Chapter Thirty Four

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Wes ~

Gracie was throwing back shots and drinks faster than anyone could pour them, and the sight made my stomach turn. She was overwhelmed and trying to numb the hurt that I had unintentionally caused and there was little to nothing I could do to stop her at the moment.

Her sad eyes would occasionally lock onto mine which was pure torture. Having to see her in pain, but having to keep my distance to respect her boundaries took every ounce of my self control.

I watched her sway in her chair and her eyes become glassy and hooded as she continued to drink and I had no choice but to intervene.

You can hate me if you want Gracie, but I'm not going to sit here and watch you give yourself alcohol poisoning.

"How about some water?" I offered as I approached the kitchen table.

Gracie narrowed her drunken eyes at me and I quickly realized that my opening line could have been chosen better.

"I'm fine." She said flatly, disliking my offer and the fact that I was so close to her when I had promised to stay away.

"You don't look fine." I mistakenly said, planting my foot in my own mouth again.

What a stupid fucking thing to say Wes. 

Recoiling her head with disgust and confusion, Gracie looked up at me and glared.

"Thanks?" She snapped.

The tension between us was so thick, I could feel it closing in on my lungs and I watched her facial expression change from anger to sadness.

I know you're not mad, you're just hurt. You're hurt and confused and all I want to do is fix it, but I don't know how.

She was quiet for a second or two, swirling her drink around in the red plastic cup as if she were trying to work up the courage to speak her mind.

"I want to believe you Wes..." She finally said, which was music to my fucking ears.

"But what I saw...what I heard...I just...I just need a little time."

I didn't respond, I just listened. Her drunken honesty was playing in my favor at the moment and I didn't want my big mouth to mess that up.

"I know Trisha is a liar." Gracie said confidently with the cutest angry scowl.

"And I want to believe that you're not a liar, but you've lied to girls before..."

She's doubting me. Please don't doubt me. My stupid past is biting me in the ass right now and I fucking hate it.

"You're right Gracie. I'm not proud of how I used to treat women...but I'd never lie to you Gracie. And I'd never cheat on you. You gotta believe me."

Her eyes softened and I could tell that deep down she believed me, but her trust issues weren't going to give up without a fight.

"I just need a little space." She said, squeezing her eyes shut as she swayed slightly in her seat.

Maggie reached out a steadied her, giving me a smile that said don't worry we'll take care of your girl.

"Alright. I can do space." I said reluctantly, placing a water bottle on the table in front of her before I retreated back to the beer pong tables with Chad and Blake, hoping she'd give her liver a break. 

I watched her like a hawk, tracking her everywhere she stumbled, counting her drinks and tamping down my deep need to take care of her.

Maggie and Mandy had helped her to the guest bathroom, giving me permission to let my guard down temporarily as Blake and I went out on the back porch. I lowered myself down onto a patio chair with an irritated thud, getting an endearing slap on the shoulder from Blake.

"That girl's head over heels for you man. She's just been through some shit."

I nodded at Blakes words, knowing that this was more about Gracie's issues with trust that it was about my actions. Either way it fucking sucked and I hated every second I spent in this weird relationship limbo.

We sat out there for a while with me occasionally glancing back into the house through the window, searching for Gracie's sweet face. Ten minutes turned to fifteen, and fifteen turned to twenty - still no sign of her.

Where the hell are they? Please tell me they didn't already leave and take her home.

Glancing down at my watch for the hundredth time, I made note of how long she'd been gone with a gut feeling that told me something was wrong.

About that time, I heard Mandy's panicked voice from the back door.

"Wes, we need you." Mandy said Frantically.

I was on my feet in seconds, deeply disliking the panic on her face.

"What's wrong?" I asked with my brows drawn in concern.

"Gracie locked the door to the bathroom and she's not answering us." Mandy said, leading me toward the guest bathroom.

"Fuck." I muttered under my breath as we reached the door together.

"Gracie?" I yelled loudly, knocking on the bathroom door.

No answer. Shit.

"Gracie, baby, answer me." I commanded firmly through the door, giving it a loud bang with my fist.

Nothing but silence and the sound of drunken party-goers in the background behind us.

I dropped down onto my stomach, sprawling out on the ground to try and see underneath the door, hoping to see her little feet, but seeing her entire body instead.

"Ah shit." I said as I righted myself on my feet and threw my shoulder into the door. We didn't have any sort of keys to the guest bathroom and I didn't have time to tamper with the lock. The door was going to come off its hinges because Gracie was lying unconscious on the bathroom floor.

It took three hard hits from my shoulder to bring the door down, grabbing it with my hands so it didn't fall on my girl, who was curled into a ball on the bathroom floor. I propped the door against the wall and dropped to my knees at Gracie's side, lifting her into my lap.

She's breathing. Thank fuck.

"Gracie, sweetheart open your eyes." I said loudly near her ear as her head flopped back against my chest.

Maggie ran some cold water on a towel and handed it to me quickly. I brushed the cold washcloth over Gracie's forehead and cheeks, trying to rouse her.

She let out a groan as I shifted her between my legs on the floor, which wasn't much, but it was still a response.

"Open those eyes for me, Gracie." I coached her, trying to get her to respond to me.

Her eyes fluttered open, but they were glazed and unfocused. She searched the room, letting those drunken eyes land on Maggie, then Mandy, then up at me.

"I'm gonna be sick." She groaned.

"Get sick then baby, I'm not going anywhere." I said, tilting her forward over the toilet and holding her hair at the base of her neck.

It was the truth, I didn't give a shit if she got sick. I just wanted her to be okay. I just wanted us to be okay. I'd sit with her on the floor all night if she needed me to.

"How can we help?" Mandy asked.

It felt good to know that Mandy still trusted me with Gracie and was going to let me take the lead and care for her.

"Towels. And grab some fresh clothes for her out of my room. Bottom drawer in my dresser is hers." I said, feeling Gracie lurch forward, but her little body didn't produce anything, it simply heaved and tensed.

We sat on the floor for almost an hour, leaning forward when she felt sick, then resting back against the wall once she was relaxed.

"I'm sad." Gracie admitted with her eyes cloudy and tear-filled. Her drunken little words cracked my heart in two and I hugged tightly from behind.

"How can I fix it Gracie?" I asked against her back.

"Just...stay." She whimpered.

Every man in Gracie's life had betrayed her. She had been abandoned by her drunken father, cheated on and abused by the only boyfriend she'd ever known. She needed stability and honesty. She needed me to show her that I wasn't them.

"I'm not going anywhere Darlin. You're my girl."

Her eyes started to blink slower and slower until they shut completely and didn't open again.

"I love being your girl." She whispered. 

*********

Sorry for the delay sweet readers! My life has been crazy lately! Love you! 


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