Page 25 of Grace of Spades
I know, not the most logical for a Wednesday night. But logic was not on my mind at that moment especially after the meeting last night and the work afterwards. It certainly went out the window when I barged into her room first thing in the morning. Way to go, Christian.
I walk into the kitchen and see Ruby watching the news while she pours a few glasses of iced tea.
"Oh! Perfect! You can bring these down to Grace and her friend!" She beams holding out a tray of sandwiches and fruit.
"Sure. Where am I heading?" I ask.
"The pool." The pool? You mean Grace is in a bathing suit? Wet? I send a big thank you to the man upstairs and hurry to the pool with the tray. I hear Grace and her friend before I even get to the door.
"So, what's going on with you and Keir?" Her friend asks.
"Nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing."
"It can't be anything. I know his family. It's best we just stay friends." Grace explains. She knows the Chekhovs?
"Fine. What about that guy who's always hanging around here?I've seen him check you out." Does she mean me?
"Pfft! Christian? Yeah right! He thinks I'm just some damaged little girl." Grace says. Is that what she thinks? She couldn't be more wrong. "Besides, he works for my uncle that's a big no-no."
"But you like him."
"I mean, yeah, he's gorgeous and sweet but nothing can happen."
"I don't know..." Her friend trails off.
"What's this all about anyway? Why is my love life so important to you?" Grace asks.
"Because I'm the one people ask!" Her friend whines.
"Well, I appreciate your sacrifice. I'll pull wing-woman for you next time." Grace laughs and that's my cue. I walk into the room with the tray and I see Grace's friend grinning evilly at me.
"Food!" I call out. I look over at Grace and immediately regret it. Holy fuck. Grace smiles brightly at me as she walks over. Her little black bikini is fucking incredible on her. The tattoo on her ribs and sternum is a beautiful crow. It's a gorgeous piece made even more beautiful by the woman wearing it. The wings fan out into smoke under her full breasts and I even see the outline of nipple rings. Fuck me. Please!
As she gets closer, I see them. Her scars. They are everywhere. Bundles of small ones and some curved in a very unnatural way. If I ever find out who did this to her they will never know anything but pain.
"Hey!" She smiles making my heart pound as I try not to stare.
"Hey," I say tightly.
"Kennedy! You want some food?" She shouts over her shoulder.
"No! I'm going to do a few more laps!" Kennedy calls back. She is a good friend. Grace shrugs and pops a grape into her mouth.
"Thanks for bringing this down." Grace smiles shifting her weight back and forth.
"No problem... are you okay?" I ask looking at her stomach.
"Oh, um... yeah. I know they're pretty ugly." She shrugs.
"I think you're perfect." I blurt out. Her eyes go wide and I see her almost shut down.
"Uh... thank you... um... I gotta go!" She stammers before running out the door. Well, shit.
"What the hell did you do?! I gave you the perfect opening!" Kennedy scolds. I just stare at the door where Grace disappeared. "What are you waiting for? Go after her!!" She commands aiming a kick at my back side. That gets me going. I bolt out into the hall and up the stairs to her room. I can hear her panicked voice inside.
"He said I was perfect. I can't do this! Maybe going back to the streets wouldn't be so bad." She says. "Well, he's clearly insane. He doesn't know everything... You know I can't... because I don't want to die, Ray!" What is going on?
