Just One Reason by Kirsten DeMuzio Read Free Book Online Page A

  How’s it going in Penn Yan?”  Her cheerful voice made me smile despite the tears that were still dripping down my cheeks.  I hesitated before replying, wanting to steady my voice.  But she picked up on the silence immediately.
    “Lindsay.  What’s wrong?”
    I sniffled and wiped my nose with the back of my hand.  “He hates me, Taryn.”  She wouldn’t know what I was talking about, since I had never told her about Grady, but it was the first thought that popped into my head.
    She was silent for a moment and then asked, “Is this about Grady?”
    “What?  How do you know about Grady?”  I was sure I had never told her about him.  Maybe I said something one time when I was drunk?
    “Last week, the day we were there, I talked to him outside.  I told him you were here and he seemed really surprised…and then he told me his name, but I didn’t recognize it.  Then he got pissed and walked away.”
    Well that explains why he didn’t look surprised to see me tonight.  He already knew I was in town.  He knew I was here for the last week and never tried to contact me.  The tears started falling all over again as I realized he really didn’t want me here.
    “Lindsay?  Who is Grady to you?  And why didn’t you ever tell me about him?”
    I sighed and tried to collect myself before speaking, “I’m sorry I never told you, Taryn.  It’s just that…he was…it was too special.  I loved him.”  I was almost whispering the words I had never said aloud to anyone.  Anyone but Grady.
    Taryn’s voice was gentle, “You still do.  I saw you watching him out your window last week and crying.  I know that look, Lindsay.  I see it on my own face in the mirror every day since I met Wyatt.”  I felt relieved that she understood and didn’t push me to say anymore right now.  Although she did make me promise to spill the whole story soon.
    After we said goodbye I sat on the beach a while longer watching the waves rolling gently under the moonlight.  When it was late enough that I thought Lana might start worrying about me, I stood up and brushed the sand off my dress and legs and shook out my hair.  With my purse over my shoulder and my sandals hanging off the tips of my fingers, I started to walk the several blocks back to Lana’s house barefoot.
    The only direct way back to Lana’s house took me back by the pub.  I was across the street when I saw Grady stumble out, hanging all over a very trashy looking blonde.  Backing up into the shadow of the building I was walking next to, I watched as she put her arm around his waist and guided him down the block and up a stairwell.  Not able to watch anymore , I trudged the rest of the way home.

Chapter Five
    Grady
    “Calm down, Hawke.  Don’t make me throw your ass out of here,” Ford warned me from behind the bar.  Josh was in my face blocking my view of the table where Lindsay was sitting with Leah.   I would never get physical with a woman, but I did want to scare her.  I needed her to know I wasn’t happy that she was here.  I needed her to know that I wanted her gone.
    I didn’t even realize Lindsay had left until Leah shoved Josh aside and poked her finger into my chest.
    “Grady Hawke!   What is wrong with you?”  Leah barked at me.
    I had been friends with Josh and Ford since grade school, and when Josh started dating Leah she instantly became part of our pack.  She had no problem telling me how she felt, and right now was no exception.   She might be tiny, and pregnant, but I wouldn’t want to meet her in a dark alley.
    “That was an awful way to treat Lindsay,” she continued.  Her baby wasn’t even born yet and she had the finger pointing and scolding thing down pat.
    Josh rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Babe, ease up.  You don’t understand,” he said to her.
    “Well, make me understand.  Give me an explanation that would make that kind of behavior acceptable,” she snapped , batting Josh’s