On cue, Daisy streaked by.
“What were you saying about quiet?” Grace quipped.
“Hold on.” Zandra jumped up. “She’s got the zoomies. Don’t know how she’s still got any energy after this morning. But the last time Daisy was really worked up and I didn’t distract her, our down comforter got shredded.”
Zandra dashed from the room. Grace and I took up our spots on the couch again, laughing. Never a dull moment.
“What’re you doing with your weekend?” Grace asked. “Almost three days of freedom until Ollie’s back.”
I shrugged. “Catching up on some things at Silver Linings, probably.”
“Wait, do I need to forceyouto get out and have fun? What happened to my party-girl best friend?”
If only Grace knew. My wild side had been present and accounted for last night with Grayden.
But after I’d asked to spend more time with him this weekend, he’d basically blown me off.
I’m not sure about my plans.
And of course that was for the best, as I’d told myself a hundred times about getting involved with Grayden. Those words had worn a groove in my brain at this point.
But it hadn’t made me stop wanting him.
“I’m still a free spirit,” I defended. “I’m going to get crazy this weekend, don’t you worry. I just got the weekly flier for Main Street Market, and Rosie put the Ben & Jerry’s on sale. I’m going to stock my freezer withmyfavorite flavors only. Netflix marathon of all the shows with complex plots, curse words, and explicit sex. And then I’ll soak in the tub for like a solid hour with nobody bugging me.”
Grace giggled. “You’ve got a full schedule.”
“You know it.”
She chewed her lower lip. After all these years, I could read Grace like a classic novel. Something was on her mind.
Then she said, “I really appreciate what you’ve been doing for Grayden.”
Did my smile look as strange as it felt? Could Grace read me as easily as I could read her? I hoped not.
“It’s no trouble at all.”
“But it means so much. Knowing he’s got support. There are so many people in Silver Ridge who don’t want him here, and that kills me.”
Chloe stretched, leaping into the space between us and snuggling in. Grace petted the cat’s soft fur and continued talking.
“If I had it my way, I’d be bugging Grayden every day,” she said, “dropping by to see how he’s doing and making sure he’s got everything he needs. Or just to see him, because he’s my big brother and I’m making up for lost time. But that would drive him up the walls.”
“Maybe it’s better that you’ve been busy in New York.”
She huffed. “Grayden probably agrees. He wants to do this on his own. I guess I’m the same way.”
“Wait, you O’Neals are stubborn? Alert the media.”
“Ha, ha,” she deadpanned, then stuck out her tongue. “I just want to snap my fingers and heal the rift in our family. But I can’t. Grayden should be here whenever he wants, not sidelined. But if I invite Grayden to something, Ashford refuses to come.”
“I picked up on some tension between you and Ashford.”
“We’re barely talking, P. If Grayden knew, he’d feel awful about it. The last thing he wants is to cause discord. Callum says Ashford needs more time, blah, blah, blah. But to me, it should be simple. Grayden is our brother, and he apologized. He deserves our forgiveness. Full stop.”
Grayden deserved that and so much more. He’d spent tenyearsbehind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. It was incomprehensible to me.
And Grace didn’t even know.
