"You tried." He set down the sandpaper with careful precision. "Right. You tried."
"I did. I swear, I tried everything to get away. My boss kept?—"
"Your boss." Grant shook his head. "Of course. Your boss needed you. Work needed you."
Riley flinched. "It's not an excuse. It's what happened. She kept piling things on and I kept thinking I could finish and still make it back, but?—"
"But you couldn't." Grant's voice was flat. "This is why you got the naughty list title in the first place, Riley. You have a history of missing things. Important things. Things you promise you'll be there for."
Riley's breath caught. "That's not fair."
"Isn't it?" Grant's eyes were hard. "How many times in high school did you bail on plans because something more important came up? How many times did you choose the thing that looked better on a college application over actually showing up for your friends? For me?"
"We were kids?—"
"And everyone still remembers. Hannah remembers. Mark and Ryan remember. Hell, even people who barely knew you back then remember that Riley Monroe was always too busy for Pine Valley." His jaw tightened. "I just forgot for a minute. Got caught up in pretending this was real when I knew better."
"It is real?—"
"It's not. It was fake, remember? The whole thing. We agreed to fake date for the reunion so people would leave you alone."
Riley's hands shook. "Grant, please. If you'd just let me explain?—"
"Explain what? That your job is more important than keeping your word? I already know that, Riley. I've always known that. I just forgot for a minute." He ran a hand through his hair, and Riley saw how tired he looked. How hurt. "I should have known better. But honestly, Riley, you don't owe me an explanation. This was all fake anyway."
Riley couldn't breathe. "What?"
"The whole thing. Us. It was fake, remember? A favor for the reunion. That's all this was." Grant's voice went quieter, whichwas somehow worse than the anger. "I shouldn't be surprised you didn't make it. I shouldn't be mad. It was just embarrassing, that's all."
"Embarrassing." Riley's voice cracked on the word.
"Yeah. Everyone asking where you were. Having to make excuses. Hannah's kids asking for you." Grant looked away. "Sitting there with an empty seat beside me while everyone felt sorry for me. That part sucked. But I'll get over it."
"Grant, please—" Riley took another step forward. "It wasn't fake. Not for me. I need you to know?—"
"Riley, don't." Grant held up a hand. "Just don't, okay? Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"But I need to tell you something. About my job. About what I did?—"
"I don't want to hear about your job." Grant's voice went sharp again. "I really, really don't want to hear about how demanding it is or how much your boss expects or any of the reasons why you can't keep your promises. I've heard it all before."
"That's not what I was going to say. If you'd just listen?—"
"I don't want to listen!" Grant's voice cracked. "I don't want to hear about your job or your boss or your life in the city. I don't want excuses or explanations or promises that you'll try harder next time. Because I can't do this fake dating thing anymore."
"What?" Riley's voice was barely a whisper.
"This. Us. The whole pretend relationship." Grant's hands were shaking. "It's gotten too real, Riley. And having to sit there last night making excuses for you with a smile on my face? Pretending like everything was fine when you weren't there? That's not okay. I'm not doing that."
"Grant, it wasn't—it's not fake. Not for me?—"
"It was supposed to be fake. That was the deal. A favor so people would stop bugging you at the reunion." His voice wentquiet. "But I let it get carried away. I let myself forget that this was all pretend. That's on me."
"It's not pretend?—"
"Then what is it?" Grant turned to face her fully. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like the same thing that's always happened with us. I care more than you do. I wait around hoping you'll show up. And you've got more important things to do."
"That's not true." Riley's voice shook. "Grant, please. There's something I need to tell you. Something important. If you'd just?—"
