Read Just One Reason for Free Online Page B

list.  Once Leah and Josh and Ford found out I’m the crazy bitch who broke their friend’s heart five years ago, they wouldn’t want anything to do with me.
    “Lindsay?  Are you okay?  You look a little pale,” Leah said looking at me with a w orried expression on her face.
    “Um, yeah.   I’m fine.  I think I should probably get going though.”  I started to lower myself off the bar stool, but Leah grabbed my arm.  She was freakishly strong for being so tiny.
    “ Oh, no you don’t.  You’re not going anywhere until after we have something to eat.  I’m starving.  If Josh doesn’t get here soon there’s going to be hell to pay.”  As if on cue the front door opened and a guy I assumed to be Josh walked in.  His brown eyes lit up when he saw Leah, and I could see from here that he loved her very much.
    “Hey baby,” he said smoothly, coming over to hug Leah and run his hands over her huge belly.  “How are my two best girls today?”  I was pretty positive he wasn’t talking about me, so I assumed they knew they were having a girl.  Another twinge of sadness pulled at my heart, but I hid it behind a smile as Leah introduced me to Josh.
    “This is Lindsay.  She’s Lana’s niece and she’s going to be filling in for me while I’m off work.  And she’s my new best friend because she took me to get my nails done,” Leah giggled and wiggled her fingers and toes.
    Josh kissed her hand before reaching over to shake mine.  “It’s nice to meet you, Lindsay.”
    Josh helped Leah down so she could visit the ladies room, and he slid onto the stool she had vacated.  I sipped my drink while Ford set a beer down in front of Josh.  I smiled at Ford again and was pleasantly surprised when he nodded his head at me.  No smile, but at least he was no longer scowling.  I was making progress.  Oh, wait.  I momentarily forgot they were Grady’s friends, and I suddenly became aware that Josh was studying me intently.
    I glanced nervously at him as he took a swig of his beer.  He tipped the bottle toward me and asked, “You’re Lana’s niece?”
    “ Mmm hmm,” I replied, hoping he would stop there, but he didn’t.
    “ Are you Lana’s only niece?”
    Shit.  He knew who I was.  Oh, well.  I might as well get th is over with and just go home.
    “Yes, I’m Lana’s only niece.  And, yes, I am that Lindsay.”  He frowned and opened his mouth to say something else, but Leah appeared between us and linked her arm through mine.
    “Come on, guys.  Let’s go sit at a table and decide what we want to eat.”
    “You ladies go ahead.  I need to make a quick call and then I’ll join you,” Josh said to us.  My legs were unsteady as I followed Lindsay to a table near the front of the pub.  I kept looking back to Josh as he dialed his phone and held it to his ear.  I knew who he was calling, and I could tell that he didn’t get through when he shoved his phone back in his pocket a moment later.  I also knew I should leave now, right this very second.  I should walk out the door, pack up my shit and go back to the city.
    But something held me here, made me sit down at the table.  Leah grabbed a menu for herself and dropped another one down in front of me.  I didn’t even bother opening it.  My appetite was nonexistent right now.  Josh and Ford were talking at the bar, and when Ford glanced in our direction I knew they were talking about me.  Leah rattled off some of her favorite things on the menu and started debating what she was craving tonight.
    A moment later Leah was still talking, but I had no idea what she was saying.  The air around me had changed and all the breath left my lungs.  My focus was suddenly on the front door and who just walked through it.
    I had caught only a quick glimpse of Grady my first day here as he drove away on his motorcycle, and I was surprised at how different he looked.  Now that he was standing only fifteen feet away from me , I took in his