinEverett.Wegrew up together—our brothers played soccer together untilDiegoleft home.”

A sick feeling settled inBryan’sstomach, but he kept his eyes on her face.

“Justin got picked on a lot at school.Hewas kind of small.Heliked math a little too much, played the clarinet.Anyway, he started hounding me for one of my bras or my underwear… then, for a naked picture… so he could earn some cred with the other guys.”

Bryan sighed, and it accidentally came out as a low growl.Healready hatedJustinEverett.

“I kept telling him no.Soone day,Iwas showering after gym and somehow he snuck into the girls’ locker room with a digital camera.Hegot his picture.”

She bit her lip, and a tear finally trickled down her cheek.

“Every boy in school had seen it by the end of the day.SisterMaryAgnesgave me a three-day suspension, because clearlyIhad done something to encourage his behavior, or at least not enough to discourage it.”

“You were fourteen, forChrist’ssake,”Bryangrowled, ready to tear bothJustinandSisterMaryAgneslimb from limb.

---