“That was a first,” he says, quietly.
“What was?”
“First time I cried since the funeral.”
“Greyson.” My voice is soft.
I grab his hands and hold them. He hasn’t cried? All theseyears? He just soldiered through life, dutiful and stoic, holding it together out of loyalty.
Greyson wipes at his eyes and then he looks over at me, a tender smile on his face. “Thank you, Hallie.”
“It’s my privilege and honor to be the place you share your grief.”
“You’re it for me.”
He’s not talking about grief anymore and we both know it. I want to tell him he’s it for me too.
I nod, smiling softly. I can’t make any promises.
We settle back into our embrace on the couch, silently holding the space Greyson carved out with his declaration.
Hours later, he’s standing with me at the door of my van. I buckle in. He leans in and gives me one more kiss and then he stands in the driveway while I back away, even though everything in me wants to stay, and not just for tonight.
Chapter 31
Greyson
Love is about finding the one person
who makes your heart complete.
~ Julia Quinn
Dustin’s on stage, tuning his guitar and talking to the sound guy at Fork & Fiddle. The crew and their wives, girlfriends and friends fill two big tables right at the foot of the stage.
I’m lighter after I let the dam break with Hallie the other night. The ache for Zach has settled low inside me, not gone—just no longer encased in the crushing weight of my guilt. We’re different too—our crew. We told Cody about us yesterday on shift, so now our whole crew knows.
My eyes scan the restaurant, looking for Hallie among the people waiting at the hostess stand to be seated. I don’t see her yet. I take another sip of water, leaning back in my chair while our friends converse with one another, laughing and catching up.
A prickle crosses my skin, like a breeze raising the hair on my arms. I turn slowly, hoping no one at our tables notices.
She’s here—wearing a red dress and cream cowboy boots. I’ve never seen Hallie in a dress before. If I didn’t know she wanted me alive, I’d think she was trying to kill me.
Patrick leans over. “This is going to be hard on you, isn’t it?”
Cody bends in from around Patrick. “Been there, done that.”
I had all but forgotten that Cody and Carli snuck around before they went public with their feelings for one another.
Dustin’s testing the mic, “Checking, one two. Check. Check.”
Hallie slides into the open seat between me and Winona.
“Ohhhh, girl,” Winona says. “You’re rocking that dress. I don’t know how long you plan to be a single mom, but that dress is going to shorten the schedule.”
My jaw tightens. Hallie isnota single mom.
Hallie giggles. “Thank you, Winona. I never dress up—well, not unless I’m playing princesses with Mia.”
