Chapter 48

48

Grady

Ten miles is a long time to weigh all your faults.

By the time I reach Sarcasm town limits, I'm pretty fucking convinced I'm fighting an uphill battle with a seven-million-pound boulder.

She was right. We shouldn't have kept our relationship a secret.

I have every excuse in the book.

She had enough stress without all the gossips being gossips.

Her life's upside down right now.

It was good for business.

I won't apologize for that last one. Not when the Duh-Nuts parking lot is packed.

Running a profitable business has to be taking one more worry off her plate.

But the biggest excuse I have for keeping us a secret is one that I didn't want to face.

That fear that she'd break me all over again.

If we stayed a secret, then it would hurt less when we were through, because fewer people would know.

That's the line I fed myself.

And it was bullshit.

The only thing keeping me from hurting right now is sheer determination to prove to her that she's worth fighting for, and that I'll never stop fighting so long as I have a sliver of hope that she still wants me back.

I know Annika.

Once she's put her mind to something, she's all in.

She's decided she's done with me.

It's my job to change that, and I swear to fuck, I won't stop until I'm convinced she's not doing this out of the same fear I have.

That I'll leave.

I park around the corner in front of the Sunny Day Funeral Home—nicely played, Sarcasm—because it's the first place I can find a parking spot. The sidewalks are empty since everyone's already at Duh-Nuts.

Celebrating their victory on the morning show.

The bells jingle when I pull the door open, and realization that the enemy is in their midst gradually filters through the dining room, which is packed past capacity with people drinking coffee and eating breakfast egg waffles and chocolate-glazed donuts.

Amy looks up from the cash register and grins.

Then frowns.

Then grins again.

"What are you doing here?" one of the guys I recognize from the Sarcasm softball team asks me.

"He came to rub in that he won," someone else says. "Oh, no, wait… Ha! Loser."

"Annika?" I ask Amy.

She shakes her head. "Not in today."

That's not good. "Bailey?"

"School, dude. That time of year."

"Maria?"

She jerks her head toward the kitchen.

"You're not going back there," someone informs me.

"Roger's with her," Amy calls. "She'll be fine. Let the man pass."

I get patted down for weapons—hello, overkill—and everyone growls at me or mocks me while I weave through the crowd to the kitchen door.

Roger the plumber spots me from his spot at the stove, where he's scrambling more eggs. "What do you want?" he growls.

"Who's there?" Maria's at the workbench, rolling out sugar cookie dough, which is pretty fucking amazing.

"Grady Rock, ma'am."

She feels for a spot to put the rolling pin and sits back on the stool. "Are you here to fight or make up?"

"Ultimately? Make up. But I'll fight for it if I have to."

Roger skewers me with a glare that could melt steel.

"You sound quite determined."

"I love her."

She smiles softly. "You always did."

I nod, then remember she can't see. "Yes."

"She's very reluctant to love. That's my fault."

"The hell it is," Roger mutters.

"She had other priorities," I offer. "Still does."

"And that's also my fault."

"Know what else is your fault?"

Roger spins so fast, egg bits fly off his spatula and splatter over the cookie dough.

"Oh, please tell me," Maria says wryly.

"It's your fault she's strong and smart and capable. And it's your fault she has a huge heart hiding behind her walls. And it's your fault she knows the value of real family."

"I certainly have a long list of faults." A smile teases the corners of her lips. "Maybe we should talk about some of yours."

"I can name a few," Roger says.

"I've known this boy for fourteen years. I can name more than a few. But if he's here, I hope that means he's working on fixing one or two of them. Does your family know you're here?"

"They probably have a clue."

"And what do they think of you coming into enemy territory?"

"If they're not willing to support us, then I don't give a damn."

I don't.

I don't care if everyone decides to stop coming to Crow's Nest for baked goods if I'm openly dating a woman from Sarcasm. I don't care if Tillie Jean wants to hold a grudge forever because Annika's sister can make kick-ass banana pudding.

I don't care if I find out I'm just not that interesting and that's why my bakery dies.

"I'd rather we put the whole damn feud behind us," I tell Maria.

"Unless it's good for business."

She's cheeky today.

"I don't care about the business. Take my business. You can have it. I just want Annika back."

"She's not here."

My heart stops.

Full-on stops.

"She—she went back to the Army?"

Not a problem. I can find her. I can go to her. I'll sell my house. I'll sell Crow's Nest. I'd sell my truck, but it would be a long walk to Texas.

Maria laughs. "No, no. She's home. Taking the day off. Roger, where are my keys?"

"You're letting him in your house?" the plumber asks.

"You're only young once, and these two have wasted enough time pretending they can live without each other. Yes, I'm letting him in my house. Besides, Annika has ten years of Army training. She'll take care of him if she needs to."

My eyes get hot when Roger hands me the key to Maria's house.

He looks like he'd rather disembowel me, but that's how some relationships go.

And I'm glad Annika has a guy like this in her corner.

I'm glad her whole family does.

And if they'll let me, I'll be the second.