Page 81 of His Fake Fiancé

Just as the denial left his mouth, the memories flooded in. So many memories. Starting from back when they were kids, and they were each other’s people, right up until earlier today, when Claire finally let herself go. The sleepovers and inside jokes. The late-night gaming sessions and movie marathons. That awkward first kiss in the hayloft, to the incredible times they’d shared recently. The way she gave herself to him completely.

For most of his life she was the person he told things to, the person he wanted to tell things to. Aside from Mama, she was the only one who never judged him, took him just as he was, never asked or expected him to be anyone else. She was an amazing friend, and an amazing woman.

And far too good for the likes of him.

“Why?” The question popped out of his mouth before he could stop it.

“Why what?” Grace sounded confused.

“Why in the hell would she love me?”

“What kind of a question is that?” She frowned at him, sitting up straight.

“Look at me, Grace.” He waved his hands around. “I’m a m-massive screw up. A directionless i-idiot. I have n-n-nothing to offer anyone.” His voice was low and raspy, a heartbeat away from cracking. He glanced away, unable to look at her any longer.

“Please look at me.” Grace kept her voice soft, but there was a thread of steel to it, one that said she wasn’t taking no for an answer.

He swung his gaze to her. Her arms were crossed, fire flickering in her hazel eyes. He wanted to look away, but he couldn’t.

“I’m not sure where you got that idea from, but I can tell you, you are unequivocally wrong.” The ferocity in her tone made his shoulders tighten. “You’re one of the best people I know. You’re kind, and generous, and one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.” She started ticking things off her fingers. “You’re always willing to lend a hand, you treat everyone with respect no matter what, you throw yourself into things full on and give everything you have to them. And, you love with your whole heart, which I get is scary because it hurts so much when it goes bad.”

He stared at her, his mouth hanging open. Even knowing he looked like an idiot, he couldn’t seem to snap his jaw shut. Is that really how she saw him? Was she the only one, or is that how everyone saw him? Is that how Claire saw him?

“Oh, also,” she said, pointing at him. “If I wasn’t for you, I don’t know that Mason and I would have crashed together in quite the same way. Not to mention, I would probably wouldn’t even be here.”

He sucked in a deep breath. After Grace was shot by her ex, Mason went after him, leaving Jake and Simon to watch over Grace. At one point, her heart stopped and Jake had performed CPR until the paramedics arrived. He hated thinking about that day because it had been awful.

“I-I-I don’t know w-what to say.” He was blinking way too much, and felt a bit like a deer in the headlights—after the truck had hit him.

One side of Grace’s mouth ticked up. “You don’t need to say anything. You just need to believe it.” She cocked her head. “So, now that you know only a fraction of what Claire could possibly see in you, does that change things?”

Hope swelled in his chest, pushing aside the doubt and the fear. They still lingered, but they weren’t quite so crushing. “But, wh-what if she s-s-says no?”

Grace leaned forward. “But what if she says yes?”

He pushed to his feet and paced the length of the den, adrenaline streaking through his veins. He was such an idiot. How did he not see what was right in front of him all this time? And why hadn’t she said anything?

Maybe because you’d been screwing half the female population of the state.

He winced at that thought, mainly because it was true. While he hadn’t ever flaunted his relationships, he hadn’t exactly been discreet, either. And yet, she still stayed, still silently loved him from the sidelines. He couldn’t imagine how much that must have hurt her. If things were reversed, there was no way he would have handled it so beautifully, or so silently.

Shit, he had so much to apologize for. So much to make up for.

He bent down and placed a kiss on the top of Grace’s head. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled up at him. “Glad I could help.”

He grabbed his coat from the chair he’d flung it on when he’d come in earlier, and slipped it on.

Grace stood and grabbed his arm. “Wait. Where are you going?”

He patted his pockets, searching for his truck keys and his wallet. “Going to beg Claire to forgive me.”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“I know, but this can’t wait.” He pressed another kiss against her forehead and then hurried down the hall toward the front door. His heart was kicking against his ribs like a bronco, and he wasn’t sure if it was with anticipation or fear. Maybe a bit of both.

Either way, he was telling Claire how he felt, and hoped like hell she could forgive him one last time.