The Mistake

I gape at him, unable to fathom what I’m hearing. And unable to listen to it for even a second longer.

“You’re right. We won’t talk about it anymore.” I grab my purse from where I dropped it on the floor and sling the strap over my shoulder. “Because I’m leaving.”

That gets his attention. Frowning, he slowly rises to his feet. “Grace—”

I cut him off. “No. I’m not listening to this bullshit anymore. I’m going to leave you to your sulking, and maybe when you’re finished with your one-man pity party, we can actually have a rational conversation.” I’m spitting mad as I march toward the door. “And just in case my reaction to your idiocy didn’t make it clear where I stand with us, then let me spell it out for you.” I whirl around to scowl at him. “I love you, you stupid jackass.”

Then I storm out of his room and slam the door behind me.

*

Logan

It takes me much, much longer than it should to snap out of the shocked trance I’ve fallen into. My mouth keeps opening and closing, my eyelids blinking at a rapid pace as I stare at the door Grace just tore out of.

She’s absolutely right. I am a jackass. And I did doubt her commitment to our relationship. And—

Wait. She loves me?

My mouth opens again. And stays open. Agape, in fact, because her last words have finally registered in my extremely idiotic brain. She loves me. Even after I indicted her for a hypothetical future break-up and pretty much told her she was going to desert me when the going gets tough, she still told me she loved me.

And I let her walk away.

What the hell is the matter with me?

I bolt out of my room and take the stairs two at a time. There’s no way Grace could have called a cab or made it to the bus stop yet, which means she’s probably on the front stoop or nearing the end of the street. Which means I can still catch her.

I skid into the front hall like a goddamn cartoon character, only to freeze when I find Garrett at the door. Then I hear a car engine from outside, and my heart hits the floor like a sack of bricks.

“Hannah’s driving her home,” Garrett says quietly.

I curse in frustration, flinging open the door in time to see the retreating taillights of Hannah’s car. Damn it.

I spin around and hurry back upstairs, where I grab my phone and dial Grace’s number. After it goes straight to voice mail, I shoot off a quick text.

Me: Baby, please come back. I’m such an ass. Need to make this right.

There’s a long delay. Five seconds. Ten. And then she texts back.

Her: I need some time to digest your stupidity. I’ll call u when I’m ready to talk.

Damn it. I drag both hands over my scalp, fighting the urge to strangle myself to death. Why do I always screw up when it comes to this girl?

Footsteps echo in the hallway, and when Garrett appears, I stifle another curse. “I can’t deal with a lecture right now, man. I really can’t.”

“Wasn’t gonna lecture you.” He shrugs. “Just wanted to see if you’re okay.”

I sink down on the edge of the bed, slowly shaking my head. “Not in the slightest. I fucked up again.”

“Damn right you did.” My best friend props his elbow against the wall and sighs. “Wellsy and I heard her reaming you out.”

“I think the whole neighborhood heard it,” comes Tucker’s voice. He enters my room and leans against the dresser. “Except maybe Dean, but that’s because he’s balls-deep in a puck bunny down in the living room.”

I groan. “Seriously? Why can’t he ever fuck in his room?”

“Do we really want to discuss that perv’s sex life?” Tuck counters. “Because I don’t think that should be at the top of your priority list right now.”

He makes a good point. At the moment, my only priority is fixing things with Grace.

Christ, I shouldn’t have spewed all that bullshit. I hadn’t even meant it, at least not the part about her breaking up with me. That was my fear talking. And she’s right—I was having a pity party. I was so freaked out about everything that happened with my dad last night, not to mention everything that happened afterward. When I cried in her father’s arms.

I cried in her father’s arms.

I let out another groan. “What if I lost her for good this time?”

Garrett and Tucker instantly shake their heads. “You didn’t,” Garrett assures me.

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“Because she told you she loves you.”

“You stupid jackass,” Tucker adds with a grin.

I love you, you stupid jackass. Not the words a man wants to hear. The first three, sure. The last three? Pass.

“How do I fix this?” I ask, sighing.

“Quick. Write her another poem,” Garrett suggests.

I scowl at him.

“No, I think G’s onto something,” Tuck says. “I think the only way to save this is to bust out another grand gesture. What else was on her list?”

“Nothing,” I moan. “I did everything on the list.”

Tucker shrugs. “Then come up with something else.”