How We Fell in Love: Grace and James's short story Read online

  She blinks twice and then leans back, a slow grin spreading over her fake face. “I know where I stand with you brother, Grace. I know what we’re doing—he is very honest. Do I hope he’ll fall desperately in love with me? Of course I do, but I’m not naïve. We’re enjoying each other’s company, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hire a damn good designer.”

  I don’t believe her for a second, which means one thing. I’ve got to get in here, learn everything I can, make some contacts, and get ready to be on my own.

  ’Cause she’ll fire me the moment Shea kicks her out of his bed.

  That Night.

  “I’m under the impression she thinks she’s got her claws into you. Though, she did say she’s not naïve.”

  Shea glances over at me from his matching recliner, sipping a beer. “She’s a decent enough girl. Just not my girl.”

  I shrug as I kick back in my own recliner, holding my beer loosely in my fingertips. This is how I picture a perfect night. SportsCenter on the TV, a beer, my recliner, and my brother. All that’s missing is some KitKats. Life would be really good then.

  Since leaving the office of the Planning Guru with my new planner and business cell phone, I’ve felt a few different emotions. Excitement for the opportunity, nervousness because Jackie could and will drop me the moment Shea drops her, and I am actually a little embarrassed to say this…but I’ve been thinking about that James guy since I left. He was yummy.

  “So, you know James Justice?”

  Shea glances over at me. “Yeah, he’s a good buddy.”

  “I met him today,” I say, looking down at my beer bottle.

  “Real nice guy.”

  A silence falls over us. I want to ask questions, but I don’t want to seem interested. Because I’m not. He’s hot, but I doubt I’ll ever see him again. When Shea clears his throat, I look over at him as I lift my beer to my lips. He’s pulling at the label on his beer. Crap, he’s nervous.

  “What?”

  He doesn’t look at me; he just keeps pulling at the label. “I have a question.”

  That doesn’t seem bad, but his face is all twisted up. “Okay.”

  “Don’t take this wrong, okay? I love you, and I’m so glad you’re here. Honestly.”

  He finally looks at me, and I raise a brow. “Okay,” I draw out, trying to read what he is going to say, but he looks away.

  “What happens when I do meet the one?”

  Oh. “Well, that came out of nowhere.”

  He smiles shyly. “Grace, you moved in and made this place yours.”

  “Hey, it’s both of ours!”

  He gives me a dry look. “No, it’s yours. I’m just going with it, and I’m not trying to start a fight.”

  I raise a brow because that’s what it feels like. I thought he liked the design.

  “I thought you’d only stay until you got on your feet, but I feel like that isn’t your plan. You’ve moved in, and I really don’t see you leaving.”

  I blink. “I thought I was moving in with you.”

  He takes a deep breath and then holds up a hand. “Yes, of course, you are, but what happens when I meet her? Will you be okay?”

  My heart hurts a bit. “Are you looking for her?”

  He smiles. “Eh, not really, but I get around. She could fall in my lap.”

  “True.”

  “Or better yet, what happens when you do?” he asks, and when he flashes me a grin, I can’t help it, I laugh.

  “Shea, be real. You’ll find someone before I do.”

  “I don’t think so. I think you’ll go first.”

  I laugh ruefully. “No way. Men and I don’t mix. Something always goes wrong.”

  “But what happens? We can’t all live together with our spouses. I bet you anything they’ll already hate our relationship.”

  I look away then, really thinking it over. “Well, that won’t work. We’ll have to find people who love us both.”

  “That hardly ever happens. You’ve heard the horror stories of in-laws.”

  I have, and I refuse to live like that. “Fine, we’re a package deal. They don’t like it, we move on.” He gives me an incredulous look, and I blink. “I don’t know. Shit, are we weird?”

  He’s holding in his laughter. “I think Dad has been telling us that for years.”

  I snort as I lean my head back, our laughter dying down. “I guess when all that happens, we’ll know.”

  “Know what?” he asks, his brows nearly touching.

  “That we’re adults.”

  He smiles widely. “I think that’s what we are now.”

  “Nah, it’s all a lie.”

  He chuckles softly, and I smile as I watch him. I’ve always wondered how I’ll love anyone more than Shea. It’s a beautiful thing to have someone who just gets you and has your back no matter what. With most men, I have to put out for even a fraction of the support and love Shea gives me. His words don’t fall on deaf ears. But, he’s wrong thinking I’ll go before he does. Shea’s a catch, and when he meets the one, he’ll be knocked on his ass for sure. He’s a hopeless romantic, while I’m not. Sometimes I feel like I’m not lovable. Which is why I’m drinking beer with my brother on a Friday night. In our condo. In our recliners like two old biddies.

  Yup, I’m a real catch.

  March 31st

  As the door shuts on Shea’s best friend and another player on the Nashville Assassins, Alex Welch, I fall back in my recliner with a heavy sigh. Shea moves across the living room to place his guitar against the wall. When he told me he was going to start playing, I remember laughing out loud. I was sure he didn’t have a musical bone in his body, but I was wrong. He actually sounded good, but I think that’s mostly because Alex is a god. I don’t say that lightly. Alex is absolutely gorgeous, dark hair, bright-blue eyes, and a body to kill for. But it’s not only his looks. He’s hysterical but serious at the same time. Add in the fact that his wife and his girls are his world, and he makes single girls like me green with envy.

  I want an Alex Welch.

  Someone who would die for me but who looks as if he could break my heart at the same time.

  “His wife is the luckiest woman on the earth.”

  Shea scoffs, shaking his head as he turns to face me before heading across the living room toward the kitchen. “She has to deal with a lot. Girls claiming they’re sleeping with him and shit. He has to treat her like the queen she is, or she’ll take him for everything he’s worth.”

  When he laughs, I smile. “But it’s more than that.”

  “Oh yeah, he loves her. Like soul-mate love. It’s refreshing.”

  Good Lord. Shea looks so silly, shrugging and acting all shy. I snort. “Shea, be real. All that is totally fake.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Says you. I actually can’t wait to meet my soul mate.”

  “She doesn’t exist. We just find someone we don’t hate and stay with them until they cheat on us.”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it,” he says to me, his face blank. “Mom and Dad are made for each other.”

  “That’s a fluke.”

  “Alex and Mary Ann.”

  “Whatever,” I say, still not believing that stupid soul mate shit. If soul mates were true, where the hell is mine? Where is Shea’s? By now, we should have met at least someone who sparked the idea that they could be the one, but neither of us has. We’re both still screwing around, and I’m getting cheated on left and right. So yeah, where is my soul mate?

  “You know I’m right,” he calls to me as he heads to the front door. I didn’t hear the doorbell, but when he opens it, Jackie enters in all her fake glory. She goes up on the balls of her feet to plant a wet kiss on my brother’s lips. I turn my attention to the TV as soon as she pushes him to the wall. I want to laugh; Shea says he wants his soul mate, but he’s still getting dirty with Jackie. Then again, if he can keep that up until I learn everything about her business, that would be great. Jackie may be really annoying and fake