Page 14 (2/2)

"What do youwith na&iu this conversation with her I didn’t want to talk about Deacon with Deacon, let alone Grey

One of Grey’s eyebrows rose slowly, and I knew in the look she gaveclueless "Charlie"

"What?" I asked defensively when she didn’t continue "There isn’t anything going on between us, I don’t knohy you’re even asking"

"No? So I was i fro your car?"

"What host--"

"And then I guess I just thought I saw you give hiest ht?"

"Guess so"

"So then that alsoa complete asshole to you last weekend?"

My head had been dipping in a nod, but froze halfway I sed my curse and any other response I may have had, and stared blankly at a spot on the floor as Grey waited for an answer I wouldn’t give her

"Right; that’s what I thought What is going on between you and Deacon?"

"Nothing"

"Charlie--"

"Nothing, Grey There is nothing going on between us, just drop it" My voice was now a plea and a whisper An indication that I was uncoh the air above

"Graham told me what Deacon said to you last weekend"

I bit down on a s you like that?"

I shrugged, and thewas practically glowing noaving more wildly than ever

"You know--"

"I don’t need you to try to be h that the words didn’t coh, I just want you to be my friend and sister-in-law"

"I don’t want to be your mom, but I want you to talk to me I don’t like that there has been a" She trailed off, and seemed to search the space between us for her next words for a moment "I don’t like that there’s been a disconnect between us ever since what happened between you and Ben There are times you still talk to ave you a long tio, so I feel like we should already be back to where ere But a lot of times, I feel like I still have to pull information from you Like now"

The ache in her voice and on her face hurthindering our friendship I had thought that once everything caotten better

My brow pinched "There isn’t a disconnect between us, Grey," I assured her "This--what’s going on with Deacon--it’s just different You’re so close with him, and Iwell, I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it I didn’t even knohy--" I closed my mouth quickly before the words, I didn’t even knohy he’d been treating ue