Page 103 of Worth the Fight

They run the gamut when they get to Grady—from giggly to flirty, from shy to rambling—but I love that he’s patient with every one of them. Taking a picture if they ask. Talking to their kids if they’re with them. The perfect ambassador for the station.

And that isn’t saying all of the other guys aren’t doing the same, but my eyes are fixed on Grady and Grady alone.

They seem to be there a lot these days.

“I’m sure you’ll bring him down to earth if it is,” she says with a wink. “And if not, he has two brothers chomping at the bit to razz the hell out of him.”

I laugh and think of the shit they’ve given him since the calendars went on sale. Bumper stickers about hose sizes slapped on the back of his truck. A blow-up doll delivered that was some kind of retaliation for something he did to Grant. A box of blow-pop suckers delivered to the station. And the list goes on.

“I’m sure they will.”

“Emerson says you’re almost done with your songs.”

“I have two left to finish, but for the most part, yes.” It pains me to admit it.

“So you’ll be leaving us?” she asks and then shakes her head with a silly roll of her eyes. “Sorry. Of course you will. I was having motherly daydreams that you’ll fall in love with . . . Sunnyville and decide to stay.” And by Sunnyville, she really means Grady. “Like I said, silly.”

“He’s a good man, Betsy.” I chew the inside of my cheek and fight back the sting of tears as I stare at him. “We’re just in different places of our lives right now.”

“That’s a load of phooey. If you love him, then love him.”

I smile softly and am thankful my sunglasses hide the truth in my eyes. “Even if I did, Grady won’t allow it. He’s made it clear that dating is all he’ll ever allow, and I want more than that. Someday I want marriage, kids, the white picket fence.” I hate that my voice breaks on the last words.

“Look how far he’s come since you’ve arrived. He did the calendar. He’s more comfortable in his skin.”

“He is, and I’m so very glad I was a part of helping him get there . . . but there are some opinions I can’t sway.”

“If you stayed, who knows what could happen.”

My heart will be broken. That’s what will happen.

But I think of the calendar Grady is signing. The picture of him looking at me. The smile on his lips. The sincerity and warmth in his eyes. And I wonder what we might miss out on because he refuses to take a chance.

Because he refuses to face everything and rise.

In an attempt to dispel the conversation in which I know Betsy means well but is pressure applied to the wrong party, I fold my arms over my chest and lean against the wall and take it all in. The event. Grady accepting the enthusiasm of the photo he was so uncertain of in the first place. Even the pang of jealousy as I wonder which of these women will take my place when I’m gone.

“Dylan, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

I turn from where my gaze sits on Grady to find Shelby and Brody standing before me.

“You’re right, B-man. She is as pretty up close as she is from far away.” Shelby ruffles Brody’s hair and looks to me with a shy smile. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Dylan. I’ve heard a lot about you from Grady.”

I smile, suddenly nervous for some reason as if I’m meeting the other woman in Grady’s life. “So nice to finally meet you too.”

“Quite a turnout, isn’t it?” Shelby puts her hands on her hips and turns to look at the crowd.

“It is. Hey, Brody,” Betsy says. “I think you should be over there autographing the calendars with the guys, don’t you?” His eyes light up and cheeks flush red. “You are the first picture in the calendar . . . and you know that’s the most important one, right?”

Brody’s eyes widen as he looks from me to his mom and then back again. “It is?”

“Absolutely. How about I take you to Grady and let you sign next to him while your mommy and Miss Dylan chat for a bit?”

We watch as Betsy walks an animated Brody across the parking lot to where the tables are set up beneath E-Z Ups. There’s an awkward silence between us, because I’m really not sure what to say but feel like I need to say everything. I’m sorry about the loss of your husband really doesn’t feel like enough, though.

“Grady is a very special man,” Shelby says eventually. She doesn’t look my way, and her voice is soft, but there is so much emotion packed into those six words that I can feel them.

“He is.”