Page 18 of Butter My Biscuit

“Who’s Gracie?”

“A kind, beautiful, funny woman he never fucking deserved.”

I turn my back and walk away just as she kicks him in his balls.

“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” he pleads as she screams something.

It’s raining harder now, and I rub my knuckles as I make my way back to the truck. When I’m inside, we sit in silence for a minute before I make a U-turn.

She shakes her head. “You shouldn’t be fighting my battles.”

“Never. Beingmybestie is a life sentence, babe. Goes both ways.”

Grace doesn’t say anything the rest of the way back to the rental. She stares out the window, wiping tears away. Knowing she’s in pain makes me want to go back over there and beat the shit out of him. But I’m sure his wife is making his life hell. She deserved to know.

When I pull into the driveway, Gracie gets out of the truck, wearing my T-shirt, and I smile when I see the thigh-highs.

She walks in the rain and goes inside. I grab her wet coat from the back seat and follow her. And just like that, the happy-go-lucky girl in love, who was laughing and making jokes yesterday, has vanished, and the toxic cycle of another shitty relationship ending continues.

Classic case of looking for love in all the wrong places.

I’m tempted to burst into the bedroom, pull her into my arms, and tell her it’s going to be okay, but I know she needs alone time. Maybe not a lot. Maybe the rest of the night. If she were home, she’d be stress cleaning.

I peel off my wet clothes and change, and then I wait thirty minutes. Then, I go to her. When I walk into the bedroom, she’s lying face down on the bed, still in her lingerie, crying.

I walk over to her and sit down, rubbing her back. “Wanna watch your favorite movie?”

“No.”

I nod, respecting that. “I’m here for you if you want to talk, and if not, I’m still here. I’m sorry this happened.”

“Thank you. Me too. I think I just need to be alone.”

“Okay.”

I walk back into the living room and stare at the blank TV, giving her space. Then, I text my older sister.

Harrison

Queen Kinsley!

Kinsley

Uh-oh. What kind of trouble are you in?

Harrison

I’m not in any trouble. But I have a question. Is it possible to manifest evil?

Kinsley

How much did you focus on it?

Harrison

A lot.

Kinsley

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