Chapter 19
Grayce
I couldn’t believe that Tyler would just walk out on me like that. It had been a rough day, but I thought we were in it together.
I didn’t know what to think about Carter, either. I wasn’t stupid. I knew there was no going back. Even if I had wanted to give him another chance, he would just cheat again.
The sad thing was, even though I had been with Carter all those years, and even though we had been married, I had finally seen him for who he was.
Then, there was the Tyler component.
I should never have slept with Tyler, I knew that. He wasn’t the type of guy to stay around. If you looked up ‘hit it and quit it’ in the dictionary, it would read, example; Tyler Bennett. That didn’t stop me from thinking about him non-stop. It didn’t keep me from craving his touch or wanting his lips on mine.
He had started to share something about how he felt after that night we spent together. Could he feel something for me? Was it possible? He had been really pissed about Carter. I hadn’t responded, that was true. I hadn’t known what to say. I didn’t want Carter back, but the vain part of me was incredibly gratified to hear him say he realized how badly he had fucked up.
I had to get some perspective, and there was no one to give it to me but Ella. I headed over to her apartment.
As I walked inside, I looked around, stunned. It was clean. I mean, really clean. “Um, what’s up with the apartment?” I asked.
“Well, I’ve been trying to keep the place picked up a little more, that’s all,” she said, shrugging.
“Nope, I don’t buy it. Try again,” I said.
She threw her head back and made a groaning sound. “Okay, okay,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ll tell you. I’ve been seeing someone.”
“Hey, that’s great! Is it serious?”
“I don’t know. You know how I felt by the time Noah was born – I really felt like men were only good for one thing. But this guy…he is so different! He is kind, and he’s always doing nice things for me just because he wants to. He says he wants to see me and Noah happy. Not to mention he’s fucking hot.”
“That’s great, Ella. I’m really happy for you. You deserve it.” I hugged her.
“Thanks. But what’s going on with you?” She put her hand on her hip. “You don’t seem like yourself.”
“It’s a mess, Ella. It’s all such a mess.” I buried my face in my hands.
“What happened?”
“We went to the meeting, and I got Carter to settle,” I said. “After that, it all went to shit.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I need specifics, though,” she said.
“Well, Carter said Kay dumped him,” I replied.
“Good. Asshole.” Ella rolled her eyes. “He deserved it. Why does that matter to you?”
“He asked me to give him another chance.”
“And you said, ‘go fuck yourself,’ right?” she asked.
“I didn’t say anything. I was sort of in shock, to be honest,” I replied.
“Grayce. You are not going to give that asshole another chance to hurt you, are you?” Ella was clearly growing annoyed.
“Of course not, but it was nice to hear him say he was sorry he’d lost me. I mean, we were married, after all. But that’s not the worst part of it.”
“Oh no, what else?”
“Tyler overheard the whole thing,” I said, my eyes beginning to water. “When we got back to the apartment, he blew up on me.”
“What do you mean, blew up? Why would he do that?” she asked.
“Ella, that night after we left Twist, we hooked up.” I shook my head. “I shouldn’t have let it happen. It was a mistake.”
“Holy shit, Grayce. You fuck a beautiful god-man like that and don’t tell me?” She threw her arms up, laughing, then flopped down beside me on the sofa. “I’m so mad at you right now! But I’ll forgive you if you share details.”
“I started it, actually. I thought it would just be a hookup and that I could handle it. But it wasn’t what I expected. I’ve gotten to know him over the time we’ve lived together. He’s…Ella, he’s so much more than just some hot guy. I told him I just wanted to be friends because I was sure I was just another notch on his belt.” I sighed. “He was so mad about Carter. He said that after out night together, he thought…and then he trailed off. He wouldn’t tell me what he meant. I don’t know what to think.”
“Okay, Grayce, it sounds like this is way more serious than a crush or just lust. Do you love this guy?”
Tears started pouring from my eyes. “I don’t know, Ella. He was so angry at me earlier because I never replied to Carter. He doesn’t know everything is done and I turned down Carter’s money, and I started the process to change my name, too. When I think about him not being in my life, I can’t even breathe. I think I am in love with him. I don’t know what to do!”
“Well, girl, if you love him, go get him. Sometimes you’ve gotta take a chance, you know? I didn’t used to believe it, but now I know better.” A little smile crept across her face.
Just then, I heard a key turning in the lock, and the front door opened. “Ella, I got both red and white – I wasn’t sure what you’d want, and some of that chocolate drink for Noah,” a man’s voice said.
While carrying grocery bags, he walked through the door.
I immediately flipped into business mode as I wiped my eyes and stood.
“Mr. Jensen?” I asked incredulously, looking at Ella.
“Oh. Oh! Mrs. Gladden! I didn’t know you would be here…I…I…” He was stammering over his words.
Ella stood up and walked over to him. “It’s okay, Lars. She had to find out eventually. I know this isn’t how we planned to tell her, but that’s okay.”
His blue eyes looked upon her like she was a miraculous thing. I had never seen so much love in one look before.
“Grayce,” Ella said, “I’m so sorry – I should’ve told you sooner. It was unprofessional, but you know how complicated relationships are for me.”
I walked over and hugged her tight.
“Please call me Grayce,” I said to Mr. Jensen. “I’ve known Ella her whole life, and I can tell you she’s one of the best people I know. You’re lucky to have her.”
Creases appeared in the thick, blond beard at either side of his mouth as his cheeks became full with a wide smile. “I know, I’m very lucky,” he said, wrapping an arm around her. “And please, call me Lars.”
Ella quickly wiped a little tear from her cheek. Looking up at the handsome man, she said, “He’s not like anyone I’ve ever known before.”
Lars smiled. “So then, Grayce. You’ve known Ella her whole life? How do you get her to answer a question when she keeps putting you off, hmm? I cannot figure it out.”
Ella chuckled and rolled her eyes. “I told you, it’s a lot to think about!” She playfully elbowed him in the ribs. “He wants Noah and me to move in with him.”
“Well, then you should know, trying to get anything through her thick head takes quite a bit of work,” I said. “But Elle, don’t let fear keep you from being happy. In fact, I think I’m going to take my own advice, and go talk to Tyler.” I hugged her again, and patted Lars on the arm.
“Go get him, Grayce!” Ella said.
I drove back to the apartment to talk to Tyler. It was late afternoon, and I thought he would be back by then. When I got home, Tyler wasn’t there.
ME: Where are you?
TYLER: Needed to clear my head
I knew that could only mean one thing, but I was sure he hadn’t driven upstate so late in the day. He said there was a place in Queens he went sometimes with hiking trails, so I looked it up online and headed over there.
I saw Tyler’s SUV when I pulled into the parking lot. There was a trail map in the parking lot, and I followed it to the longer trail – the one with the pond. I was still in my suit from that morning, and as I began walking, I instantly regretted not having changed into flats, at least. I wasn’t walking for long before I saw Tyler coming up the trail toward the parking area.
“Grayce? What the hell?” He gave me a look that flashed from surprise to anger. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to find you – I need to talk to you,” I said.
“Don’t worry. If you want to go back to the asshole, I can find another place to stay.” He shook his head and walked past me.
“That’s not happening. Tyler, come back here,” I pleaded, hobbling after him, tentatively trying to navigate the path in my heels. He kept walking. “Tyler, stop! I was just listening – I never had any intention of getting back together with Carter. I’m in love with someone else.”
He stopped dead in his tracks.
Without turning around, he asked, “Who? Who are you in love with?”
I took several quick steps forward until I was just a few feet behind him. “You. I’m in love with you, Tyler. And if you don’t want me, I want to know it’s not just because you think there’s any chance I’d get back with Carter.”
He stood like a statue, taking in what I was saying.
“I turned down Carter’s money. I don’t want anything from him. I don’t want the memories or anything with his name attached to it,” I said. “I should never have told you I wanted to be friends. It was a lie. It’s you I want. I think it has been since the day you showed up on my doorstep.”
He turned and moved so quickly, he was holding me in a second. His jaw was set firm as he took my face in his hands. “Never lie to me again, Grayce. Promise me.” His hands were trembling ever so slightly as he said it. “You have to be honest with me, always.”
I put my hands on top of his. A tear breached my lashes and tumbled down my cheek. “Always, I promise.”
His lips crashed against mine as his strong arms engulfed me. My lips parted, allowing his tongue access to caress mine. He pulled his lips away and looked into my eyes. “Just you Grayce. You’re all I want…all I need is you.”
I smiled. “If you want me, you’ve got me.”
He took my hand and we started to walk back to our cars. After a minute of me hobbling along, he stopped and looked me up and down. “This is a great outfit, but ridiculous for hiking.”
He scooped me up and carried me the rest of the way back to the parking lot. I laughed and smiled, feeling like I was in the best place in the world—Tyler’s arms.
“I’ll see you at home in a few minutes,” he said, kissing me as he got into his Escape.
Back at the apartment, he pulled in right behind me. Neither of us said a word as we went upstairs. Once inside, he watched me as I pulled off my jacket and tossed it onto the sofa. I took him by the hand and led him to my bedroom.
He sat on the bed and watched me undress. I felt exposed, and sexy, and nervous all at the same time. As I stood before him, completely bare, he looked me up and down.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He stood and quickly undressed, then pulled me to the bed.
Our lips met as our bodies tangled together. His lips grazed my neck, then found my breasts, licking and sucking at my nipples as waves of pleasure poured over me at his every kiss and touch. As he moved from one breast to the other, he slid a hand down my belly and between my legs. He pressed a finger inside of me.
“You are so wet.” The words vibrated across my skin. “So damn sexy.”
He sucked harder on my breast and worked his hand across my clit. My body arched in response to his expert touch.
“I can’t wait, baby. I need to be inside of you,” he said.
He kissed my lips and reached for the box of condoms I kept at the side of the bed. I grabbed his arm.
“Wait,” I said. “Tyler, are you healthy? I mean, are you sure you’re healthy?”
“Yes, baby. I’m sure. I get checked regularly. A couple of weeks ago, in fact. What are you asking me?”
“I’m healthy too. And I’m on the pill,” I replied tentatively.
He pressed his lips hard against mine and moved his body above me. “Are you sure, baby?”
I nodded, and slid my legs further apart, granting him access. He thrust into me with one hard movement. I gasped from the sensation of being filled by him.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking down at me.
“Perfect,” I said, pulling at his lips with mine.
My hips moved to meet his as he ground his body against mine. I wrapped my legs around him and he reached down, taking the crook of my knee in his elbow. As our bodies rocked together, I was lost in ecstasy and emotion. He was hard, and thick, and when he pushed inside, I could feel him everywhere. I kissed his neck, and as he thrust harder, I groaned into his skin, grazing my teeth across his flesh.
“Do that again and I’m going to lose it,” he whispered as he pushed deep inside me.
I moved to the other side of his neck and bit him harder.
He straightened my leg and leaned it against his body, pounding into me, my body shaking as we crashed together.
“Yes,” I moaned. “Oh, Tyler, fuck, yes!”
With a groan, he pushed in me as far as he could go. His cock throbbed as I felt his juices filling me. My pussy squeezed around him, the sensations going off like fireworks in every cell of my body.
He started to move, and I stopped him. “Stay,” I said. “Stay with me for a little while.”
“Whatever you say.” He smiled and kissed me.
He was so wonderful, and so mine.
After a few minutes of lying together, still, satisfied, and content, he took my chin, and turned my face to his. “I love you, Grayce. I don’t think I knew what that was before I met you.”
I was too full of emotion. I couldn’t reply. Still, I knew this was the man I loved. One who truly loved me just as I was, and I was going to do everything I could to make him as happy as he made me.