Steal My Magnolia (Love at First Sight #3) - Karla Sorensen Page 0,76
on the branches. The wind had a bite to it, but it felt good against my slightly feverish face.
It took me by surprise but finding the words came easily. About her interview, what she was wearing, and what a fool I made of myself. That strange unerring sense of certainty that I felt looking at Magnolia's face had Grace nodding slightly because she understood perfectly.
"I remember," she murmured. "I remember when I looked at him and all I could think was, mine. That man belongs with me."
Right. She'd had that thought when Tucker was still with Magnolia. But that went unsaid. Because we both knew it.
It wasn't like I held it against her. They never crossed any lines, not until Tucker broke things off with Magnolia. And I knew Magnolia didn't hold that against them either. There was no betrayal, but there was a hard truth to face.
If Magnolia forgave me, the four of us would be inextricably intertwined.
"I get why you didn't tell me," she admitted.
It felt like a good time to slow down because we didn't really have a destination in mind. So, I stopped and leaned against a tree trunk. Knobs from the wood dug in my back, and I didn't really care.
"I felt like"—I shrugged—"like she needed to be the first one to know. It felt important."
Grace smoothed a hair over the top of her ponytail. "I get that too."
"She's already dealt with whispers and gossip and judgment her whole life," I said, peering intently at the water. "Her dad didn't make things easier on her, but ... Man, it's hard to admit this after how bad he came down on Tucker after they broke up, but I understand now why he did. After getting to know her. Learning about her family through her."
Grace blew out a breath. "He almost ruined Tucker's law firm, Grady."
"I'm not defending what he did," I told her. "I said I can understand why he did it. There's a difference."
She nodded. "There's a lot for us to work through with this, isn't there?"
"Maybe not."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because she said we're crazy for thinking this is okay and marched off? I may have lost her before I even really had the chance to have her, Grace." My voice cracked at the end, and her eyes welled up. "I've never ... I've never even dreamed that it was possible to feel like this about someone. She's nothing I was looking for, and she is every-fucking-good-thing I could ever want. And I just lost her."
She gripped my arm. "You don't know that. You don't! Give her time. Just ... let her breathe a little, okay?"
"Yeah." I rubbed my forehead. I felt like I could sleep for a week.
"My brother doesn't give up, okay? This sucks, and it's hard, but if she's the one, Grady, then you two will move past this."
I pinned her with a look. "And if we do? You'd be okay with Christmases and birthdays and family vacations with you and Tucker and me and Magnolia?"
"Yes," she answered immediately. "Because if she makes you as happy as Tucker makes me? Then it's not even a question in my mind, Grady. I know what this love feels like when you come out on the other side. We can get through all the awkward conversations in the world. I'd do them a hundred times if I knew you'd have this kind of happiness waiting for you."
I dropped my head back on the tree and exhaled heavily. In theory, I knew Grace would have my back. She always had in the past. But something shifted when you found the love of your life. Even the strongest relationship outside of it was moved into a secondary position. Hearing her say it out loud, though, something unlocked, just enough that I could breathe a little easier.
No matter what, she was still my twin.
"Thank you," I told her.
"You're welcome. Just warn me next time, okay?"
I smiled. "Okay."
"What are you going to do?"
"Give her time to breathe, I guess. Whatever that means."
"One tip," Grace said slowly. "Maybe give her a little hint that while you're respecting her need for space, you’ll still, you know, be waiting for her."
"The mantra of every pathetic stalker," I muttered.
She slugged me in the shoulder.
"Ouch. Fine. I will."
"Good." Grace hitched a thumb over her shoulder. "I'm gonna go back. You want help packing up?"
I shook my head. "I'm gonna stay out here today, I think. I'll be back by dinner."