Page 40 of Clueless
ChapterThirteen
Grace
I was pissed.Heartbroken.Frustrated.Confused.And getting more pissed by the minute as I rang Taz’s doorbell and banged on the heavy wood door he refused to answer.I knew he was home.His truck was in the drive and there were lights on.
Another first for me.Banging on a man’s door at midnight, demanding he let me in.Apparently, Taz just brought out the crazy in me.Mama would let me have it, if she could see me now.Making a fool out of myself over a man, she’d say.But some men were worth it, and this stubborn ass of a man had proven he was.Over and over again.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”Taz demanded, holding a towel around his waist as he scowled at me, after he damn near yanked the door off its hinges.
There were rivulets of water running from his hair, down his chest, making it hard to concentrate.Or find words.
Instead, I pushed him back, which was possible only because I’d caught him off guard.Slamming the door behind me, I said, “You don’t get to run away.You don’t get to accuse me of?—”
“I didn’t accuse you of anything!”
I got in his face, wondering if I’d lost my mind.He was an ex-con, who’d been convicted of violent crimes.He’d snapped before.He could snap again.But he swore to me he never had or would hurt a woman, and I believed him.
“Did you or did you not think Brandon was there tonight because I wanted him there?”
“How the hell should I know?”
“You should know because I’ve shown you every night this week, six ways to Sunday, that you’re the man I want!”I pushed against his chest, causing him to curse.So much for all my training in de-escalating situations.My professional calm vanished when he squealed his tires out of that parking lot, and left me standing there, spitting nails.
“Go home, Grace.”
My jaw dropped before I snapped it shut.“You really want me to go?Because if I leave, I’m never coming back!”We stared each other down and my stomach was quivering as I waited for his response.I’d be crushed if he sent me packing, but I’d remain true to my word, even if it killed me.
He breathed deeply, his nostrils flaring, and his fists clenched at his sides.“Why the hell was he there?”
I allowed myself to steal a breath before I said, “I have no idea.It’s a free country, Taz.He can go to a bar to get a beer if he wants to.”
“Did he know you were going to be there?You said he and Kaitlyn were friends.Did she tell him?”
“No!”He didn’t know my best friend, so I couldn’t blame him for asking, but that girl would take a bullet for me.No way in hell would she betray me.“It was just a coincidence.”Tipping my head back, forcing myself to calm down, I said, “I met Brandon through Kaitlyn.His mother is Kaitlyn’s godmother.Their mothers have been best friends for years.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me that before?”
“I didn’t think it was relevant.”
He rolled his eyes.“You were explaining… and I’m still listening.”
I huffed, crossing my arms.“Anyhow, his mother is sick.Cancer.So, he came over to the table to say hi and give Kaitlyn an update on her condition.Under the circumstances, I couldn’t very well ask him to leave, could I?”
“No, but you could have got up and left.”
I covered my face with my hands, trying to remember what the hell I saw in this infuriating man.“He was telling us about his very sick mother.I’m not a monster.We may not be together anymore, but his mother is a lovely lady, and we got along well.I wanted to hear how she was doing.”
“Just tell me the truth.Do you still have feelings for this guy?”
“Are you crazy?”I fished my keys out of my oversized handbag.“I’ve told you I don’t.If you don’t believe me or can’t trust me?—”
“I didn’t say that.”He exhaled before tipping his head back.“Look, it’s been an exhausting day.Then that call with Quinn set me off.”
My heart went out to him.I knew how traumatic it could be for people to face their pasts, especially when there was so much guilt, regret and shame wrapped up in it.“I get that.And I know people overreact in the heat of the moment?—”
“I didn’t overreact.Overreacting may have been punching him in the face and warning him to stay the hell away from my girlfriend.”
I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms.“First of all, punching someone in the face will land your ass back in jail.And I’m not into conjugal visits, thanks.”
