Ransom Drysdale - State of Grace ✔️

Chapter 9

Linda grabbed Ransom's arm, "son don't."

He ignored her caution, pulling his arm away as he approached the table. He could see the guilty look on his face as he grabbed Tyler by the collar of his shirt, pulling him to his feet. "What are you doing here?"

Tyler scoffed, "it's none of your business. Let me go."

Ransom looked around before releasing his collar, "you tell her about this, or I will."

Tyler watched Ransom turn away from him, "as if you aren't helping yourself to Grace while she's spending all her time babysitting you. It's your fault I have to cheat."

Ransom stopped, clenching his jaw as he turned back to Tyler, his fist making contact with his left eye. "It's no one's fault but your own. And trust me, she wouldn't still be with you if she were sleeping with me." Ransom rolled his eyes, putting his hands up as he was escorted out of the restaurant, followed shortly by Linda.

"Was that necessary?"

Ransom nodded, "of course it was. He deserved it and he doesn't deserve Grace, that's for sure."

Linda sighed, "invite Grace to dinner at the house on Sunday."

Ransom shook his head, "what? No way. I don't even go to those family dinners. You think I'm going to subject Grace to one?"

"You used to bring her when you were teenagers." She shrugged as she lit up a cigarette. "Besides, can you really deny me on birthday?"

Random rolled his eyes, "manipulation, nice. I'll just call you tomorrow and deny you then."

Linda chuckled, "come on. She's been doing a lot having to put up with you and her parents aren't around here anymore. Walt said she's super stressed. Largely due to you."

"Fuck." Random groaned, "fine. I'll ask her. But no promises."

"Thank you." She nodded, pointing to the restaurant, "are you going to tell her?"

He shrugged, "of course I am. I'm going to give him the chance first though."

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Grace heard the front door slam shut, entering the living room to see Tyler, "hey. I didn't know you were coming home today." When he turned to face her, she saw the giant black eye, "what happened?!" She went back to the kitchen, grabbing an ice pack. She tried to put it on him but he ripped it out of her hand, doing it himself.

He scoffed, "I broke up a bar fight. No big deal. Don't make a fuss."

"A bar fight?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest, "I thought you were working. Not at a bar."

He shrugged, "I went afterwards. I'm not allowed to have a life outside of you?"

"Um, that's definitely not what I said. Just sounds a bit suspicious. But whatever. I'm going to bed."

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Grace walked into the office the following morning to see Ransom in his office. She went into her own, setting her stuff down before going back to his office. He was sitting in front of his laptop with his manuscript next to him. She leaned against the doorframe, "I'm going to get whiplash Ransom. All this back and forth. And where the fuck have you been?"

He looked up from his computer to see hair falling into her face over her glasses as she sun shone in from the window behind him, "come in here."

She nodded, entering the office before closing the door behind her. She leaned on his desk next to him, running her hand along his tie, "you can tie your own tie."

He looked down, smirking before looking back up at her, "you underestimate me Gracey."

Grace chuckled, shaking her head, "no. You're the only one that underestimates you Ransom."

"Right." He nodded, "I need to talk to you about two things." He saw her nod as he continued, "one is Sunday. My mom wants you to come to dinner at the house."

Grace groaned as Ransom stood up, leaning against the window behind him, "I always hated those dinners."

He laughed, "no you didn't. You always thought they were entertaining. Besides," he approached her, twirling a loose tendril of hair from her face between his fingers, "we always went up to my bedroom afterwards. We are alone just you and me. Up in your room and our slates are clean."

Grace giggled, "did you just quote Taylor Swift back to me?"

He shrugged, "maybe."

She nodded, "and the second thing?"

He took a step away from her, "is Tyler in town?"

She hesitated, "he just came back last night. Why?" She watched him for a moment before groaning, "don't tell me you have something to do with the black eye?"

Ransom shrugged, "what did he tell you?"

Grace sighed, "nothing I believed. Why don't you just tell me Ransom."

He hesitated, not taking his eyes off her, "I was out to dinner with my mother last night and I saw him a few tables over with a girl all over him. I confronted him and he admitted to cheating. Gracey I'm so sorry." He reached for her hand but she pulled away from him.

"I know you're jealous and you want to be with me, but come on Ransom. You expect me to believe you?" She turned away from him as she felt her face red hot with anger and embarrassment as she felt tears starting to well.

Ransom watched her begin to leave his office. "Wait."

Grace approached the door with her hand on the handle when she heard Ransom behind her.

"Grace Elizabeth Carson, look at me!"

She stopped at his commanding tone, turning back to him as he approached her. She didn't have to say anything as he wrapped his arms around her and she buried her head in his chest.

He sighed, "my mother saw it too. It wasn't just me. I really am sorry Gracey."

She only nodded before pulling away. "I'm taking the rest of the day off. I'll see you on Sunday."