Overheard (Unspoken #2)(23)

She trudged toward him, and he held his arms open to her. He caught her in a hug and kissed the top of her head.

“We’ve been worried sick about you, Gracie. Come on in. I’ll make you some hot chocolate.”

She smiled gratefully at him. “I’m sorry, Jeremy. I didn’t mean to worry y’all. Especially not Michelle.”

“Luke and Wes are worried too,” Jeremy said quietly. “I need to call and let them know you’re okay.”

Gracie stiffened.

“Gracie, Luke is frantic. He’s worried something happened to you. I’m just going to call and tell him you’re all right.”

She nodded, guilt creeping over her.

Once inside, Michelle hurried over and hugged her tightly. Then she dragged her over to the couch and made her sit down.

“What on earth happened?” Michelle demanded.

Gracie sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. “I made an ass of myself. That’s what happened.”

Jeremy returned and pressed a hot cup of chocolate into her hands.

“Thanks,” she said.

Jeremy sat down on the other side of Gracie and put a comforting hand on her leg. “Tell us what happened, Gracie.”

She flushed and set her cup down on the coffee table. “Apparently Luke overheard our conversation,” she said to Michelle. “The one about my fantasies.”

“Ohhh,” Michelle said, her eyes wide.

“And apparently he wanted to fulfill those fantasies for me. He asked me out and we spent the week together. I thought he was interested in me. I confided those fantasies in him and he arranged this weekend. Wes was a surprise.”

She broke off and ducked her head in embarrassment when Michelle’s eyes widened further in shock.

“You mean, you and Luke and Wes?”

“Yeah,” Gracie muttered.

“You’re angry with them for not telling you they knew?” Jeremy asked in a confused voice.

Gracie sighed. “I’m not angry with them,” she said quietly. “I’m angry with me. And I’m so humiliated I want to just find a hole to crawl in.”

“Oh honey,” Michelle said. She reached over and squeezed Gracie’s hand. “Why on earth should you be embarrassed?”

“I just wish Luke had been up front. Told me from the beginning that this was about sex. Instead he made me believe…he made me believe he cared about me. He made me fall in love with him,” she said miserably. “And all along it was just a game. His heart was in the right place. I know he’s never approved of the men I’ve slept with. He wanted to give me a weekend I’d remember. I understand that.”

Michelle wrapped her arms around her and hugged tight.

“I let my mouth get ahead of my brain again, and I basically blurted out that I loved him. Just before I ran like a scalded cat. Now I’ve got them both mad at me because of a huge misunderstanding. One I perpetuated. I guess in a way, I wanted it to be the truth. I wanted Luke to love me.”

“Are you so sure he doesn’t?” Jeremy spoke up.

She nodded, tears burning holes in her eyelids. “I heard him and Wes talking. And Luke’s never said anything to make me believe he cares for me beyond a friend. I just got wrapped up in the whole going out thing and confused sex with love. You’d think I was twelve years old or something.”

She bowed her head as hot tears splashed onto her arm. “I screwed up.”

Jeremy gently nudged her chin up with his knuckle until she looked him in the eye. “Don’t blame yourself, honey. There are two grown men who are as big a part in this as you are. I don’t know what the hell happened, but I don’t think we have the full story here.”

Gracie leaned forward and hugged Jeremy. “I’m sorry to put you in this position. They’re your friends too. I just needed to come by and talk to Michelle.”

He hugged her back and stroked her hair soothingly. “You’re always welcome here, Gracie. Michelle and I love you. Nothing will change that.”

“Of course not,” Michelle said firmly.

“I should get home,” Gracie said as she pulled away from Jeremy.

“You’re not going home in your condition,” Jeremy said. “You look exhausted. It’s four o’clock in the morning. You can crash on the couch and go home after you’ve rested.”

“I’m too tired to argue,” Gracie said.

Michelle stood up. “I’ll get you some pillows and a blanket. We’ll talk more in the morning when you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks, Chelle. I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

Michelle hugged her again then hurried toward the closet down the hall. She returned a few minutes later with the linens.

Gracie took them gratefully and made a comfortable spot on the couch. Jeremy and Michelle said their goodnights and disappeared into their bedroom.

Gracie sank wearily onto the couch and pulled the covers up to her chin. Dummy, dummy, dummy. She closed her eyes. She was even too tired to further castigate herself.

Chapter Thirteen

Luke pulled up to Jeremy and Michelle’s house and parked beside Gracie’s car. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when he mounted the steps to the front porch.Before he could knock, Jeremy opened the door and motioned for him to be quiet. He followed Jeremy inside and saw Gracie sound asleep on the couch.