“Why am I in trouble for just asking what he did?”
“Because there’s a time and a place for difficult questions, but dinner out wasn’t it. Also, that’s grown-up stuff.”
“Yes, Momma,” he mumbled.
I kept an eye on him until he was tucked under his covers with his copy ofCharlie and the Chocolate Factoryand a pile of comics. Then I sat on the mattress beside him and pulled him into a hug. “Ollie, I want you to give Grayden a chance.”
“Why? We have enough friends. We have Uncle Teller and Callum and Ashford. We don’t needhim.”
“Because there’s always room for more love,” I said automatically. Even if the thought of Grayden O’Neal and the wordlovein the same sentence was enough to have my nerves rattling.
“And you might not need more friends,” I added, “but Grayden does. Did you ever think of that? He wasn’t perfect in his past, but he’s really trying to make up for it. The world would be a far better place if people could admit their mistakes and try to do better.”
“Yes, Momma,” Ollie grumbled again, before holding his book in front of his face.
Once Ollie was settled, I brewed some coffee, my ultimate peace offering. Grayden was still sitting there on the porch steps. Good. He hadn’t left.
“Coffee?” I asked. “I assume you take it black. Considering the espresso.”
“Black is perfect.”
He went to stand, but I crossed over to him, holding out a mug. “Here. Don’t get up. This is a good spot to sit.”
“Thanks.”
I’d left the porch light off, and the street was mostly dark, which left the stars arrayed above us. My mug was toasty in my hands.
I felt Grayden’s warmth beside me too, crossing the narrow space between us.
“Ollie shouldn’t have said those things to you,” I began.
“He made some fair points.”
“It must be exhausting, though. Having people throw your past in your face. I don’t just mean my kid. Small town doesn’t have to mean small minds, but sometimes…”
“It’s okay. I can handle it. I chose to come back here, knowing what the residents of Silver Ridge would probably say.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s right.”
Grayden sipped his coffee. “You know, Ollie is actually the first person in Silver Ridge to ask, point blank, what I did to wind up in prison.” He blinked, gaze bright in the dark. “Even you haven’t asked.”
My breath stopped in my chest. Did Grayden want me to ask?
“I know it was a bar fight.” There were some official records about it, though I hadn’t seen them.
“But you don’t know the details. Even Grace and Callum haven’t asked. Because they’re afraid of the answer.”
“Should they be afraid?”
He glanced up at the sky. “Fear is a subjective thing.”
I huffed a laugh, wrapping my arms around my coat. “You’re different from what I expected. You’re pretty philosophical sometimes.”
“A guy who spent years in prison can get very philosophical. Trust me.” His eyes crinkled as he smiled, and I smiled back. Couldn’t help myself.
Maybe Grayden’s smiles were like shooting stars. Even more arresting because they were rare.
“Grace and Callum might be afraid to ask the nitty-gritty details about your arrest and conviction, but you could just tell them. Tell Ashford too. That’s one of the things he’s still angry about. Not knowing, and feeling like it’s some secret you’re keeping.”
