Page 95 of Trusting Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 2)

Somehow, someway, she’d find a way to be happy and fulfilled without Easton. It wouldn’t be easy but as Glennon Doyle often says, “We can do hard things.”

They continued walking through the house in silence, and although it was lovely, Grace knew it wasn’t the one.

When they got in the car, Grace pulled up the next address on her navigation system. “Do you want to grab some lunch at Sue Ann’s after the next house?”

“Grace, you love him,” Audrey said quietly.

Her sisters statement took her completely by surprise. “What?”

“Easton, you love Easton.”

She didn’t see the point in denying it. “Yes, I do.”

“And he loves you.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Grace shook her head. If Easton loved her, he’d say it. She knew that in her heart. He didn’t play games. He was always honest. If he felt that way about Grace, she’d be the first to know.

“Yes, he does,” Audrey stated with complete confidence as if it was a fact like Canada bordered the U.S. or McDonald’s French fries are the best.

“Audrey, he doesn’t.”

“How can you say that after you saw the montage of you guys? Did you see how worried and concerned he was about you?”

“I know he cares about me but he doesn’t love me.”

“Yes, he does,” Audrey insisted.

Grace had never gotten into an argument with her baby sister, and she didn’t want their first one to be over this. It was too painful already.

“Audrey, please drop it.”

Her sister shook her head. “No.”

“No?!” Grace repeated.

“No, we are going to talk about this. Easton loves you.”

“No. He doesn’t,” Grace said through clenched teeth.

“Yes, he does.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Grace could not believe that she was sitting in her car arguing that a man didn’t love her.

“Yes, he does.”

“No, he doesn’t.” Grace could do this all day. She’d been in mediations that lasted for hours and never changed her stance.

Probably sensing her sister’s resolve, Audrey sighed. “How do you know that?”

“Because…” Grace took in a deep breath. “Because he doesn’t know me.”

“I know you guys have only known each other for a few weeks but the longer you’re together the more you’ll learn about each other’s histories and—”

“I’m not talking about him not knowing how old I was when I first got my period, Aud. I’m talking about me. He doesn’t know me.”

“Why? Why don’t you think he knows you?”

Grace sighed and put her hands on the steering wheel. She really did not want to have this conversation and she wouldn’t be having it if it was anyone sitting in the passenger seat besides Audrey.

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