Take Me with You (Take Me #2)(69)

“He is,” I told him confidently.

“I can see that. Maybe you should come back inside and talk to Mom and Dad one more time. I think they’ll see that eventually, too.”

I shook my head. “I’d rather not.”

Grant and I exchanged a look, and he nodded his head in agreement.

“Suit yourself.” Then, my brother did the unthinkable.

He stretched his hand out, and Grant put his hand in Aaron’s and shook it firmly.

“Nice show, man.”

Grant gave him a long hard look before answering, “Thanks.”

Just like that, it was as if some kind of truce had been drawn. I didn’t have my parents’ approval. I didn’t have Aaron’s approval. But the worst was over.

“So, your brother sort of came around,” Grant said sometime later as I drove him back to the hotel where the tour bus was parked.

My eyes widened, and I slowly shook my head. “I must have really shocked them when I told them about what Henry had done.”

He entwined our fingers, brought my hand to his lips, and kissed it. “Come with me,” he said, changing the subject.

“I’ve heard that before.”

His eyes crinkled with delight. “You’ll hear it again, too, darlin’. I mean, come on the rest of the tour with me. You’re done with classes. I want you with me.”

The way he’d said darlin’ jolted me and reminded me of the very thing I’d been avoiding thinking or talking about—his father. I hadn’t told Grant about his father approaching me. I’d been waiting this whole time for the right moment to tell him in person, but it hadn’t come out. Between finally being back together and my parents, the weekend had been packed. But soon, he would be leaving again. He needed to know.

“Ari?” he asked, squeezing my hand. “I was joking. I mean, I do want you to be on tour with us, but I don’t want you to freak out.”

“No, I’m not. There’s just something we need to talk about.”

He stiffened. “Haven’t we had enough heavy conversation today?”

“I know. But…I’ve wanted to tell you this. I didn’t know how.” I pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and parked the car. I popped my door and got out of the Mercedes I’d borrowed from my parents.

Grant came around the car and took my hand. “Come on. We’ll talk inside.”

“No, let’s stay out here.”

No one was outside right now, and I wanted the space to be able to tell him this.

“This doesn’t sound good, Princess.”

I turned and faced him with my hands splayed in front of me. “I talked to your dad.”

Grant froze. “You did what?”

“And I called the cops.”

“What?”

“I know,” I gasped out. “I know. You were right. They said there was nothing they could do unless I had been threatened or harmed in some way.”

“I f*cking told you they were worthless. But how the hell could you keep this from me?”

I’d known this was coming. “Let me explain to you what happened. Your dad came to my house and left his phone number with Cheyenne when I wasn’t home. I never contacted him back, but then after finals, right before I flew up here, he showed up at my place.”

“Fuck, Ari! He showed up at your apartment?”

“He wanted me to convince you to talk to him.”

“I’m not f*cking doing that!”

I threw my hands up. “I told him I wouldn’t convince you, that he had no right to talk to you.”

“Let me guess. He insisted?”

“Yes. I just”—I sighed heavily—“I worry he’s never going to stop trying to get in contact with you. I don’t want to play into his hands, Grant. But maybe if you saw him and heard him out, then you could tell him that you never want to see him again, and this nightmare could be over.”

“That is never going to happen,” he growled. “I’m not f*cking stupid enough to think if I hear him out once, then he won’t try to kill me…or you. And he already knows about you, Ari. I can’t keep you safe. I know I was joking before, but come on tour with me.”

I shook my head. I wanted that, but I wasn’t dependent on my boyfriend. And we weren’t ready in our relationship to spend every minute of every day together. “You know I can’t.”

“I need to keep you safe.”

“He didn’t try to hurt me or threaten me or anything. He seemed kind of crazy but not like he’d hurt me.”

“That’s how he wanted to appear. You’re dealing with a trained ex-military criminal.”

“I know, Grant. I just want things to go back to normal. I don’t want to live in fear that he’s going to come after me…or you.” An unbidden tear slid down my cheek.

“Oh, Ari,” he sighed. He cupped my cheeks in his hands and swiped the tear away with his thumb. “We’re going to figure this out.” He gently kissed me on the lips. “I can’t have you in danger. If I have to confront him and all my demons to make sure you’re safe, then I’ll do it. I’ll do it for you.”

Two weeks later, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.