Page 52 of The Beauty in Grace

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Gracie snorts. “You break up with Kate and get with me. People will talk, they always do, and I am not going to be your secret. You know I won’t do that.”

I nod in confirmation. “I know.”

“Take me home,” she demands. “I want to go home, Devon.”

I give in and get in the car without another word, buckling up as she follows suit. Locking the doors again, I pull the car into drive and turn it around.

Chapter32

Gracie

Ijust want to climb into my bed and forget this day even existed, if only for a little while, when I’m sleeping. Tomorrow I can figure everything else out. I can sort out the mess of whatever the hell is going on. My head is starting to pound knowing that everybody suspects I’m back on drugs and is having difficulty trusting me.

As Devon and I get to the apartment door, muffled voices from within draw my attention. They sound tense, almost heavy. For a second, I suspect that Owen is back with Donna, and they’re having one of their famous arguments they’re prone to. But as I pop open the door, the voices aren’t that of Donna and Owen. Instead, the woman’s voice belongs to Kate, and the male is unfamiliar. A groan beside me, however, says that Devon knows whose waiting is within our apartment's walls.

He materializes just as Devon and I step over the threshold, snarling in anger as he grabs Devon’s collar and shoves him against the wall.

“Luke!” Kate shouts.

The name rings a reminder in my ears, and I catch the sight of the familiar eyes as they catch mine. They’re livid, a pair that belongs to a protector. His eyes widen as soon as he sees me and recognizes who I am. His fingers go lax for just a moment in his sudden distraction, and it’s enough for Devon to shove Luke off him. Luke staggers back in surprise, shaking his head as he pulls himself together.

“You’re the chick strutting around with legs open to take my sister’s boyfriend?” He sounds incredulous and disgusted.

“What?” I ask, and my eyes flicker to Kate.

Her eyes are bloodshot and puffy from crying, and she avoids my gaze entirely.

“Is that what you think?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“This is the slut you were ranting about, Kate?” Luke demands, the word itself sending my cheeks flaring in heat.

“I’m not—” I struggle to defend myself and look helplessly at Devon, trying to beg him to defend me silently.

He catches my eye and steps forward, blocking me from either one of them. “Gracie isn’t a slut. Yes, I broke up with Kate, but just so you understand, Gracie refuses to be with me right now.”

Now he’s just being stupid. What the hell is wrong with Devon? He’s supposed to be the logical one, and lately, all he keeps doing is thinking with his fucking dick. Or maybe it is his heart. Whatever it is, it’s not his damn brain, that’s for sure.

“You know what, I don’t fucking care who you are right now,” Luke snarls and draws towards Devon, but his eyes are on me. “It’s your fault that my sister is crying her eyes out.”

I shake my head and back up, keeping in step with Devon, who is intent on staying right in front of me. Luke glares at me, nostrils flaring, but something else sparks in his eyes. I can’t detect it, but I suspect it has to do with the dinner I’m supposed to have at his house. Do I say something about that? My gaze flickers towards Kate, and I know it’s probably not a good idea to say anything about dinner. At least, not until I have just a moment alone with him. Because with this new edevelopment, I’m not sure he will want me there now.

“Just get your fucking things, Kate. I’m taking you home,” Luke demands, then looks straight at Devon. “She really turned you down?”

Devon squares his shoulders. “For now.”

Luke smirks, obviously smug by the answer, and looks back at me. “I’ll see you at dinner as planned. Goodbye, beautiful.”

With that, he snatches up Kate’s bags and leaves the apartment, leaving his sister lingering behind, shock and anger warring on her face as she gawks at Devon and me. I can’t tell what Devon’s thinking, nor can I see his face to try and figure it out, but I don’t think he’s very thrilled by Luke’s words.

Is he jealous? I want him to be jealous. I know it’s stupid, but the mere idea of Devon being jealous that I’m with somebody after all this thrills me. I’m not saying anything, though.

“Whatever, Devon. Be with the fucking drug addict whore for all I care. You two obviously deserve each other.” Kate sneers at us and follows her brother out, slamming the door.

I jump at the sound, my shoulders tensing as I force my head to stay up and not fall to where I can just look at the ground and cry. I won’t cry. I don’t want to. Her words are just that, fucking words. They aren’t supposed to hurt. She’s saying them out of hurt, trying to hurt me. I know that. So why the hell do they still sting?

Devon’s thumb on my cheek draws my eyes up, and I catch his gaze, my voice catching in my throat to prevent me from saying anything without sobbing.

“You aren’t a whore,” he says gently.


Tags: Reese Jett Erotic