Page 26 of Between Periods

“Please,” she breathes.

I squeeze Gracie’s shoulder, but she doesn’t look at me. She’s staring at the placemat on the table in front of her, blinking profusely. A small sniffle escapes her, and my heart constricts at seeing her so upset.

“Go, Adam,” Ava urges when I don’t make an effort to get up and follow the other two. I meet her sad eyes with a look of concern. “I’ve got her.”

Still, my body refuses to move.

“I’m okay, Adam. Go make sure my brother doesn’t end up in jail,” Gracie croaks.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind hanging out here. We could go get drunk and fall asleep on the beach if you wanted? I’m a super-fun drunk, I swear.”

Ava laughs softly. “He’s not lying. He also becomes quite funny with a bit of liquor in that rich-boy blood.”

“What do you mean ‘become’? I’m funny all the time,” I protest.

“The number of lame sex jokes you’ve taught Oakley says otherwise.”

“Nah, you love them. It gives him some layers. Like an ogre.”

Gracie chokes on a laugh. “A Shrek fan, Adam?”

I grin. “Is the sky blue?”

“Actually, no. It’s not,” Ava answers smugly.

“You know, sometimes it’s just nice to let someone think they know what they’re talking about, O. Where’s the generosity?”

She rolls her eyes. “Must have left it at home.”

I hum and look at Gracie, relieved to see some of the sadness gone from her eyes. It’s enough reassurance for me to feel okay about going to check on the misfits.

Pushing away from the table, I meet Ava’s stare and nod.

“Give me a second, ladies. I’ll be right back.”

Gracie makes a sound of agreement before I’m walking away from the table and through the restaurant, toward the hallway where I saw the two guys disappear.

The telltale sound of hushed, angry voices confirms I’m on the right trail. With the lighting so dim, it’s hard to make out the two large bodies standing far too close at the end of the hallway, which is a very good thing.

We don’t need to go getting ourselves kicked out. I’m far too hungry.

“You need to deal with whatever it is that you’re dealing with in your life, Tyler. But if you take out your frustrations on my sister like that again, I’ll crush your windpipe and make you choke on the pieces.” Oakley’s words are nothing short of a promise.

“Noted,” Tyler grumbles.

Oakley continues. “I know it’s probably weird for you to be around her, knowing she likes you, but we gave you the opportunity to stay home. We didn’t want you to have to spend a week feeling uncomfortable, but you insisted it would be okay.”

That’s news to me. I sink into the shadows and listen, content with eavesdropping for now.

“It is okay. Fuck. I know I shouldn’t have gone at her like that back there. I feel like a goddamn dick already,” Tyler says.

“It’s good to know you can feel guilt after all, but it’s not me you need to be telling this to.”

A pause before Tyler releases a tight breath. “She won’t want to talk to me.”

Frustration is a prick in my side. He’s completely oblivious when it comes to the inner workings of a woman. With my arms crossed, I step out of the shadows and say, “I beg to differ. I think you’re the only one she wants to talk to right now.”

Both men spin in the direction of my voice and move out of the shadows, side by side. My eyebrows lift when they slither into view, and I notice the red mark on Tyler’s jaw.

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