Ransom Drysdale - State of Grace ✔️

Chapter 10

Grace stopped at the store on the way home, buying boxes and packaging tape before calling a locksmith. The locksmith was there waiting when she returned home. She smiled as she go out of the car, "thanks for coming on such short notice. I need all the locks changed."

The locksmith nodded and smiled, "yes ma'am. Right away."

She took the boxes into the house, packing away stuff from shelves and knick knacks from the living room and kitchen before going to the bedroom. She piled all Tyler's clothes from the closet into boxes before moving to his dresser. She got to the last drawer and found a small box under the clothes. She sat on the edge of the bed, opening the box to find a bunch of Polaroids of him and other women. "Son of a bitch!" She finished packing the rest of the boxes and carried them out onto the curb. The locksmith watched her, offering his help once he finished.

Once all the boxes were out on the curb, she put her engagement ring into an envelope, setting it on top of the boxes with the box of photos. After she paid the locksmith extra for coming out right away and helping her with the boxes she went back inside, locking all the doors. She turned off all the lights before plopping onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. She pulled out her phone, blocking Tyler's number.

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Grace woke up to urgent knocking on the front door. She looked at the time to see it just past ten. She looked out her bedroom window, seeing Tyler on the front porch, trying to get into the house.

"You bitch!"

She went back to the bed, laying back down until everything went silent and she heard him leave. She looked back out to see his boxes gone as she sighed, going back to bed.

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"I told you to invite Grace, Ransom."

"I did!" Ransom plopped into a chair in the sitting room as his mother hovered over him.

"Then where is she?"

He shrugged, "I don't know." He was about to say something, but smiled instead when he heard the dogs outside barking as he stood up in time to see Grace enter the house, "you came."

Grace half smiled as everyone watched her, "I told you I would."

Ransom nodded, looking down to see her not wearing her ring.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Please, sit. I'm just going to wash my hands." She sighed as she went into the hallway bathroom, resting her head on the door for a moment before washing her hands. When she came out she found Ransom waiting for her as he grabbed her left hand. She groaned, pulling it away from him, "please not right now Ransom. Please."

Ransom only nodded as he tucked some hair behind her ear, "come on." He let her walk ahead of him as he followed her into the dining room, pulling out her chair before sitting next to her.

Linda smiled at Grace, "thanks for coming Grace."

Grace nodded, "thanks for inviting me."

She shrugged, "you've always been welcomed at family dinner Grace. You know that."

Grace smiled, seeing a few of them nodding their agreement, "thanks." She noticed Linda notice her not wearing her ring, making her self conscious as she rested her hand back in her lap.

Fran walked past the table and Ransom grabbed her arm, "Franny can you get some whiskey?"

"Hey!" Grace hit him in chest as the table when silent. "It's Fran. She doesn't like Franny and you know it. Apologize and get it yourself."

Ransom sighed, letting go of her arm, "I'm sorry Fran."

She smiled as she watched him get up and go into the other room. She looked around the table as everyone stared at her, "what?"

Linda smirked, shaking her head, "nothing dear."

Ransom came back into the dining room, sitting as he set a glass of whiskey in front of Grace and himself.

"Thank you Ransom."

He half smiled and nodded as he looked up to see some of them watching him and Grace.

"So, Grace. You're getting married next summer, right?"

"Richard, no." Linda shook her head at her husband as he shrugged and Grace looked down at her plate.

She felt Ransom squeeze her thigh as she sighed. She looked up at him before looking at Richard, "we aren't together anymore. Turns out he was cheating on me."

"Oh."

She saw Richard's face turn red, "it's fine. I would just rather not talk about it."

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After eating Grace saw Ransom in the hallway, motioning for her to follow him. He grabbed her hand before dragging her upstairs to his room. "Ransom. We aren't teenagers anymore."

"I know. I know." He sat on the edge of the bed, "I wanted to talk."

She nodded, leaning against the wall. "Okay. About what?"

He sighed, patting the bed next to him, "sit." He saw her hesitate, "please?"

Grace sat on the bed next to him as he turned to face her. "Okay."

He grabbed the nape of her neck, pulling her to rest his forehead on hers, "are you okay?"

Grace groaned, "I don't want to talk about it."

"You have to talk to someone about it Gracey." He heard her groan again as he pulled her to him and she rested her head on his shoulder. "We used to be closer." He pulled away slightly, placing his fingers under her chin to make her look at him, "I miss you Gracey."

She nodded as she locked eyes with him. "I miss you too Ransom."

He felt his heart racing as she slid her hand up to the nape of his neck, "still want me to kiss you?" He saw her smirk as she nodded, making him chuckle as he kissed her softly, feeling her hand in his hair. He laid her back gently on the bed, pinning her underneath him. He heard her moan as he parted her lips with his tongue, kissing her slowly.

She ran her hand up under his shirt to his chest, making him moan before he pulled away, sitting back up. She watched him stand up from the bed as she sat up.

"I want to take you out properly. Just you and me. Can I take you out Gracey? Let me make up for lost time."

Grace groaned as she stood up, "I don't know Ransom."

He placed his hand on her cheek, "please Gracey."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, "fine. Finish half your manuscript and I'll think about it."

Ransom smirked, opening the drawer of the dresser behind him, pulling out the manuscript to hand to her.

Grace sat back on the edge of the bed, flipping through the manuscript, "you finished it all?"

He smiled, nodding, "I did. You believe in me. I'm trying to believe in myself. Will you re-read it?" He smiled at her beaming back up at him.

"Of course I will!" She stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I'm so proud of you."

"Proud enough to go out with me?"

Grace sighed, "fine. I'll think about it, okay?"

Ransom nodded, "good enough!" He grabbed her hand as she started to walk away, "don't tell anyone yet. Please?"

Grace nodded, resting her hand on his cheek, "sure. I'll see you tomorrow." Grace left Ransom's bedroom, walking down the hall as she heard another voice. The door was left slightly ajar as she heard Richard's voice on the other side.

'I miss you too sweetie. I'll see you soon.'

Grace hesitated before continuing to walk down the hallway, leaving the house with Ransom's manuscript.