Page 29 (1/2)

"He saw so in her before," I said simply

Blaire stood besideGrant likes to fix things When I first caone But Grantwhen I woke up, I orried about hoas going to afford to get gas so I could find a job When I got to my truck, there was a note on it froas It’s just who he is Nan is broken and she isn’t fixable Grant figured that out He has you and he isn’t going tomy eyes I knew Blaire’s history She’d come here alone, lost but brave The fact that Grant had ripped the railing hard and closed my eyes I would not cry

"I’m in love with him," I admitted, in a whisper so loasn’t sure she heard me I hoped she hadn’t as soon as I said it

"I know It’s all over you when you’re with him But he’s in love with you, too I’ve never seen hiht of Rush and the way he protected Blaire The possessive gleam in his eyes, and the way he kept her so close to hi exceptional, and I had read too many romances I wanted that, too I hadn’t realized it was real until I had seen Rush with Blaire

That kind of love wasn’t a fantasy It was real

"I want the fantasy I want him to love me the way Rush loves you"

Blaire leaned into me and bumped my shoulder with hers "He’s headed that way if he isn’t there already You’ve gotten under his skin"

"He hasn’t told me he loves me," I told her

"He will," she replied "When he’s brave enough, he’ll tell you"

I tried to believe that I wanted to believe that

"All my life I’ve seen my dad screw around o I worried that love wasn’t real, or if it was that I didn’t have the right genetic makeup to love like you love Rush I had never been in love I was so guarded I worried that I wouldn’t love because my father couldn’t love Thenthen I saw him with" I stopped I didn’t know if I wanted to share this with Blaire I wasn’t sure if I wanted to ever share what I had seen "He loves h she can’t speak or move, he wants to be near her He brushes her hair" That fact still baffled uess is that you’re just like your mother She inspired that kind of love and devotion from a rock star who could have anyone he wanted It’s a special gift, and you need to learn to trust that you’re worthy of that love Give Grant tis out, and I believe he’s worth waiting for"

I nodded She was right He orth it I had to stop doubting hiht Another trait I had that I hated I was insecure Painfully so It was ti life with Grant or not But I wanted him I wanted this to be my life When it was over, I wanted to know I had this

It was time I told him my secret He deserved to know

•

Three hours later,as I sat curled up on the Finlays’ sofa Blaire had gone upstairs earlier when Nate had started crying She said he was used to Rush rocking hiive hi it was Grant

"Hey, you still at Rush’s?" he asked

"Yes," I replied

"Good I have to get Nan inside and ets into bed Doctor says she needs to be woken up every hour She’s got a pretty bad concussion I’ll co to dwell on the fact he was putting her to bed I was stronger than that "Okay," I replied

"Harlow?" he said, the concern in his voice obvious

"Yes"

"I’ She’s just Rush’s little sister Okay?"

"I know"

Grant let out a frustrated sigh "I’ll be there in a few minutes I swear"

"I’ up

The front door opened and Rush ca room then stopped, backtracked, and looked at me "Hey, you’re still here," he said

"Yeah Grant just called"

"I needed his help tonight That’s the only reason he did this"

"I know," I said, even if I didn’t coet it