“Who would do such a thing?” I made my voice squeak and my eyes produce tears, even though what I really wanted was to shout. Demand why his hands smelled like rubbing alcohol. Like gasoline and fire.
I gripped his palms and rested them on my cheeks as though I were looking for comfort in his touch.
His thumbs stroked away the dampness. “I’m so sorry you were there, Nikki. So fucking sorry.”
I shut my eyes.
He was about to be a hell of a lot sorrier.
Chapter 49
“Knickknack, a word.”
I sighed, feigning annoyance at Lucas’s intervention even though I couldn’t have been happier for it. I wiped my eyes. “I’ll see you at Pondside?” I pasted on a smile that was entirely for show.
Grant’s Adam’s apple jostled, and so many little things hit me at once. The perfect oval of his face, the lankiness of his shoulders screwed into biceps swollen with muscle, the blond hair on his forearms that was so thick it hid the galaxy of freckles stippling them.
But most of all, what hit me, was how he made my skin crawl.
I limped toward Lucas. “What is it?”
“What the actual fuck are you trying to achieve?” he hissed, while glaring over my shoulder at Grant.
“I was trying to find comfort in the arms of an old friend. You have a problem with that?”
“What I have a problem with is your choice of buddy.”
“Are you the friend police, now?”
His eyebrows drew together. “You’re acting real weird right now.”
“I’m in shock, Lucas, so give me a break.” I made sure to sound annoyed with his meddling. “But hey, if you’re dead set on discussing my weirdness, at least do so while giving me a ride to the mess hall.”
His eyebrows popped up, hopefully in understanding.
“We were just leaving, so we can give you a ride.” Ness walked up to us, hand clasped in August’s, golden hair piled high on her head in a haphazard topknot.
Even though I wanted to talk with Lucas, I reluctantly accepted her offer to avoid making a scene and hobbled alongside them toward a navy pickup. I briefly attempted to even out my gait, but between my drumming heart and crackling nerves, controlling my limbs proved an impossible feat.
As August got my door and offered me a hand up, I looked over to where Liam stood, still talking with Reese and Avery, and caught the feverish twitch of his eyes. I lowered my gaze before it could convey my thoughts. The last thing I needed was for Grant to catch on and get spooked. Although, if he did, it would conveniently confirm his guilt.
Once August backed out of his parking spot, I scooted to the middle seat and leaned forward. “Can you drop me off at Liam’s and then get Lucas to come over?”
Ness looked at August, then at me, her pale iris so white compared to the colorfulness of the other. “You think he has his cell phone on him?”
“Don’t see why not?” August spun the wheel, circling around the orchard, before driving alongside the hill dappled with all the new cabins.
Ness pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and typed out a message. A moment later, she turned in her seat to face me again. “He’ll be there in ten.WithLiam.” Sounded like a warning.
I tucked a fugitive strand behind my ear. “It’s really not what you think.”
“I hope not, because I don’t like what I think.”
August reached over and clasped Ness’s hand to calm her.
“He’s been through a lot, Nikki. He’s still going through a lot. He doesn’t need head games.”
I pressed my lips together, a little annoyed that, out of everyone, the girl who’d broken his heart was judgingme. “Good thing I’m not into head games,” I ended up saying. And then I stayed quiet until we reached the cabin. Before shutting the car door, I thanked them for the ride.
