Fall From Grace by Amanda Cerreto

Author:Amanda Cerreto
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, paranormal, young adult
Publisher: Amanda Cerreto

Chapter Twenty-Four

Grace

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but when I woke up we were wrapped in blankets on the ground. I was lying on Jack’s chest, and his face was buried in my hair.

“I should get you home,” he murmured.

“Not yet,” I said, stretching a little before curling up into a ball. His hands stroked my back, giving me a wonderfully cold sensation.

“It’s late,” he said, but he didn’t move. I buried my head deeper into his chest and listened to him breathe.

“Thank you,” I said. My voice was muffled in his chest, but I know he heard me.

“Don’t thank me for anything,” he said quietly. I paused, trying to discern his tone. He sounded almost angry. I lifted my head and looked at him questioningly.

“What…?”

“Nothing,” he said heavily. “I just think we may have gotten a little carried away, that’s all.”

“So…you regret it?” I asked uncertainly.

“No, I…” he trailed off, biting his lower lip. I could feel the tears coming on, but I cast away the hurt and focused on my mounting anger instead.

“Then why didn’t you stop me?” I asked, feeling around and snatching my clothes toward me.

“Grace, it’s not like that. It’s just that…”

I waited impatiently, hot anger radiating from my skin. “It’s just what? Just say it; I’m a big girl.”

“It’s going to make it that much harder, in the end,” he said with awful finality.

“What do you mean, in the end?” I asked in confusion. “The end of what?”

“You’re going to Columbia in a few months, Gracie!” he said in desperation. “You’re going to move on with your life.”

Underneath my anger, I felt a familiar ripple of shock at his use of the word Gracie. My cousin used to call me that. But I cast it aside and continued.

“So then this means nothing?”

“No! Please, just calm down,” Jack pleaded, reaching out for my hands. I yanked them away and pulled on the rest of my clothes.

“I don’t even know if I’ll end up at Columbia,” I snapped. “What’s the point, anyway? Is there any purpose in me going at all?”

“Grace, you have a great purpose in life. Believe me. And me…well, I’m just messing it up for you. I’m getting in your way,” he said quietly. He grabbed me to stop my frantic pacing and looked at me. His eyes were full of concern…or maybe it was pity?

“Just take me home, then,” I said, dropping my chin and refusing to look at him. Rejection was washing over me in colossal waves, and with each swell it hurt more. My heart was beating hard and fast, and it hurt my ribs. I needed to get away.

“Come on, Grace. Let’s just talk a minute.”

“Take me home,” I insisted, tugging the towels from under where he was still sitting and tossing them toward the car, “or give me the keys.”

He gave me a long, sad look and extended his arm, the keys dangling from his hand. Still avoiding his eyes, I took the keys and walked away from him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.