Fall From Grace(27)

I desperately wanted to change the subject.  Why would I want to talk about Shane?  Why did everyone around him feel the need to justify the things he does or says to me?  “Talking about rock stars, I heard that you play the guitar.” I smiled.

Both his eyebrows raised in a questioning look.  “I don’t play often anymore.  Where did you hear that?”

“Tonight.  When the guys were freaking out about what they were going to do about Alex not being able to play.  One of the things they said was that maybe you’d help them out, since you used to play with them.”  I signaled the bartender for another round.

He sighed, “Yeah, but I told them that Friday was out because I have a date.  I don’t want to cancel on you, Grace.”

“Oh.  Well, we could make it another night if you’d like to help them.”

Tucker searched my face, I didn’t know what he was looking for, but his eyes lingered on my lips the longest.  “I would still have to audition for the jerks on Thursday.”

I downed another shot.  Numb.  I just wanted to be numb.  Give Tucker a chance.  I wish Jacob were here, so I could have someone to tell about what Gabriel told me.  “I wouldn’t mind going out another time, Tucker, really.”

“Would you like to go out another night this week?  How about Wednesday?  I could pick you up at like six?”

“That sounds great, Tucker,” I lied.

He brought his hand up to my face and caressed my cheek with his hand.  “You are so beautiful.”

I grabbed another shot and welcomed the numbness.  I turned around to walk back and join everyone at the table.  Shane was watching me, looking forlorn and sad.  My heart sank.  I don’t care, I don’t care, I won’t care.

“Hey, Tucker,” I said pulling him back.  “I think I’m going to go on home.”  I didn’t want to be near Shane.  I didn’t want to ever see such sadness on a beautiful face.  And I didn’t like feeling that it had something to do with me and I wanted to comfort him.

“Sure, Grace.  I’ll go get your coat and I’ll take you home.  Are you okay?”

My eyes still held Shane’s.  “Yeah, Tucker.  You know, I was just thinking about how I’d like to be somewhere else with you and not have an audience.”  I took my eyes off Shane’s and looked up at Tucker smiling.  I needed to give him a chance.

His eyes widened slightly and I swear he licked his lips.  “That…that sounds like the best idea I have ever heard.  I’ll be right back.”  He ran to get our jackets and I started for the door.   I have to give him a chance.

Tucker walked me towards his apartment building, but instead of taking me inside, he walked me up to a little red Jaguar XKR. He opened the passenger door and motioned for me to get in.

“Your car?  You okay to drive?” I asked as I sighed in relief.  I wanted to give Tucker a chance, but the thought of going back to his apartment scared the hell out of me.  So I jumped into the car, going for a ride somewhere would be perfect.

“I’m absolutely fine.  I thought we could go for a drive,” he replied.

The interior of the car smelled like leather and a little too much cologne.  I coughed, and my eyes stung.

“Wow, Tucker.  This is a really nice car.  I take it the lawyer racket pays well?” I joked.

Pulling out into the street, he turned and chuckled along with me.  “You can definitely say that.  Working for my father’s firm, I’ll be his partner within a year.  So my future is pretty much set.”  He threw in a hearty laugh, “I just started looking for houses on Long Island. I think I need to get a little break from living with the guys.  Some of us have matured a tad more than others.”