Page 42 of Back to Me

“Nothing! I haven’t said anything to anyone about you. Not my story to tell.”

“Then why did he do it? Huh?”

“Don’t know, couldn’t tell you. You will have to ask him yourself.”

“Bullshit, Grady! You know why. What did you tell him?”

“I told you! I didn’t say a thing. I didn’t need to. You struggling this week told him enough that this meant more to you then you were saying so he came and asked me if I wouldn’t mind postponing it. I said that was fine with me because the last thing I want is to cause you pain. Like I said though, it’s not my story to tell so if he knows anything, look a little closer to home. Not at me.” I took another drink of my beer and emptied it. The boys all took a second to leave us alone. I got off the chair I had been sitting in and stalked closer to her.

“Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?”

“You’ve been gone too long, Gabriella. Seems you have forgotten that the Jameses like to save everyone. Little do they know that you can save yourself. You don’t need anyone.” I knew it was a low blow using the words she once spoke to me against her. “You can’t hide anymore though. Try and hide behind your walls, cover your scars, some of us can still see you.” I placed my hand on her chin and lifted her head to look at me. She swallowed.

“Call me that one more time and see what happens.”

“What would you prefer me to call you? Hmmm?” I leant in and whispered in her ear, “Doll? Is that what you want?”

Her breath was shaky as she pushed me away from her. I let her go and took the step back. “I take it back. Call me whatever you like, I won’t be around you enough for it to bother me.”

“Oh, Doll, I can read you like a book and know exactly how bothered you are right now. I know you better than you know yourself. You think you are fooling everyone but I’m the one who sees beneath that mask you have on.”

“I hate you.”

“So, walk away, Gabriella, you got the answer you wanted. I didn’t tell Austin anything about your past. Like I said, if someone did, ask daddy. Your parents are friends after all. Just know that some secrets have a way of coming back up and the prodigal daughter coming back home…? You may have died your hair and gotten tattoos, but people will figure it out sooner or later and your truth will come out so if you may want to tell him before he hears it from someone else.”

“It’s no one’s business!” She turned and left. Did she forget how a small town like Harrison was? Everyone knew everyone’s business. Skeletons never stayed in the closet long, especially not that of the daughter of the police chief that they had to send away. That was the juiciest gossip this town has had since Holly was killed. The rumor mill went wild when she left, and they all turned to me. I shut down though. Screwed around to try and fill the void that she left but nothing worked, so I stopped. Sure, all the guys thought I was still fucking around, but I couldn’t keep doing the one-night stands and nothing came close to how I felt about Gabby. Now I just had to get used to being in the same town again.

“Are you coming, Grady?” I looked toward the pool tables where the boys were and nodded. One day at a time. Wasn’t that the saying?

The End!