“I love that idea,” Gracie murmurs, and I turn to lookat her, catching her trembling lip before she sucks it between her teeth. She looks like she wants to say more, but she doesn’t need to. I know exactly what the idea of permanence means for her, even when it’s my fault that she thought she lost it in Sterling Creek.
Bitter regret tries to crawl into my chest. Even after being in the house for months, Gracie still hasn’t felt comfortable enough to plant anything. Not when she worries that one day, it might all be taken from her.
I did that to her. I gave her trust and security, and I tore it away from her—first with Paisley, and then with the house.
Not wanting her to linger on past hurts, I brush a strand of hair behind her ear before brushing a whisper of a kiss against her lips. “Let’s put your flowers in water. We need to get going if we want to make our reservations.”
Gracie staresout the window at the familiar building, her lips tilting up. “Benson’s, huh?” She turns to give me a smirk. “And you made reservations?”
I grin, and the playful suspicion in her eyes deepens. “It’s not anything fancy, but you can’t beat the nachos.” She shrugs, conceding the point, and I add, “Mom and Dad should already be inside.”
Gracie’s mouth softens at that. “This is actually kind of perfect. You know that birthdays have never been a big deal for me.”
That’s a hard truth to swallow, no matter how many times I hear it. I tamp down my rage at her parents, not wanting to give them any space tonight. “I don’t want that to be your future, Rumpel. I want birthdays to be something you look forward to. Something youwantto celebrate.”
Gracie doesn’t look so certain, but she doesn’t argue,just brushing her hand over mine before unclicking her seat belt and stepping out of the truck. I watch her, nerves beating at me at what I’ve set in motion.
Too late now.
She sends a questioning look, and I get out, coming to her side to wrap my arm around her shoulders, squeezing her reassuringly. “Come on, baby. Let’s go eat.”
I pull the door open and usher her inside, but she comes to an abrupt halt, taking in the dim interior and the lack of music. The door closes behind us, and the lights flare to life, a loud cry exploding through the bar.
“Happy birthday!”
Gracie lets out a startled yelp, her whole body flinching back into mine. “What—” she starts breathlessly, eyes flashing from the crowd to the balloons overhead, the streamers on the ceiling, and the huge birthday banner against one wall. “What did you do?” Her head is swiveling, taking in the room full of people—Mom, Dad, Annie, Maryann, and her husband, Stacey, Bridget, and Nick. All my crew from the fire station, including Monroe, and a number of people who have gotten to know and love Gracie since she made Sterling Creek her home.
“Surprise, baby,” I murmur in her ear.
Her mouth opens and closes, eyes filled with more tears that she desperately tries to blink back. Before she can say another word, the crowd shifts as three people step forward.
“Nolan,” Gracie whispers in shock. Her attention shifts to the people at his side, her eyes going impossibly wide. “Elyse?”
Elyse takes that as her cue, rushing forward to yank Gracie away from me into a rib-crushing hug. “I couldn’t miss another birthday,” she rushes out, her words jumbling together. “I told Dad that if he didn’t give me a weekendoff, I’d sell the business off for parts when he finally handed it over.”
Gracie’s shoulders are shaking as she hides her face against Elyse. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, voice muffled.
“Me, too, girlfriend.” Elyse laughs. “Me too. But hey, look…” She pulls out of Gracie’s arms, turning to gesture the other guy forward. “I brought someone with me.”
I look over just as a lanky guy in black-rimmed glasses steps forward, his eyes shifting around nervously and his cheeks red.
“This is Reed. My boyfriend,” Elyse announces.
Gracie lets out a quiet gasp, leaning forward to whisper, “Online boyfriend?”
Elyse’s eyes are shining. “Online boyfriend,” she agrees.
“Hey. Happy birthday.” Reed steps close enough to hold his hand out to Gracie, and then me, his hand dry and firm. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Gracie grins at him. “I’ve heard about you, too, and I’m very glad that you’re real. Thanks for coming.”
Reed looks confused, but Elyse is lunging forward again, giving Gracie another tight hug. “We have lots to catch up on,” she says meaningfully, flicking a look at me. “But you have so many people here for you, Gracie, and I love that for you.” Elyse’s voice goes hoarse, but she shakes it off. “So, I’m going to go get some drinks for us, and you’re going to mingle with your family.”
She and Reed move away, leaving space for Nolan to step forward. “It’s only been a month, but it felt wrong to miss this,” he tells her stoically. “Especially after receiving the invite directly from Braxton.”
Gracie glances at me out of the corner of her eye. “Did you just?” she murmurs. “Well, I’m glad to see you, even if it hasn’t been two years yet.”
He cracks a smile at that. “Is that the limit? Two years between each visit?”
