Page 88 of Butter My Biscuit

Grace

Thanks for the recommendation. Kinsley just asked me to help her plan her wedding!!!

Harrison

You’re going to be amazing. Congrats!

Grace

Thank you! Eek! So excited. Also, can’t believe you remembered Weddings with Grace.

Harrison

I remember everything you’ve ever told me.

I read his last message and smile, then turn my attention back to my laptop where I update my dating app radius. I’ll be damned if I ever drive to Houston for dick again. Hell, I don’t want to drive outside of Valentine for it.

After I upload a recent picture from Christmas, I save it, hoping for myYou’ve Got Mailmoment. Just as I pick up my coffee to take a drink, I notice someone walking toward me. When I look up, I give Stephanie a double take.

Shocked doesn’t express how I feel, and I nearly spit out my coffee, but hurry and gulp it down.

“Hey, Grace!” She sits in front of me like we’re old friends. We’renot. She dated Harrison in high school, and that’s as far as our relationship went.

“Hey, good to see ya. Home, visiting?” I ask, closing my laptop, not wanting her to see what I’m up to.

She nods, and not a single strand of blonde hair is out of place. A silver bracelet dangles on her wrist, and I realize she’s put together like an adult. Meanwhile, I’m in leggings, a baggy T-shirt that I’m certain has a snarky-as-fuck saying on the front, and some Converse that have seen better days.

“Actually, I’m moving back to Valentine. Going to help my parents with their practice. Honestly, I just came to say thank you.”

“For what?” I wish I could disappear and not have this conversation with her. I want to be Samantha inBewitchedand wiggle my nose.

She laughs. “In a roundabout way, you helped me make the big decision to return. Had you not visited Houston and brought Harrison with you, I’d have never realized how much I missed home and him. Might not even be here.”

“Oh, wow. Well, I guess you’re welcome. Glad I could help.” I force a smile.

“Thanks. It’s good to see you, Grace. Haven’t changed a bit.”

“Still the same small-town girl.”

She smiles, and her phone buzzes. “Yeah. Oh, speaking of, I gotta go. Maybe we can hang out sometime?”

“Yeah, maybe.” I give her a wave and watch her leave.

She offers me a kind smile when she passes the window, and I stare at a few crispy leaves blowing on the sidewalk. I slide my laptop off the table and shove it in my tote, grab my coffee, and head home.

She wanted to thank me for moving back for Harrison. Everyone knows that this is home, and he’ll be in Valentine forever. If she wants to be with him, coming here is the only option.

When I walk in, Remi is at the table, holding a puzzle piece in her hand. She’s hunched over, concentrating hard at the shape, scanning the frame.

“Did you know Stephanie is back in town?” I ask, setting my bag on the counter and playing through our conversation again.

“Yeah.”

I wait for her to offer more info, but she doesn’t. “Am I the only person who didn’t know?”

“It’s not my business, but, yeah, pretty much.” She turns and looks at me. “I told Harrison he’d better not date her again.”

“Dating? Why would you think that’s even a possibility?”

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