Page 106 of Butter My Biscuit

“The Gracie that doesn’t push me away, no matter what.Thatversion. Does she still exist in there somewhere?”

“Maybe it’s you who changed?” She looks at me, then goes back to the bathroom. “Ever thought of that?”

“I have. Because being with you fucking changed me.” I meet her in the doorway, leaning against it with my arms crossed as I stare at her incredulously.

She doesn’t say anything.

“But I’m not gonna argue with you the entire time I’m here. So, if you want me to leave, let me know right now. I will drive back to the goddamn airport and get on a plane, and you’ll never have to worry about me talking to you ever again.” I draw an X over my heart. And she knows it’s a promise.

She stares me down, our gazes locked in the mirror, and I wait for her to tell me to leave. There’s a split second where we hold a silent conversation, and no matter how badly her body wants to push me away,shewon’t. My best friend and the woman I fell in love with all those years ago is still in there somewhere. The words, the ones that demand I leave, don’t come because she knows I wouldn’t lie about getting the hell out of here and going home.

“That’s what I thought.” I let her silent admission sink in for a few seconds. “We never got to talk through this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,bestie. We’re good.” She won’t even look me in the eye as she puts on her makeup.

So, I wait to see if she has anything else to say, but she doesn’t speak. She treats me like I’m invisible.

“Don’t do that.” I shake my head. “I can read you like a book, princess, and I know every chapter by heart. I’m immune to your bullshit.”

“So, tell me how it ends.” She puts a dark red lipstick on and then smacks her lips together, finally meeting my eyes in the reflection.

“You’re doing that thing where you act tough and shut me out. Like you’vebeendoing.”

She adds something to her hair and scrunches the strands. When it’s fully dry, it looks like windblown beach hair. It’s one of my favorite ways she wears it.

“You’re with Stephanie. There’s nothing to discuss.” She walks past me in the doorway, going back to the bedroom.

I follow her. Memories flood in as I smell the vanilla body mist she’s worn since we were teenagers. I’m reminded of driving around Valentine with the windows down on a Friday night during football season and writing stupid letters to each other in the tree house. Feels like so long ago.

“Princess,” I whisper, throwing my baseball hat on the bed and shrugging off the light coat I’m wearing.

“Harrison,please. You’re not my knight in shining armor. I don’t need rescuing, okay?”

“I didn’t say you did.” I unzip the garment bag and take out my navy suit and my black one. “If you’re gonna keep giving me the bitch version of you, you’re going to get the dickhead version of me that you really don’t like.”

“It makes you easier to be around.”

She glances at the navy suit on the bed, and I know exactly what she’s thinking because the hint of pink on her cheeks gives her away. The last time I wore it was on New Year’s Eve when she was ripping it from my body. And I know she fucking loves it. She swallows hard, and I wonder if she just replayed my mouth being all over her. I did.

“Why are youreallyhere?”

During this trip, I will be unapologetically truthful because it’s now or never. There isn’t anything else to hide. I’m laying all the shit out without a sweet sugar coating. I’m done with that.

“Stephanie told me to come.”

“What? Why?” She looks as confused as I feel.

I peel off the T-shirt that’s sticking to me like a second skin, then walk to the bathroom. If she’s getting dressed, then I guess I need to as well.

I slide the belt out of my jeans, and just as I bend over to slip off my boots, Grace moves to the door. But she doesn’t look away. I glance at her over my shoulder, then turn around and cross my arms over my chest.

“You’re naked.” She holds up her hand to cover my junk.

“And you’re not. You’d probably be happier if you were.” I shrug, then turn on the water. My body slightly relaxes when I stand under the hot stream. The shower door is frosted, and I can’t see her, but I see the light yellow of her dress and the color of her skin.

I continue talking. “The whole town is fuckin’ talking aboutme and you. Wanted to squash that.” Steam rises above as I wash my hair. “But you can finish getting ready. I’ll be done in five.”

She huffs.

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