“I sure hope so.” Because if they didn’t, Gram’s dream would go up in smoke—and Shelby’s future with it.
Chapter 16
Eleven years ago
Rain chased away the remnants of fireworks hanging in the night air. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the wipers of Brendan’s BMW worked double time as Shelby stewed in the passenger seat.
What was supposed to have been a romantic viewing of the fireworks over the lake had turned into a spontaneous party with Brendan’s friends. Or maybe not so spontaneous. She suspected her boyfriend had invited the others. The secluded beach became a party scene: loud music, beer, making out.
But she hadn’t made out with Brendan, and at this point he wouldn’t even receive a good-night kiss.
She glanced down at her new sundress, the one she’d been saving for. What a waste. She’d wanted an evening alone where she and Brendan could talk. After almost seven weeks of dating, she still didn’t feel as if she knew him very well. She was tired of his cronies hanging around all the time. Tired of their bad influence and arrogance.
“You should go to the party with me,” Brendan said.
She’d only been to one party at Drew’s house, and it had gotten out of hand. “Not tonight. I’m tired and I have to work in the morning.”
A lone figure appeared ahead on the roadside. Their headlights caught on a white tee and drenched dark hair.
Grayson.
He passed in a blur. Shelby whipped around.
“It’ll be a lot of fun. Drew’s parents are out of town and everyone’s coming.”
“Wasn’t that Gray Briggs?”
“What?”
“That was Gray back there, walking on the side of the road.”
“So? Why don’t you want to come to the party? Your curfew’s not for another hour and you don’t have to be up that early for work. Just come hang out for a little while.”
Gray’s truck must’ve broken down again, and he was still several miles from home. “We should give him a ride.”
“Like I’d let that lunatic around my girlfriend. He’d probably take us down to the gravel pit and they’d never find our bodies.”
Shelby rolled her eyes. She wasn’t so sure anymore that Gray deserved his reputation. From what she’d seen he took a lot of abuse and showed a great deal of restraint. She hadn’t seen him since she’d left that book on his truck a week ago.
But there was no sense arguing with Brendan. Anyway, Gray would probably rather walk home in the rain than accept a ride from him. She couldn’t really blame the guy. She turned back around in her seat.
“Come on, Shelby. Go to the party with me. Don’t be such a killjoy.”
Shelby sighed. “Just take me home, Brendan.”
Shelby waited just inside the front door as Brendan’s taillights faded into the distance. Her dad and brother hadn’t noticed her arrival. They were too busy arguing in the living room.
“You’ve got a full year in. Why would you quit school now?”
“Because it’s not what I want, Dad. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Grandville U has a wonderful art program. I could get you in. You need an education before you pursue an art career. Do you have any idea how competitive that field is?”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I’d be stupid to turn it down.”
“Some friend in a gallery? That’s not an opportunity; it’s a sidenote. If you want to pursue a career in art, you need—”
Shelby slipped outside and dashed down the porch steps through the deluge to her car. Those two had been at it all summer. If she needed additional motivation to head back out into the night, that was plenty enough. She was tired of playing man in the middle with them. She saw both sides. But ultimately it was Caleb’s life, his decision.
