The anticipation of the defense.
The thrill of the score.
I also know, actions are the only thing that matter.
Chapter 28
Grace
“That’s the last of it.” I drop the roll of tape on my sofa.
“Not everything.” Claire points to my room.
“My dad is going to break down the bed on Monday,” I explain. “I need somewhere to sleep.”
Bizzy and Claire exchange a conspiring look.
“Whatever you’re thinking, the answer is no.”
“Sorry, we are under strict orders.” Bizzy types something on her phone, and immediately, my front door opens. Shaw strolls in casually followed by Mathis.
“What’s going on?”
No one responds, but Bizzy directs them to my room.
“Hey, stop that!” I yell when Mathis easily stands my mattress on one side and props it against the wall, doing the same with the box springs.
“The movers will be here tomorrow to get your stuff into storage,” Shaw tells me.
“That’s not my plan.” I stomp. “Don’t you dare disassemble my bed!”
He raises an eyebrow at me with a smirk, not phased at my childish behavior.
“Seriously, guys, this is nice of you to help, but it’s enough already.”
“Grace, stop being stubborn. We’re your friends, and we want to help.” Bizzy digs in the bag she dropped on my floor earlier and hands Shaw a drill.
He crouches and starts to remove the screws in my headboard, ignoring my death glare.
“If you are really my friends, you’ll stop this right now! I’m not staying with Nick!” I shout.
“Told you this wasn’t going to be easy,” Mathis says to Bizzy, taking the drill from Shaw. “But it’s going to be fun to watch him worm his way out of this.”
“There is no worming out of anything because it’s not happening. Why can’t anyone understand that?” I huff.
“Because we’re intrusive and slightly inappropriate at times,” Claire jokes.
“So you’re trying to force me to stay with him by making me homeless?”
“Don’t be so melodramatic. If he can’t convince you to stay with him, you can sleep at my place,” she adds.
“Or mine. I have a guest room,” Mathis offers.
“Or stay with us,” Bizzy says.
“How about I move into a hotel for the next five days? Or sleep on the floor?” I throw my hands in the air. “That seems like the most logical idea if you guys are seriously taking my bed apart.”
“You want to see Nick go crazy, you try moving into a hotel. You want to sleep on your floor, he’ll be right beside you. He’s pretty determined about this, Grace.” Shaw’s voice is gentle and kind. There’s worry written all over his face. “Please don’t leave with all this uncertainty between you two. It’s killing him inside.”