Chapter 7
When the party was over, I was waiting for Gavin in the lobby.
Then a friend from Vertway City called me up. “Grace, what’s been going on with you lately? I haven’t seen you around.”
“I’ve got some personal things to sort out,” I said.
“Would you like to meet up with us later?” my friend asked.
I said with a smile, “No, thanks. You guys have fun.”
My friend said, “Wait, Grace. Don’t hang up yet. Here’s the thing.
“It’s actually Antonio. He’s having a rough night, got wasted, and won’t listen to anyone.
“If you’re free, maybe you could come over and check on him. We’re afraid if he keeps this up, he might get another stomach bleed.”
I turned him down. “Try calling Sandra.”
My friend continued, “Grace, Antonio just sent Sandra away.
“We can all tell. He still has feelings for you. He regrets it.” “Let’s not talk about it, Jason. We’re history.”
I held the phone tight, my voice firm. “From now on, his businesses are not my concern. Don’t call me again.”
Just as I was wrapping up, there was a ruckus on the other end.
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Chapter 7
It sounded like someone had grabbed Jason Sheppard’s phone.
I didn’t want to get into it and was about to hang up.
But then Antonio’s voice came through. “Grace, they made the
call without me knowing. It has nothing to do with me.”
It was his same old tone, all high and mighty, distant.
I said, “Fine, I gotta go.”
“Grace,” Antonio said my name again.
I could hear the drunkenness in his voice.
If it were before, I would be fretting over him, nagging him to cut back on the booze.
But now, his life had nothing to do with me.
I hung up.
After pondering, I wiped Antonio’s friends from my contacts too.
I only knew them because of Antonio.
Now that we were through, there was no point in staying connected.
“Grace.” In the well–lit hall, Gavin was standing a short distance to my left.
The light played on his good–looking face, giving it a soft glow.
“Gavin.” I was about to get up, but Gavin was already heading my way.
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Chapter 7
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“Gavin. You’re not dreaming. It’s really me. I’m Grace…”
I didn’t get to finish my sentence before his lips met mine in a tender kiss.
The kiss was soft and gentle.
I was still processing it when Gavin pulled back.
He must have noticed the surprise on my face and the panic in my eyes.
He held my hand, steering me into my seat.
As the car rolled forward, Gavin dropped the partition.
The closed–off space amped up my anxiety.
But then Gavin released my hand
“Don’t be afraid, Grace. I wouldn’t make a move on you here,” said Gavin.
He brushed a strand of hair from my temple. “Grace, I can wait until our wedding night.”
I dropped my gaze, my cheeks flushing. After a moment, I met his eyes and whispered, “Okay.”
Antonio had gotten wasted again
His friends couldn’t talk him out of it.
He wasn’t sure what was dragging him down lately.
Maybe he was over Sandra, bored and finding her plain.
Chapter 7
Or maybe he was missing Grace’s soft, quiet attention.
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The call from his friend last time was actually with his approval.
But Grace kept turning him down on the line.
A flash of rage hit him, and he snatched the phone, spitting out those harsh words.
Yet, Grace didn’t say a word and just hung up quietly.
She didn’t come to see him or pick him up, not even when she knew he had wasted and might not be able to handle it.
She stayed completely indifferent.
Antonio didn’t want to admit it, but for a second there, he was actually a bit freaked out.
But he soon talked himself down
Grace had liked him for ages.
They had been together for three years, not just three days or three months.
He knew exactly how much she had put into their relationship.
So, she was probably just too hurt, too angry.
Antonio didn’t believe that she would really give up on their relationship.
