Higher Octave (Heavy Influence #2.5) by Ann Marie Frohoff Page B

how long I stared at the pictures in a trance, but a knock at
the door rattled me to wake up. I sat there for a long moment,
hoping the person would go away. Only three people knew where I
lived, and all would have called before coming over. But the person
didn’t go away, and kept knocking. My throat closed thinking it
might have been Mr. Todd again.
    When I opened the door I was shocked to shit
to see Grace standing there. “What are you doing here? You okay?” I
stepped toward her, searching her face.
    Concern leaked out of her
eyes. “Are you okay?”
    “Where’s Ethan?”
    “He’s at home, with Ester.”
    “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” I backed inside
the door. “Come, come in.”
    Grace passed me, wringing her hands. “I
wanted to talk more, but Ethan…”
    “I know, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to act
that way.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”
    She followed me into the living room, and I
collapsed on the sofa next to the Sienna stuff. “This is the book.”
I held up the bound stack of white papers. “And this is her and her
sis.” I tossed the pictures onto the table, and Grace reached for
them as she sat down next to me.
    Embarrassment filled me. I still couldn’t
believe I tried to kiss her goodbye in front of her kid. “Grace,
I’m really sorry. Ethan shouldn’t be witness to shit like that, I
know better…I swear I know better.”
    “It’s okay.”
    I sunk down into my seat, pulling my hair,
and flung my legs up on to the coffee table with a loud thud. “It’s
a tough pill to swallow. You know.” I threw my hand out to her.
“You plan your life, and then it all goes to shit. Just like that.”
I felt stupid for comparing my life to hers, because there was no
comparison at all. “You know what I’m trying to get at. It’s all
relative.”
    I glanced over to Grace. She looked so
pretty, staring at me with deep, caring eyes that pulled me in.
“Grace, you shouldn’t be here. I…”
    “What do you mean?” She looked away from me,
running her hands over her thighs, smoothing her dress. “I’m sorry.
I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You were pretty upset,
and you said you’ve always had a hard time dealing…”
    “I know,” I sighed heavily. She was
referring to my drug problem. “I’m okay now.” My arms fell to my
sides and I took Grace in with my eyes.
    She really shouldn’t be here.
    And as if she read my mind, she said words
that warmed my heart. “I want to be here, Jake.” Her voice was low,
soft and sweet. She shook her head. “I know I shouldn’t be here
either, but I want to be here…right now, I want to be here.” She
sat up straight. “What are you going to do?”
    “I don’t know. I mean, I
have a plan, but I don’t really want to talk about it right now.” I
reached over to her and took her hand. I wanted to, I needed to hold her. I
needed her to hold me back.
    She scooted closer to me, then hesitated and
took my chin in her other hand. “Just for now.” Then she covered
her lips with her fingers, as if shocked at hearing her own words.
I pulled her to me.
    “Yeah,” I agreed. She curled up next to me,
resting her head in the crook of my neck. Her warmth sent a
comforting sensation through me, spreading like fire, melting away
the cold emptiness I’d been feeling.
    Just for now, this felt right.