Page 204 of A Song for You

I cough out a laugh. “When you put it like that…”

Despite all that, I’m still terrified of getting closer. Of giving him the chance to wreck me again.

“It’s going to be okay, babe,” she comforts.

“I know, I’m Catherine James. I bounce,” I say with false assurance. “I just need to get through lunch with Grace tomorrow without killing her for hurting my brother. Wish me luck.”

Her cackle is so loud I have to pull the phone away from my ear. “That poor woman has no idea who she’s dealing with.”

I smile. I’m counting on it.

I figured meeting Grace in public would force us to be on our best behavior. Besides, there’s no way I’m stepping foot in her office again.

I’m not surprised at all, though, when I walk in and see her best friend Tessa sitting beside her. I met her the night of the ball at Blithewold, when Carter showed up with her as his date.

It feels like a lifetime ago, but in reality, it’s only been a week.

At the time, I thought Tessa could be good for my brother. She didn’t take shit from anyone, least of all Carter, and to my absolute shock, she had him eating out of the palm of her hand. That’s something I’ve never witnessed when it comes to him.

Right now, though, she’s wearing a tight expression as she watches me approach. She’s here for Grace. God, the woman sure knows how to fool the people around her.

“You couldn’t handle me on your own, Grace?” I quip as I reach the table.

She shrugs. “I just don’t really like you, Cat. I figure if I have to share a meal with you, I might as well have my best friend along for the free lunch.”

Tessa’s eyes dart from her friend to me and then back again. “Down, girls. Down.”

I take a deep breath and sit. “Well, at least you’re not being fake. Anymore.”

Grace laughs. “Seriously, you are the one who needs help finding a man.”

Flames erupt in my belly at her words. “Do you really think I need help finding someone to spend time with me?”

“Why else would Jonathan be begging me to take you on as a client?”

“To help you. Believe me, I’m not doing this of my own free will. I’m doing this because I had to cover up your bullshit lies that almost destroyed my family and did destroy Cash. Do you know how much you hurt him? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Grace’s cheeks redden and she remains silent. Finally, the woman shows the smallest hint of remorse.

But her best friend picks up where she left off. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t expect you to back me up, Tessa. She’s your friend. I get it. But even you have to admit that what she did was pretty shitty.”

The tension at the table eases momentarily when the server appears to take our drink orders. “I’ll have a dirty martini,” Grace says.

I almost smile. “I’ll have the same. But make it extra dirty.”

“As I was saying,” Tessa says after she places her order and the server leaves us, “you have it all wrong.”

Cocking my head to the side, I sit silently, waiting for her to get her little spiel over with. She’s like a tiny dog barking at me, demanding an audience.

Tessa breathes out a long breath. “It was me. I’m the one to blame. Vanessa was upset at the party because she found out about Grace and Cash. She thought they were playing her the whole time.”

“Well, she was,” I say, tipping my chin toward Grace. “My brother would never do that, though.”

Grace lets out a “ha!” in response, which only makes the fire smoldering inside me burn hotter.

Tessa jumps in again. “You and I both know that your brother was head over heels for Grace and that Grace continued to push him away. Let’s not rewrite history.”