She stills, looking surprised by the question. “I was driving past and saw your truck. I really want to talk about everything that happened on Christmas. Can I come in?”
I yank my keys out of the door, squeezing them in my fist, the jagged edges digging into my palm. Paisley looks from me to the door, but I don’t make a move to open it.
“No,” I grit out. “You can’t come in.”A bark of harsh laughter escapes, and she flinches. “You happened to just be driving by, huh? It’s funny how often you just happen to show up, Paisley.”
Hurt shines through her brown eyes, her chin dropping as she peers up at me through her lashes. “Wow, Brax. Your whole family turned on me in a blink, but I honestly didn’t think you would. I didn’t do anything wrong. If anything,shedid?—”
“Don’t,” I snap. “Don’t try to pin this on Gracie.” I stare at her, the anger cooling into something colder.Sharper. “She didn’t know about the house. You knew that.” My tone is accusing.
Paisley throws her hands into the air, crying out, “Howwould I know that? You never said she didn’t know, only that you were gutted about losing it!”
I go to refute her claim, but I can’t even remember telling her in the first place, and the words stick in my throat. “Okay, so why did you take my phone to her?”
Paisley’s lips purse. “I was trying to benice. I found it in the car the next morning. I was going to meet someone out in Ashland, and the florist was on my way out of town. I didn’t think it made sense to drive all the way back to Nick’s. Anyway, you were still asleep on the floor, so I figured it didn’t matter.”
She steps closer, her hand reaching out. I step back just before she can touch me, and she pushes her lower lip out.
“Braxton, this is a good thing. You might not see it right now, but Gracie isn’t right for you. For this life.” Her lips curve into a sweet smile, but it doesn’t quite touch her eyes. “You loved me once, and I know you felt that on Thanksgiving.”
My brows knit together. “I didn’t feel shit,” I say harshly, shame a whisper at the back of my head. “What I felt for you was a childish crush, but IloveGracie. I want a future with her.”
Paisley tuts her tongue. “Then why would you lean on me and not her?” she argues. “There’s obviously something that Gracie isn’t giving you. You were drowning, Braxton, and it’smeyou talked to. And the movies…”
Memories pound at me, vicious and thorny, refusing to let go—herhead against my shoulder,herhand in mine, my choice of silence instead of giving Gracie the honesty she deserved.
“I talked to you because you werethere,” I growl. “I talked to you because you aren’t close to me, and that made you safe, but I can see now that I was wrong. You’re anything but goddamn safe. It was a mistake. A lapse in judgment. The movies—” I shake my head, anger fleeingas fast as it comes, replaced with burning guilt. “I don’t wantyou. I haven’t wanted you in a long goddamn time, and even then, it was only the crush of someone who hadn’t tasted real love.”
She pales before she visibly steels herself, her voice fierce as she says, “I don’t believe you. You’re denying it because you don’t want to hurt Gracie, but we’re meant to be together. You can’t fight the kind of history we have.” There’s a fanatical gleam in her eyes, and I drop my chin to my chest.
“Look, Paisley…” I sigh in aggravation. “Back off. You’ve done enough. I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but I’m going to make things right with Gracie. She’s the only person who matters to me.”
Her eyes flare, too bright and gleaming with emotion. “I can’t believe you’re falling in line with her,” she whispers brokenly. “We’ve known each other for years, and you’re throwing that away because your girlfriend is feeling a little insecure? I thought we were friends.”
“I thought we were, too, but a friend would never do what you’ve done.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling an ache settling in behind my eyes. “Just leave, Paisley. You were happy enough to do it four years ago, yeah?”
She falls back a step, her cheeks wan. “I knew you blamed me,” she whispers accusingly. “I knew you were still angry that I left. That I didn’t choose you.” She shakes her head, hair whipping around her face. “And now you’re punishing me.”
A startled laugh bursts from me. “What?” She just blinks, and I prop my hands on my hips. “For Christ’s sake, Paisley. This isn’t about you. Now,go.”
I turn and head into my apartment without another word, slamming the door behind me. I lean back on the wood, wondering how I let it all get this bad; thisfuckedup. Guilt eats away at my insides, Gracie’s devastated faceseared to my memory—scarred so deeply, I know I’ll never forget.
There’s a heavy silence on the other side of the door, and I bite back a scoff at Paisley ever thinking I would welcome her here after what she did yesterday. I don’t let it loose, not making a sound until I hear footsteps as she finally walks away.
CHAPTER 18
Braxton
Iwalk into the fire station at the same time as Theo, ignoring the shrewd look she’s immediately leveling in my direction. “Morning.”
“Hey, Braxton,” she greets evenly. “Good Christmas?”
It feels like a jagged stone is caught in my throat, so I don’t even try to answer her, lifting a shoulder.
She shrugs out of her coat, hanging it up. “Mine was busy,” she says, acting like I asked. “Cherise made a cherry-glazed ham, and it was—” She presses her fingertips to her lips, kissing them.
“Sounds nice,” I murmur absently, putting my coat next to hers and heading for the kitchen, hoping she’ll take the hint.
The footsteps that follow crush that hope faster than it can grow. I don’t look her way, heading for the coffee machine and flicking it on.
