“Connor gave me a few days off. He basically told me to get my ass over here and talk to you.”
Kira smiled. “God, I love him. He’s the best guy I know. Listen, assuming that I can get Gideon to return my calls at some point, do you guys want to come over for dinner tonight?”
Grace shook her head. “Kira, we’re not, I mean…”
“What?” Kira said.
“Your brother and I aren’t together.”
“Shit. Because of me?” Kira sat forward, her feet hitting the porch with a hollow thump. “Honey, I’ll talk to Gideon, okay? You can’t break up just because I was being a big baby and acted like an idiot. I’ll talk to him and -”
“We were never in a relationship,” Grace said.
“What do you mean?” Kira said.
“It was…” she winced but made herself say it, “it was just sex, Kira. Nothing more. And now it’s done. It has nothing to do with your reaction.”
“That’s bullshit,” Kira said. “Don’t lie to me, Gracie.”
“I’m not lying. It really was just sex. Yeah, we didn’t want you to find out and you finding out maybe pushed the end date up a bit, but Gideon never wanted an actual relationship with me. He only wanted sex.”
“Oh, I’m gonna kill him.” Kira stood and stomped back and forth on the porch, her tiny fists swinging. “I love him, but I’m gonna kill him.”
“Stop, honey,” Grace said. “He was upfront with me about it and I agreed to it.”
“Why?” Kira said. “If it isn’t because of me then what’s stopping you from having a relationship?”
“Gideon thinks that everyone he loves will die, that he’s some kind of damn curse, and me…” she shook her head, “I’m as fucked up as he is, thanks to my parents. He said that I’m just waiting for him to screw up, for him to act like I don’t matter the same way my parents do, and he’s right. I am. I love your brother. I’ve been in love with him since I was sixteen years old, but I can’t convince myself that I’m worthy of his love. I agreed that we wouldn’t have a relationship because deep down inside, I don’t think I’m worth it. Why should someone as amazing as Gideon, be with someone like me? My own parents don’t believe I’m worth loving, why should anyone else?”
“Oh, honey.” Kira stood in front of her and cupped her face. “You are amazing. You are strong and kind and brave, and you literally saved my life after Mom and Dad died. There is no one in my life who has my back like you do.”
She squeezed Grace’s face. “Grace Louella Larken, you deserve to be loved. Don’t let yourself or anyone else convince you that you don’t.”
Kira kissed Grace’s forehead before wiping away the tears on her cheeks. “Now, stop crying and let’s figure out how to convince my bonehead of a brother that one – you two are soulmates and two – he needs serious therapy. You both do.”
Grace drew in a shuddering breath. “You’re right. I need therapy and I promise I’m going to talk to someone, but as for your brother – it’s over, Kira. We both have too much baggage and we’ll just end up hurting each other. Hell, we already have.”
“Gracie -”
“Please don’t.” Hot tears were running down her cheeks and Grace wiped them away angrily. “I love you and I know you mean well, but please don’t. Okay?”
“Okay,” Kira said.
Kira sat down in the rocking chair and after a few minutes of silence, Grace said, “I called Harper on the drive over here and asked her if I could come stay with her and Addie for the weekend. I didn’t give her any details, at least not yet, but she said I was welcome to stay with her. I need a few days away, you know? A few days where I don’t have to worry about running into Gideon… I need some time.”
“I get it,” Kira said. “I love you, Gracie.”
“I love you too, Kira.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Easy, Tank. I know you’re glad to be home but slow down.” Gideon walked up the driveway with Tank on a leash. Despite the cone around his head, the big dog’s tail waved happily when he saw Preacher standing by the front door.
Preacher opened the door wide as Tank stopped and stared up at him. He swung his head, scraping the cone across Preacher’s flat abdomen. Preacher winced and petted his big head. “Yeah, yeah, I’m happy to see you too. Watch the cone, fuzzball.”
“In the house, Tank,” Gideon said.
Tank tried to step inside, snorting when the cone banged against the side of the doorway. Gideon patted his side. “Try again.”
He made it through on the second try, his tail wagging even harder when Gideon told him he was a good boy. His tail whacked Preacher in the crotch, and the tattoo artist flinched and grabbed at himself. “Christ, I’m pretty sure I’m never having kids thanks to your dog.”
He followed Gideon and Tank into the house, adjusting his crotch as Gideon led Tank to his bed in the living room. “Bed, Tank.”
Tank laid down gingerly and Gideon unclipped the leash. “Stay.”
He crouched and petted Tank’s head and scratched around the cone. “You’re a good boy. Have a sleep.”
He walked to the kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge, opening them both and handing one to Preacher. They sat at the table and Gideon took a large swallow of beer. “You don’t have to hang out with me, Preacher. I’m sure you have something better to do on a Friday night then sit with me and my dog.”
Preacher drank some beer before eyeing him. “You talk to Grace yet?”
“No. It’s over between us. I told you that yesterday.”
“Yeah, I know, but I thought maybe you’d come to your senses today.”
Gideon flipped him the bird before drinking some more beer. “I made a mistake, all right? I should never have slept with Grace.”
“Fuck that bullshit,” Preacher said. “You’ve been in love with Grace Larken for years. You think I didn’t see how fucking happy you were when you two were banging? Call her and tell her you fucked up, asshole. Otherwise, this right here,” he tapped the table between them, “is your goddamn future. Drinking every weekend with me. Is that really what you fucking want?”
He was saved from answering by the ring of his cell phone. He ignored it and Preacher raised an eyebrow at him. “You gonna answer that?”
“It’s Kira.”
“So, you’re still avoiding your sister too? Jesus, you’re determined to burn every fucking bridge with everyone who gives a shit about you, aren’t you?”
“You’re still here,” Gideon said.
“You can’t pussy out and ignore them both forever.”
“You didn’t see the look on Kira’s face when she found out Grace and I slept together, and you didn’t see the look on Grace’s face when I told her that her parents would never give a fuck about her.”
“It was a pretty dick thing to say.” Preacher took another swig of beer.