Page 33 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

Viola patted her shoulder as she passed, but Gracie didn’t want her comfort. She stood behind the car where Pip couldn’t see her and watched Viola pull forward and drive out onto Highway 30 and slowly drift out of sight.

Only then did Gracie climb back into her car, and break down, violent sobs wracking her entire body.

* * *

Eric locked the door to Buck’s a little after two in the morning, and pulled his jacket tighter around his body. The wind was really blowing, dropping the already frigid temperature by ten degrees. He was looking forward to getting home to his warm house, crawling into his bed, and going right to sleep. Which was strange, considering sleep usually eluded him after work. Maybe he was finally getting too old for the night shift.

He snorted at himself. If he told his old man that, he’d laugh his ass off. Buck had only really let go of the reins completely about three years ago; there was no way he’d jump fully in again. He filled in every once in a while, but for the most part, he enjoyed the quality time with his wife.

Besides, Eric loved the bar. He was just tired and grumpy. When you worked a job six days a week, sometimes for twelve hours or more, you needed a little vacation.

Which brought him back to Gracie. Technically, he was still giving her until tonight to decide, but he was impatient. He’d already promised not to press his luck. What more did she want, it signed in blood?

Eric climbed into his car and started the heater, blowing into his cold hands as he waited for the air to warm. When he finally could feel his fingers again, he pulled out his phone. Scrolling through his contacts, he stopped on Gracie's name and tapped out a text.

You have sixteen hours, Gracie Lou.

He was just about to put his car into reverse when his phone beeped.

I’m aware of how much time I have left.

No jerk. No ass. What was wrong with her?

Are you okay?

Several seconds passed, and then…

No, I’m not all right.

Eric didn’t bother to write back. Against the advice of every voice in his head warning him not to go over there, he couldn’t go to bed until he found out what was wrong with her.

He drove out of Buck’s parking lot and stopped off at Hall’s for a bottle of something fruity and alcoholic. It was all Gracie ever ordered from the bar. Next, he swiped some brownies from the bakery and headed for the checkout.

Eric felt like an idiot, practicing what he was going to say to her on the drive over to her house. So far, he’d come up with standing on her porch looking cool and holding up the brownies. Then, with a wink, he’d say, “See? I’ll make an awesome fake boyfriend.”

Ten minutes later, he knocked loudly and waited. Nothing. He knocked again, and the door whipped open to reveal Gracie, looking like a toddler in footed pajamas, her eyes puffy and her hair wild. His smile and clever line evaporated.

“What are you doing here?” she sniffled.

“You said you weren’t all right, so I came by to bring you some happy juice and comfort food.” He looked her up and down, and despite his best efforts to be sensitive, his mouth kicked up into a little smile. “You look adorable.”

Sarcasm practically lashed him like a whip. “Thanks, but I’m really tired and not up to sparring with you tonight.”

This wasn’t going the way he had hoped, and before she could shut the door on him, he turned sideways and stepped inside. “I’m sorry about the crack about your pajamas. I really did just want to make sure you were okay.”

Her green eyes filled with tears. “Well, I’m not, and while I appreciate the concern, I think I’d rather be alone.”

He wasn’t used to seeing this side of Gracie, the soft underbelly she only let those closest to her witness.

“I’m here for you, if you want to talk,” he said gently.

Gracie shut the door behind him with a slam. “Stop it! You’re not supposed to be like this. You aren’t nice, or kind, or considerate. You’re…you’re…”

“Shh, keep it down. Aren’y you going to wake up the kid?”

Gracie slumped back against the door and broke down, shocking Eric to his very core. He set the bottle and the container of brownies down on the side table. She was sucking in air between sobs, and without really thinking about it, he reached out to pull her close. He tucked her against him and slid his arms around her, rocking her.

“Is she gone? Is that what’s going on with you?”

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