Tell Me It’s Right (Sweetspire #1)

Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

GRACIE

“You know, I actually really, really hate surprises.”

Carson huffs from the driver’s seat beside me. “Well, I love them, so stop complaining.”

She swats away my hands before I can mess with the blindfold again.

“Oh, silly me. Here I was thinking it was my birthday.”

“And if left to your own devices, you would’ve spent the day cooped up in bed reading a book.”

I mean, I don’t see the problem with that.

The car jerks as she hits a curb, and my hands fly out to steady myself against the door.

“Whoops!” she giggles.

We’ve already been driving for at least fifteen minutes based on the number of songs on the radio I’ve counted. She didn’t tell me anything about what she has planned for tonight. Just the time she’d pick me up.

I might be giving her a hard time about it, but it was actually pretty touching that she remembered the day, let alone wanted to spend it with me. We used to spend all of our birthdays together growing up, but it’s been years. And even though the past few months of rekindling that friendship has been going well, it still feels like we’re finding our footing again.

Aside from a few happy birthday texts from my long-distance college friends, I wasn’t expecting much more than something small and casual with my family.

Well, until a text came in shortly after I woke up.

Liam: Outside your window.

Sure enough, when I pushed the hopper window aside, I found a small box sitting on a towel like he was worried about the package getting dirty.

I’d grinned like an idiot as I brought it inside, but that was nothing compared to when I opened it. The card alone would’ve been enough.

Gracie,

Having you around is the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.

Happy Birthday.

Liam

I gently opened the tissue paper, revealing a new strap for my camera. It was bright and colorful—all pinks and blues and purples, like watercolors. As I ran it between my hands, I realized smaller designs were interspersed among the colors—ocean waves, seagulls, hearts, stacks of books, and in the corner, almost too faint to see, were Liam’s initials.

I should’ve recognized it from the style of art immediately.

He designed it. He drew the whole thing. Like one of those complex sleeves he tattoos on his clients, all of the images complemented each other and blended seamlessly together, all individually detailed and stunning, but when you zoomed out, it was a perfect, coherent picture.

How long had he been working on this?

“Gracieeeee. You’re not spiraling right now, are you?”

I blink back to the car—or, well, the darkness of my blindfold. “Of course not. Just because I don’t need to talk as much as I breathe like you do.”

She chokes out a laugh. “Okay, birthday girl. I’ll let you have that shot. But only that one. Did Leo do something for you this morning? He better have.”

“He took me out for brunch.”

“Oooo, yum. Waffles and mimosas?”

“Obviously. Are we almost there?”

“ Mom, are we there yet? ” she teases.

“I’m starting to think you don’t have plans for us at all and this is an actual kidnapping.”

“Take a breath, Chicken Little, we’re here.” The car slows to a stop as she says it, and beyond the hum of the radio, I pick up the distinct crunch of gravel beneath her tires.

“Can I take this off?” I reach for the blindfold, but she swats my hand away again.

“Not yet!”

“My makeup is probably all smeared now,” I mumble as she opens my door for me.

“It’s silk. You’re fine.”

She helps me down from the car, then loops an arm around me as she guides me forward. My high heels sink into what is definitely gravel beneath us, and the cool night air raises a chill on my bare legs.

Carson insisted on a dress, so wherever she’s taking me, it must be nicer than the usual bars around here. I lost track of time in the car, but it felt like we were driving for at least twenty minutes, plenty of time to get out of town.

The air smells like it’s going to rain, but it’s less salty here, like we’re farther away from the water. It’s also quiet. No music, no voices, no cars. So not at a bar or a restaurant.

Carson keeps one hand on my elbow, the other on my back, as she leads me forward. “Step up,” she instructs. “Just two steps.”

Whatever I climb onto—a porch?—groans under our weight.

I stop walking.

“Almost there,” she says.

I cock my head to the side. That groan sounded awfully familiar.

I had a feeling the second she pulled that blindfold out this was a surprise party situation. My parents were a little too encouraging about me spending today with friends instead of them.

Carson hurries me forward like she can tell I’m figuring it out.

The sound of a doorknob turning, then a soft surface replaces the wood that was under my heels a moment ago. Carson stops me with her hands on my shoulders, then unties the scarf.

“Surprise!”

I blink, my eyes fighting to adjust to the light as a chorus of voices surrounds me.

Everyone is crowded in my parents’ living room—Leo, Keava, Mom, Dad, even Grandma in her wheelchair.

As well as my friends.

I stare blankly at Trish, Marti, and Alison, who popped up from behind the couch in sparkly dresses and ridiculous pointed party hats.

“I—what are you guys doing here?”

“Your mom called,” says Trish as she rushes forward to give me a hug. “We were planning on surprising you for your birthday anyway, so it was perfect!”

She knocks the wind out of me with the force of her hug, and I pat her a few times, noticing Liam for the first time lingering behind the rest.

“Happy birthday!” adds Marti as she and Alison pile in for a group hug.

“Oh, me too! Me too!” Carson jumps into the mix, and then I’m just a trapped sardine.

And what should be a happy, carefree moment is instantly soured when I meet Marti’s eyes. Wide and brown as usual, but there’s a noticeable concern to them.

Because they must know.

Whether they put it together themselves or from talking to my family, all it would take is the smallest tug of a thread for my mountain of lies from this summer to come crumbling down.

“Come on, come on, let’s show you around!” squeals Carson, oblivious, and hooks her arm through mine.

She leads me to the dining room first, where the table is elaborately set up with flowers, string lights, and pink and white balloons full of confetti. Little display towers full of treats are interspersed between the decorations—Rice Krispies treats, donuts, cake pops. I meet Mom’s eyes over my shoulder and smile. It must have taken her days, if not a week, to bake all of this.

“I’ll get the drinks!” offers Dad. “We got sparkling rosé, your favorite! We set up the firepit and projector out back so you guys can watch a movie later, if you want to.”

Leo and Liam jump in to help pass the champagne flutes around, and once everyone has one, they turn to me.

I groan internally. If this is about to turn into an embarrassing speech thing…

But thankfully, Mom takes the reins. “To Gracie! Happy twenty-third! Cheers!”

I clink my glass against Carson’s on one side and Trish’s on my other, but it’s Liam’s eyes across the circle I keep going back to. Judging by the distance he’s keeping between us, he hasn’t talked to Leo.

“Dinner will be served in about an hour,” announces Dad. “The first course, at least.”

“First course?” I demand.

He exchanges a conspiratorial smile with Mom before the two of them disappear into the kitchen.

Leo crosses the room to me and nods for me to turn around. “You need to open my gift before the sun goes down.” He keeps nudging between my shoulders until I follow him to the front door.

“Why is it outside?” I ask. Even once we reach the porch, he keeps pushing me forward. “If this is some kind of prank and you’re just locking me out of the house, I swear to God, Leo?—”

I stop short as he jogs ahead of me, pauses in the center of the driveaway, and leaps around with his hands held wide like he’s presenting something. Other than a packed lawn full of cars, I don’t see anything.

Leo lets out a dramatic exhale at whatever he sees on my face. “Oh, come on.” He waves impatiently for me to join him. “You know how many hours I had to put in to rebuild this thing? Don’t tell me you don’t like the color or something.”

“Wait, the car ?” Despite Leo living and breathing engines and all that mechanical stuff that might as well be an alien language, I don’t know the first thing about cars. But this one?

It’s black and that perfect size between a sedan and SUV. I can already tell with a peep through the window that it’s nicer than the car I had in college.

“This is my present? Don’t mess with me, Leo.”

He grins. “So you do like it.”

“Like it…oh my God, Leo!” I throw my arms around his waist and tug him into a hug. With me living rent-free in his house for months now, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he hadn’t gotten me anything at all. “This is amazing. I can’t believe you built this. Thank you so much.”

He pats me awkwardly on the top of the head. “Now you can stop stealing mine. And with the weather cooling off here pretty soon, didn’t want you stuck with just a bike.”

I pull away and smirk at the way he’s avoiding eye contact now.

I nudge him with my shoulder. “Love you too, bro.”

The next hour passes quickly as I catch up with everyone, sip wine, and devour a few too many chocolate-covered strawberries. We take about a million pictures until everyone has something they’re happy with to post on social media—with the drinks, with the decorations, with each other. But what I’m most looking forward to is the cake reveal. Mom’s something of an artist with all baking, but especially cakes. I’m expecting nothing short of a masterpiece.

I’m starting to think Liam isn’t going to talk to me one-on-one tonight at all until I’m refilling my drink alone in the kitchen and he walks in behind me.

“Hey,” he says quietly as he props a hip against the counter.

I peer at him out of the corner of my eye. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry about Leo. I didn’t want to ruin today for you in case it didn’t go well. I promise, I’m talking to him first thing tomorrow.”

I nod slowly and sip my drink. It makes sense. It’s logical. So then why doesn’t it lessen the knot in my stomach that’s been there since the other day at the beach with Leo? If I’m really being honest with myself, it’s been there long before that.

“Gracie.” His touch ghosts along the small of my back. “Are we okay? If you’d rather I talk to him right now, I’ll do it.”

I sigh and let myself lean into his touch. “No, you’re right. I just…I’m feeling worse and worse about hiding this from him.”

“I am too. I promise.” He ducks his head until I look at him straight on, and he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You look beautiful. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to show up for you tonight the way I wanted to.”

“I get it. And thank you for the gift this morning. It was really nice.”

His thumb trails down my cheek. High heels clank against the tile behind him, growing louder. He drops his hand just as Carson appears around the corner.

“Time for dinner!” she says with a smile that lets me know she was definitely eavesdropping.

Liam heads out first, but she grabs my arm before I can follow him.

“Carson…” I start under my breath.

But all she says is “ Nice work, Collins” before leading us both to the dining room.

Mom is lingering in the opposite doorway as I step inside. She nods for me to follow her to the front room, where Dad and Grandma are already waiting.

“We’ve already set the table,” she says. “Would you mind too much if you get started without us?”

“We need to get Grandma back to the nursing home,” Dad adds, one hand on his mother’s shoulder. “It’s been a long day for her.”

I wave them off. “Of course.”

Grandma is all but asleep in her chair already, but I kneel down to her level and gently pull her into a hug. “It was so good to see you, Grandma. I love you.”

“Oh! Gracie Belle!” She chuckles as she pats me on the back, then lets out a surprised gasp as I pull back. “You’re beautiful .”

I squeeze her hands. “Of course I am. I look like you.”

She explodes in a fit of giggles, and I lean forward to kiss her cheek.

“It shouldn’t take long,” Mom says behind me. “We’ll be back before the second course.”

After all the snacking everyone’s done for the past hour, I’m not sure how any of us are going to make it through the first.

I wave goodbye, then hurry to my spot at the head of the table when I realize everyone’s been patiently waiting for me to get started. The plates are already filled with street tacos, and despite my not being very hungry, my mouth starts watering at the sight of them. The same could be said for everyone else, apparently, because the room lapses into silence, save for the clank of dishes as everyone inhales their food.

“You said you have movies set up?” asks Carson on my right. “Which ones?”

Leo shrugs from the opposite head of the table. “Whatever you guys want.”

“So a romcom then.” Marti shoots me a knowing smile, and Trish laughs beside her.

“You guys can’t make fun of me on my birthday. It’s against the rules.”

“I agreed to no such rules,” says Carson as she sips her wine.

“Gracie, I’ve been meaning to ask you,” says Alison on my left as she finishes her own glass, “how’s the new job and everything going?”

“It’s, uh, it’s been good.” I fight to keep my voice light, but the tightness in my throat ruins it.

“What magazine did you say it was again?”

“Magazine?” asks Keava.

Trish elbows Alison beneath the table, and she sends her a questioning look. Carson grimaces and sinks a little lower in her chair.

“Can we talk about this later?” I say under my breath.

Alison cocks her head. I can’t tell if she’s having one of her semi-bitchy moments and doing this on purpose, or if she genuinely hasn’t picked up on what Marti and Trish clearly have. “Um, what about the new boyfriend?” she asks instead. “I was kind of hoping we’d get to meet him here! Do you guys have plans for tomorrow instead or something?”

“Boyfriend?” asks Leo.

Jesus fucking Christ. I swallow hard, my face on fire as I feel all eyes at the table on me. Well, I’ve been wondering when it would all come crashing down, and it looks like this is it. It’s already twice as mortifying as I thought it would be. It feels like one of my nightmares, standing on stage in a packed auditorium, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

“I, um?—”

The room feels kind of fuzzy, and I realize I’m breathing too fast. My fight or flight response is screaming at me to get up and run. I lock eyes with Liam across the table. I can’t quite read that look on his face. His brow tight and jaw set off to the side like he’s…deciding something. Before I can stand, he does.

“That would be me.” He holds my gaze for a second longer before turning to Alison and extending a hand. “Don’t think we had a chance to meet earlier. I’m Liam.”

I stop breathing.

Alison says something I don’t hear. My attention is now locked on Leo, whose face has gone scarily blank as he looks between me and Liam.

Mercifully, Keava jumps in. “I think we could all use a break before any more food, yeah? We already have the seats set up out back. Girls, can a few of you give me a hand, and we’ll take some drinks out there?”

Her eyes are on Marti, Trish, and Alison, and though they barely know Keava, even they can tell it isn’t a suggestion. Carson takes one look at Leo currently glaring at Liam and jumps up from her seat too.

“I’ll help!”

Once everyone else is outside, Keava hesitates at the door, one hand extended toward me. “You too, Gracie.”

“I’m good here.”

Her fake smile disappears, and she jerks her head roughly to the side.

I meet Liam’s eyes, and he nods.

Keava ushers me outside and closes the sliding glass door behind us, but I break free of her hold before she can pull me away.

“Leo…” starts Liam, his voice muffled through the door. “I was going to tell you.”

I wince. Not a great start. I should’ve stayed in there. Liam’s never been the best with words. Keava tries to pull me away.

“You know, this involves me too,” I snap.

“I know,” she says softly and drops her hand. “Just…just give them a minute.”

I strain my ear, wondering if they’re speaking too quietly to hear, but no, I think Leo is being silent.

“I’m really sorry it came out like that. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. We just—I was planning on telling you tomorrow?—”

“No.”

The cold firmness in Leo’s voice stops Liam midsentence.

Liam sighs. “Leo?—”

“ No ,” Leo repeats, louder, harder. “You promised me, you promised me , you would never go there with her.”

Liam sputters. “That was—that was in high school.”

I blink, stunned. High school? Why was that even a topic of discussion back then?

“She’s not like all the other girls you’ve burned through after Hailey, okay? She won’t survive you, don’t you understand that?”

A jolt runs through me, my cheeks flaming. I’m not sure what part of that sentence does it.

All the other girls you’ve burned through .

Or she won’t survive you , like I’m some sort of na?ve, breakable child.

“This isn’t like that at all, Leo. Do you really think I would’ve gone there with her if this meant nothing to me?”

“I have no idea. Clearly, I have no idea who you are or what you’re capable of?—”

“Leo, come on. You know me. You’re being unreasonable.”

A hand brushes my arm and I jump, thinking it’s Keava trying to pull me away again. But Trish gives me a sheepish smile as she edges forward, clearly trying to hear too. The other girls aren’t far behind.

“Am I?” Leo all but barks out a laugh. “I don’t think I am. Because if you honestly believed that, if you really saw nothing wrong with what you’re doing, you wouldn’t have kept it a secret. How long have you been lying to me? How long have you two been doing this behind my back, huh?”

“Leo, I’m sorry ?—”

“How long?” he demands. “Is this why you gave her a job? So you two could have an excuse to sneak around?”

“No. No . Gracie’s damn good at her job, you know that.” There’s a pause, then quietly: “We didn’t…it wasn’t until around the Fourth of July.”

“Nearly a month ? I can’t fucking believe this,” Leo mutters. “You’re supposed to be my best friend.”

“And you’re supposed to be mine, Leo. Yeah, I feel bad that you found out this way, and maybe I should’ve told you sooner, but do you really think so little of me that this would be the worst thing in the world?”

God, the hurt in his voice cuts straight into my heart. I don’t realize I’m stepping forward until Trish tightens her hand around my arm. She widens her eyes and shakes her head.

“She’s my little sister, Liam. And you’re no good for her.”

“Maybe I could be.”

A beat of silence passes, then quieter, Leo says, “For your own sake, Liam, I hope you can change, but you’re not going to do it with Gracie.”

“It’s really not up to you to make that call.”

“I cannot believe you?—”

“I love her, Leo. I’m in love with her.”

There’s a long, agonizing stretch of silence.

Had I heard him right? Did he really just say…?

“You need to leave,” Leo says coldly.

“Leo—”

“Now. Don’t make me throw you out. I can’t even fucking look at you.”

I shake Trish off and shove the door open.

Leo barely spares me a glance as he paces along the wall. “Not now, Gracie.”

“Don’t you dare not now me as if this has nothing to do with me. I actually think this has nothing to do with you , but you’re making it all about you!”

He stops midstep. Stares at me. God, I wish it were a glare. Wish he looked angry, that he’d yell some more.

The surprised hurt on his face is gutting.

Liam is staring intently at the floor, every line of his face pulled tightly together.

“If you want me to get on board with this,” Leo says lowly. “I’m not going to. And that should mean something to you, Gracie. When have I ever not looked out for you?”

“Don’t let this ruin your night, Gracie. I’ll go.”

Liam heads for the door without another word, and I stare at my brother, silently pleading with him.

But he says nothing. Does nothing.

It isn’t until the front door closes behind Liam that I make up my mind.

I go after him.

“Gracie!” calls Leo.

I slam the door behind me.