Andrew snorted. “Give me a break, O’Conner.”
So we were back to last names. I breathed in deep, trying to stifle my temper. I might get away with a slap on the wrist for punching a teammate, but going off on the team’s owner would surely have a more severe consequence. “Look, I’ve been dealing with some family drama. My ex showed up and caused a shit ton of problems, but that has nothing to do with how I feel about Grace.”
His eyebrows went up. “Chloe has been around?”
I snorted. “Yeah. And she brought her usual drama with her.”
“Drama that’s affecting my sister.”
It was hard to have this conversation when I had no idea what he knew about our relationship. “Chloe picked Josie up from school a few days ago and was spouting some shit about us working things out. Which is total garbage, by the way. But I know it upset Grace.”
Andy sneered. “Can you blame her? After everything that happened with Chloe senior year?”
The room suddenly felt very still to me. And very quiet. “What about senior year?” I asked, my voice low.
His expression turned incredulous. “All of that shit with prom. It might not have seemed like a big deal to you, but it really fucked with Grace. She was upset for months.”
My mouth had gone dry, my mind spinning with confusion. “Wait. What exactly did Grace tell you happened?”
He studied my face, like he was trying to decide if I was fucking with him. “You asked her to prom. Or she thought you did. And then Chloe told her she had misunderstood the whole thing and you just felt too sorry for her to tell her the truth.”
All the air whooshed out of me. “What?”
Andy’s eyes were narrowed. “I figured it was just like you. Always trying to be the cool guy, everyone’s best friend. Mr. Popular. But Grace took that invitation seriously, Liam. She spent a month’s worth of tutoring money on a dress, for God’s sake. I’d never seen her lit up like that. She really fucking liked you and?—”
I held up both hands, interrupting him. “Itwasa serious invitation. I wanted to take her. Itcrushedme when she said her plans had changed.”
I could tell Andy wasn’t buying it but I really didn’t give a shit. All I could think about was getting to Grace and finding out what in the hell had really happened. Had Chloe seriously fucked everything up back then? She’d made it pretty obvious that she liked me throughout high school, but I had never imagined she’d go behind my back and lie to Grace.
Finally, Andy closed his eyes, as if exhausted from our drama. “Grace has had a tough year,” he said. “Her ex did a number on her.” I frowned. I hadn’t heard a word about her ex.
Andy continued. “She’s never been great at confronting things that are uncomfortable or painful. But it sounds to me like the two of you need to grow the fuck up and talk through your shit.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, already planning to go straight to her house and wait for her to get home so she’d have no choice but to talk to me.
“She’s an amazing person, Liam,” he said, voice low and intense. “She deserves better than you. Hell, there’s not a man on this earth worthy of my sister.” Well, at least we agreed on something. “But if you’re what she wants, then I just hope you can step up and at least try.”
I met his gaze head on. Enough messing around. “I’m in love with her, Andy. Always have been. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that woman happy.”
He blinked at me and I couldn’t tell if he was surprised or not. Finally, he nodded. “See that you do.”
His phone rang and he raised a hand at me in dismissal. Fine with me. I was more than ready to get the hell out of there.
I had only taken a few steps into the hallway when he called after me. “O’Conner, hang on.”
I stepped back into the room, watching while he listened to whatever the person on the other end of the line was saying. “Yeah, he’s right here. Why?” More talking. Andy’s eyes widened, and something seemed to sink in my belly. “Are you sure? Okay. The house or the school? Okay.” He hung up and met my gaze with suddenly worried eyes.
“Your in-laws called the front office when they couldn’t get you on your cell. There was some kind of mix up at school. You need to get home right away.”
Suddenly my body felt very cold.
“Andy?” My voice cracked on the word, dread flooding my system. The concern in his expression did nothing to soothe me.
“They can’t find Josie.”
CHAPTER 28
“How are we feeling, ladies? Are we ready for another pitcher?”
