CHAPTER 31

This was the first night since Grace was gone that Sal had sat out in his backyard. He hadn’t wanted to enjoy the view without her. He sat staring out into the city lights and the ocean, feeling a deep emptiness.

His heart literally ached. Finally he understood how powerful depression could be. All those times he’d read about people who felt such despair that nothing, not any amount of money, fame, success could lift them out of it, he never understood it. Now he did, because at that moment, staring out into the distance not really focusing on anything in particular, the anguish weighed heavier than he’d ever felt it.

Everything, especially around the restaurant reminded him of Gracie, but nothing was a more painful reminder of her than his backyard. She loved it out here—could spend every minute at his house outside. Memories of the times they’d made love on the very lounge chair he sat on now, strangled his heart, forcing him to gulp back the tightness he’d begun to feel in his throat.

His phone ringing on the patio table pulled him momentarily out of his world of pain. He stood, breathing deeply. The name on his caller ID rattled him. It was Vincent and he had no idea what to expect.

“Hey, Vin. What’s up?”

“She didn’t say a whole lot, Sal. Only that Grace has been sick.” He was quiet for a moment and Sal waited for more as the image of Grace sick only intensified the pain in his heart. “She hadn’t told me before but she did tonight. I know why you guys broke up.” Again there was silence and Sal braced himself to hear about Grace hating him. “That’s pretty fucked up, Sal. Rose said she’d never seen Grace so broken up. Not even when her grandma died. I thought you really liked Grace, man.”

“I did. I do.” Sal sat down resting his elbow on his knee and squeezed his temple. He hadn’t thought he could feel any worse. But hearing this nearly did him in. “I didn’t do it intentionally.”

“What? How do you not—”

“Look it’s a long story. I don’t have time right now. Did she say anything about Laughlin?”

Sal had told Vince not to probe too much but ever since he’d mentioned Laughlin, it killed him to think her mom might still be trying to set her up with the casino owner. He’d given Vince strict instructions to find out anything about that specifically. The more info Vince got him the more generous Sal would be with the use of the car. He didn’t even feel rotten about bribing the kid. The past few weeks had been torturous not hearing anything about Grace. At this point he’d do anything for even the tiniest bit of information about her, especially about this.

“All she said is that it was a vacation Grace needed. They did the usual vacation stuff, swam, went to the lake, rented jet skis. She didn’t say anything about the casino guy until…”

“Until what?”

“Sal, I feel like a jerk telling you, because she specifically asked me not to say anything to you about Grace.”

Normally Sal would agree that prying like this was wrong. But nothing had been normal in Sal’s life since Grace had walked into it. His entire world had shifted and it would never be the same again. He stood up, feeling his patience thinning. The thought of Grace with the casino owner burned him up. “You wanna be able to use that car again, outside of to and from work?”

He heard Vince sigh. “This isn’t right.” There was a muffed sound then Vince spoke again. “She texted me on the way home. And yes I waited until I was home to read it.” He sighed again, cutting deeper into Sal’s patience. “I guess that guy’s coming out this weekend and Grace is going out with him Friday night. She said Grace felt guilty about leaving her home alone since her mom and step-dad are also going so she actually suggested Rose and I do something Friday night.”

A slow heat started up inside him and Sal welcomed it. The past few weeks had been nothing but agonizing pain mixed with guilt. Hearing that Grace was going out with this guy this soon after their break up, at least lessened some of that guilt. Even if Grace thought she was only entertaining him having a few drinks and dinner with him for her mom’s sake, Sal saw the way the guy looked at her the night he came by to pick her up. He was expecting more. And now that she was free for the taking and more vulnerable than ever he wondered if she’d give in.

“Did she say where?” His words were as coarse as they felt coming out.

“No, but she did say Grace said it was a business date, so you don’t have to get all pissed about it.”

Sal didn’t even know why he was asking. What was he going to do—show up enraged and demand to know why the girl whose heart he trampled on was on a date?

Still, she was his not too long ago and as far as his heart was concerned she still was damn it. The truth was even though the choppy memories he had of his night with Melissa gave every indication that he had slept with her, there was still no proof of it.

Hearing about Grace from such a close source after not hearing anything about her for weeks had rekindled that feeling inside him. That feeling Taylor had snuffed the day he’d gone back to their apartment again, willing to beg for her forgiveness. Walk away. Taylor had said. Let her be. As if it were really that simple.

“Anything else?” Sal paced back and forth on his patio, feeling more determined by the second.

“That’s it. So you think I can use the car Friday night to hang out with Rose?”

Sal pinched the rim of his nose, closing his eyes. “What do you plan on doing Vin? I know you don’t expect me to be okay with you going over and hanging out at her apartment when no one else is there.”

“Nah, man. I keep telling you. She’s not like that. We can go grab something to eat, then maybe catch a show. Which brings me to my next request.”

Vince exhaled heavily. “You better never tell her I told you any of this. Rose would be so pissed if she knew. It’s just not right.”

Sal walked into his house. “Save that conscience of yours for when you’re alone with Rose and you get any funny ideas, Vince. You’re gonna need it if you wanna stay in La Jolla for the summer.”

This time it was Vincent who chuckled. “Trust me. After seeing her tonight, I ain’t doing shit to risk getting sent home.”

Sal knew that last sentence was meant to give him reassurance that Vincent wasn’t going to step over any boundaries with Rose, but it did just the opposite.

***

Friday morning Sal got the call. It had been two days since Romero had any news for him—two days since Vince had told him about Grace’s date tonight. He was just about to start his car and head to the restaurant when he saw Melissa’s name on his caller ID. He almost let it go to voicemail but something made him want to talk to her. Maybe it was the desperation of any revelation that might possibly shed some hope on his situation with Grace. Whatever it was, not only did he answer, he decided he’d play nice.

“Good morning, Melissa.”

She didn’t speak for a moment. His civil voice obviously took her by surprise. “Good morning, Salvador.”

If she’d made any attempt to conceal her slurred speech, it was a very poor one because she butchered his name. Sal wondered if she was drunk this early as she’d often been in the past when she left him messages or if it had anything to do with the heavy meds Romero had mentioned she was on. “Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay.” The slurring was less prominent, until she spoke again. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Just asking,” he said, careful not to sound condescending. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She giggled then hiccupped and Sal deduced that it must be liquor making her slur, but this early on a weekday morning? She did have a job. “I was just thinking about you… about us. I just never understood why it didn’t work out for us. We were perfect for each other.” She stopped and he heard her sniffle. “Can you just tell me what I did wrong?” On that last question her voice had been reduced to a high pitched whine.

If there was ever a moment to try to get the truth about that night in Vegas it was now and Sal sat up straight. “Sure I can tell you but first I’d like you to tell me something if that’s okay.”

She sniffled again then her voice was a near squeak. “What?”

“That night in Vegas is still foggy for me. I really wish I could remember more of it. Can you refresh my mind about exactly what happened? How did we end up in my room together?”

More sniffling and Sal held his breath wondering if she’d be honest. “You’ll probably never remember, you were so drunk.”

Sal feigned a weak laugh. “I know, I was feeling it for days after. That’s why I was surprised I was able to text Grace that night but even more surprised when you said I’d been amazing the next morning.”

Silence.

Sal gave it a few more seconds before speaking again. “Melissa?”

“It’s your turn to answer my question, Sal.” She was doing a better job of hiding the slurring, or maybe that last comment had sobered her up.

Sal squeezed the steering wheel, feeling a rage in him like none he’d ever felt, but he was too close to blow this. Had she really played him and concocted the whole thing? He had to stay calm—had to keep her talking. “I think maybe it was bad timing for us.” It was a struggle to not speak through his teeth and he gulped big chunks of air to try and stay focused. “Maybe we can try again another time.”

“What about Grace? Why wasn’t the timing wrong for you and her?”

He recognized that venom in her voice. It was the same one from when she’d shown up at his place. He had to calm her down too if he was going to get anything more out of her. “Oh, it was. Things didn’t work out for us either. It’s this whole expanding the business thing. It has me real tied up right now. But tell me, Melissa. That night in Vegas… was I really that amazing or were you just saying that to make me feel good?”

The silence was like thunder. It took everything in him to not yell into the phone what he wanted to yell at the top of his lungs now. His life had been torn apart by what had happened in Vegas and now here was near proof that nothing had happened.

More silence followed by a nervous laugh was her response. Before she could say anything he added what he’d held in for a better part of their conversation. “You made the whole thing up didn’t you?” His words were harsher with every breath he took. “You made me think I slept with you, so I’d break things off with Grace and when I didn’t you made the pregnancy thing up too, didn’t you?”

“You’re crazy!” Her attempt to sound offended fell flat.

“No you’re the crazy one.” His heart nearly slammed through his chest as the reality of it really set in and he was yelling now. “Anyone that would go to these lengths has got to be a fucking crazy as shit mental case! And that’s what you are!”

The line clicked and for the first time in all the times he’d talked to her over the phone she actually hung up first. He sat there trying to catch his breath, the rage burning through him at how stupid he’d been to fall for her shit. Not even what should have been delight at knowing he hadn’t actually betrayed Grace did anything to calm him. Out of nowhere he heard a growl and he realized it had come from deep inside him.

Images of Grace’s agonized face and thoughts of all the pain she’d gone through and for what? For nothing. Deep inside he’d known it all along. He could never do anything to hurt Grace. Not even in a drunken stupor. But even now this wasn’t proof and that’s what he’d need if he even had a prayer of Grace believing him because he knew Melissa sure as hell would never admit the truth.

Between her mother, Rose, then Joey and Taylor, Grace had been talked into letting her hair down and dressing up for her night out. She now sat nursing her drink in the bar area with all of them except Rose at The Voodoo Lounge, the neat nightclub her mother had told her about, in a tight little black dress and three inch heels.

Taylor and Joey had done a number on her hair and makeup and though she’d argued she was overdone, they’d been right. She fit right in with all the other sexy-as-hell, single women at the bar who were there to find a man. Only in her case that was the last thing on her mind. And though she might look the part she certainly wasn’t feeling it.

Frank had yet to arrive and Grace hoped he’d be a no show. Of course her mother had made sure the chair next to Grace was the only one available for when he did arrive.

She took tiny sips, careful not to stir up any bad vibes in her stomach like she had earlier and had to rush to the ladies room, but it’d turned out to be a false alarm. As the music around her blared and the flashing lights bounced all over the walls, Grace was still trying to get over the annoying fact that she was at her first night club with her mom and Ruben.

Doing a double take she turned to see Frank walking toward their table. It was almost as he’d had a makeover as well. Instead of the usual drab colored suits he wore he was in black jeans with a dark long sleeved, firm fitting cotton shirt. He’d cut his hair to shorter, much more stylish ‘do. It was amazing how a few changes could make someone look so different. He even looked younger.

As he got closer, Grace noticed he carried two red roses. He handed her one as he reached her then gave the other to her mom. “You look fantastic, Grace,” he said, taking the seat next to her. Even his cologne was alluring although he wore a bit too much.

“Thank you,” she said softly then introduced him to Taylor and Joey. They shook his hand. Joey bobbed his eyebrows at Grace when Frank turned away to say hello to Ruben.

She smiled but he had to know any interest in a romantic relationship with anybody would be the furthest thing from her mind for a long, long time.

Frank leaned into her and whispered. “I hope the rose didn’t make you uncomfortable. I just couldn’t help myself when the guy outside selling them hit me up.”

“No, not at all,” she said bringing it to her nose, and smelled it with a smile. “That was sweet of you.”

The waitress came by to take their orders though Grace’s drink was still nearly full. While Frank was distracted putting in his order in, Taylor leaned into her and whispered in her ear. “Don’t look now but there’s this girl who’s been looking at you all night over by the rail to my left. It’s almost as if she’d trying to get your attention. At first, I thought she might be looking at me or Joey but her eyebrows nearly hit the ceiling when Frank arrived and sat next to you. She’s still looking now, so be casual about it.”

Grace nodded, smiling as if he’d just said something funny. She stirred her drink, glancing in the opposite direction Taylor said, then casually brought her eyes back to the area Taylor meant. Her heart sank and she felt her chest constrict when she saw her. Sofia smiled and waved. The last thing she needed was a reminder of that family. Immediately she felt the tension in her throat, but she smiled and waved back.

When she saw Sofia start toward her Grace stood up alarmed that Sofia would come over and talk about something that might upset her in front of Joey and Taylor. She was trying so hard to convince them that she was better now, but just seeing Sofia was added proof that nothing could be further from the truth. “I’ll be back.” She touched Taylor’s shoulder as she stood up. “I know her.”

Knowing that as soon as Joey saw Sofia, he’d remember her as Sal’s sister, she smiled big at him to squash any possible indication of what she was really feeling. She met Sofia halfway and they hugged but Grace pulled away quickly afraid anything longer might make for a more emotional reunion.

“Hey! Oh my Gosh you look hot!” Sofia smiled, looking Grace up and down.

“You do, too. As usual.” Grace tried to match her smile but simply couldn’t. The tightness in her chest was a living thing. “What are you doing here?

“Eric is out of town for a few days, so,” she turned back to the two girls standing nearby, “I decided to take a girls’ night out. Something I so rarely do. They’ve been going on and on about this place since it opened.” She glanced over to Grace’s table. “What about you? New man in your life already?”

The very thought of a new man in her life ever was such a joke. But why let Sal and his family in on how pathetic she was? He’d obviously had no issues delving into new waters the moment he’d had one night away from her. Now that they’d been apart for this long, he was probably meticulously planning his future with Melissa and their child. Grace shrugged. “New friend.”

Thankfully Sofia didn’t ask more about Frank or bring up Sal. Instead she reiterated how good Grace looked then almost brought her to tears when she told her how much she was missed at the restaurant. Sofia must’ve seen the hurt in her eyes because she hugged her again this time holding onto her longer, making the tears that had gathered in Grace’s eyes stream down her cheeks.

Grace would never get past the fact that the moment Sal had been away from her, his supposed love for her hadn’t been enough to fight off temptation. And that temptation would always be there, especially for a man like him. Women would always throw themselves at him. Her heart would never survive that kind of betrayal again.

Sofia stared at her, the sadness in her eyes as deep as what Grace felt in her heart. She wiped the tears away and shook her head. “It doesn’t, Sof.” She forced a very weak smile which made no sense at all because the warm tears still slid down her cheeks. “It was good to see you again. I gotta get back.” She motioned to her table. “They’re waiting for me.”

She turned around, taking a very deep breath and wiped her eyes gently, mindful of all the makeup she wore. Joey and Taylor both noticed as soon as she sat down but she waved them away with a smile, taking her compact out of her purse to assess the damage—not as bad as she thought. Once she cleaned it up she did her best to smile at Joey and Taylor who were both looking at her very concerned. “Who wants to dance?”

Frank was immediately on his feet. “Let’s go.”

Even as she stood and felt Frank’s hand slide into hers, the tightness in her chest nearly suffocated her. “C’mon let’s all go.”

Ruben and her mother didn’t budge. She knew this wasn’t their kind of music but Joey sprung out of his chair, looking very relieved that Grace had snapped out of it so quickly. And here he thought he knew her so well.