chapter 32

“Grace, it’s been a while.” Kara finally acknowledged the woman and put a barely there smile on her face. It almost looked more like she was smelling something terrible.

My stomach tightened at hearing the name. Surely the pretty little blond in front of us wasn’t the same Grace that had hurt Julian. Yet, I knew instantly that it was, judging by the way she was trying to scalp me with her eyes.

“Kara. And is this the famous Mallory I’ve heard so much about?” Her mouth pinched and turned down as she looked me over. “The stories really do flatter you.”

I tilted my head to the side and stared at her. Surely, she wasn’t trying to be a mean girl to me. I didn’t even know her. “I’m Mallory. I don’t believe I know you. Are you a friend of Kara’s?”

Kara gave me a thumbs-up behind her back and smiled a real smile. “We just see each other around sometimes.”

“I find it hard to believe that you haven’t heard mention of me around. After all, we dated the same men.” Grace adjusted her purse on her arm and looked me over again, her gaze settling on my hips. “It’s just crazy how taste can change from one year to the next.”

I cleared my throat to cut Kara off from whatever she was about to lash out at the mean woman with. “Seems like it. Can we help you with something? We’re just picking up a few things and then heading back home.”

“That’s right; I heard that things aren’t going well with you and the Steele brothers.”

I bit my lip and shook my head. I was going to remain nice if it was the last thing I ever did. No way was I getting into some kind of boob measuring contest with her. “Rumors sure do travel fast in such a small town.”

“You shouldn’t give in to such gossip, Grace. It’s not a good look.” Kara pushed the cart away from Grace and sent a teeth-bared smile her way. “We’ve got shopping to do, if you don’t mind.”

Grace reached out and put her hand on the buggy, stopping it. “Is that really Julian’s kid?”

“Whatever you’re about to do, rethink it.” Kara was bristling up, ready to fight.

“I was just thinking about how pathetic it is to have a kid with the poor one. And you still couldn’t keep them. Honestly, I’m shocked. I know that if I would’ve given in to their desires for kids, they never would’ve let me go when I left. Not that they don’t still send me those lost puppy looks all the time.”

“The poor one?” I laughed, my anger rearing its ugly head. “Lady, I don’t know you or what you’re all about, but it’s abundantly clear that you have about as much heart as a brick wall. It’s obvious that you still don’t fully understand what you lost when you let them get away. Or maybe you do and that’s why you’re here, bothering me like a yippy little dog. Either way, I want nothing to do with it. I’m stressed, I’m tired, and I’m a mom now, so I’m not going to scream at you in a grocery store.”

Kara leaned into her. “Fuck with my baby sister and I’ll end you. I know where the skeletons in your closet hang out, Grace.”

“You’re never going to be enough for them.” Needing one last dig, she looked at our buggy and laughed. “Or maybe the problem is that you’re more than enough. Too much, even.”

Kara reached for her, but I managed to grab her arm just before she made contact. Thankfully, Grace was already turning and didn’t see her life flash before her eyes. “I’ll kill her. I’ll club her to death with a jar of pickles and hide her in the canned meat, where they put the rest of the fake shit.”

I blew out a breath and shook my head. “She’s awful.”

“Worse than awful.” Kara turned back to me and grunted. “You should’ve let me grab her. It would’ve been worth jail time.”

“Did the guys really like her? I mean, she’s pretty, but she’s literally so mean.”

“She had them fooled.” Rubbing her eyes, Kara looked at the stuff in our buggy and nodded. “We need more chocolate.”

I stared after Grace and frowned. “I mean, she’s really, really mean. I’m not like that.”

“Duh.”

“I mean, I’m not like her.”

Kara blinked. “I know. You’re great, and she’s a flying twatwaffle.”

“I’m nothing like her. I don’t feel any of those awful things about Julian. I like Julian.” I shook my head and tried to process everything I was feeling. “Shit. I’m not like her!”

“What the fuck is happening to you?”

“I want good things for the guys. I want them to come together again. I want Julian to feel like part of his family. I’m not a sabotaging monster like that woman. I thought I was just as bad as her, and that I was unforgiveable, but after talking to her, I know that I couldn’t do as much damage as she did. I don’t think anyone could. She’s a demon.”

Kara threw her hands up. “That’s what I’ve been saying.”

“I think I threw in the towel too fast.”

“Yeah! You think?”

“I can make it right. Even if Julian doesn’t want me, I can try to fix their relationship. And I can help Julian have a son.” I scooped Hank out of the buggy and smiled at Kara. “I love you. Thanks for always being willing to fight for me.”

“You know I love you, too. Now, go get your men.” She looked at Hank and made a face. “Maybe leave him with me?”

“No, Julian is going to have to make the decision to walk away from Hank while looking at Hank if he tries to do that again.” I backed away. “Do you happen to know where Julian’s cabin is?”

“I do.”

“Well?”

“Sorry. I can’t seem to remember the directions. You’re going to have to ask Blake or Isaac.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“If I’m an asshole, you’re an asshole.”

“I’m leaving now.”

“Or you could help me finish the shopping and I could give you a ride home.”

I frowned. “I forgot that I didn’t drive myself here.”

She laughed while I put Hank back in the buggy and tapped my foot. “She has a lightning bolt of reality strike her ass and now she’s in a big rush.”

“Come on, lady. Let’s get what we need and get out of here. I’m sure there are other exes lurking around the corners, and I just want to get out of here and get started on fixing things.” I shivered. “Plus, I forgot about these people knowing about the butt stuff.”

Throwing her head back in a ridiculously loud laugh, Kara drew nearly every eye in the place to us. Wiping tears from her eyes, she pointed me towards the deli. “Speaking of butt. We’re having BBQ tomorrow. Get it? A Boston butt?”

I sighed. “This is my punishment for hurting Julian, isn’t it?”