“Oh.” My brain struggled to grasp what he was saying, but once it started to settle in, my face grew warm. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Grey said emphatically. “My family is a lot to handle without a friend. If you came, you’d be doing me a huge favor.”
I stared at Grey, trying to wrap my brain around his request—and the implications of it.After all we’ve been through, how can he think having me along to a wedding of all things is a good idea?We’d just managed to get our friendship to a normal place.Doesn’t he know that invitations to major family events usually mean something to people?
I couldn’t let the idea that it might mean more get into my head. My role would be to go as a friend and play defense around his family. But still, a treacherous part of me swooned at the thought of going to a wedding with Grey. Under other circumstances, it might even be romantic.
“Uh,” I said stupidly.Why can’t I just say yes and get it over with?I knew what my answer would be. I would always givehim what he wanted. Maybe it was my better judgment finally deciding to make an appearance and getting in the way. “Yeah,” I said after so long I was beginning to get concerned I’d somehow suffered brain damage and lost the ability to speak. “Yeah, I’ll go to the wedding with you.”
“Sweet.” Grey beamed at me.
He started walking again, and I could think of nothing else but to follow. Then, almost as if the thought had just occurred to him, he stopped and pulled me into a hug. I went rigid as his arms wrapped around me. He hadn’t hugged me since the night at the barn party. My entire body felt as though it had become the home to a swarm of bees, vibrating and tingling from wherever he touched.
But my frozen muscles thawed the longer we stayed there, and I returned the hug, wrapping my arms around him—ending up between his jacket and sweater. I could feel his muscles beneath his sweater, and when I leaned my head on his shoulder, I inhaled the scent of him. It was a smell I’d missed until now because I hadn’t let myself get close enough to experience it in weeks.
Our embrace lasted longer than it probably should have, but neither of us could bring ourselves to break it off. Until finally, I pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes. The walls I’d carefully built over the past three weeks—the ones that had put Grey firmly in the friend zone—might as well have never existed. In a split second, they were gone, and all I could think about was how it would be soeasyto close the gap and kiss him. Forget Carina. I wanted to scream that he should be with me instead. But I wouldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t be that person. With a herculean effort, I forced myself to break apart from Grey.
“You should get to practice,” I said. My throat felt dry and tight all of a sudden. Breathing was difficult.How did I normally do it so easily?
Grey nodded, understanding I was really telling him to leave before we made a mistake in the middle of campus.
“I can go the rest of the way by myself. I’ll see you around?” He smiled before turning to go.
I stood watched him, hoping to God that I hadn’t just made a huge mistake by agreeing to attend a fucking wedding with him.
Chapter 15
The Wedding
“How do I look?” I asked Saturday morning, straightening my suit and tie for Kellan and Josh’s appraisal. I’d borrowed the clothes from Grey. Luckily, we apparently wore the same size.
“Like you’re going to a wedding with someone you’re not dating,” Josh said.
I ignored the snide remark. We’d been over it. We all acknowledged that it was strange to go, but no matter how much we talked in circles about it, I’d decided that since I had already agreed to, it would be a dick move to back out. Kellan and Josh and promptly decided that I was a dumbass and that Grey was the actual dick for springing the whole thing on me with less than a week’s notice.
“What do you think, Kellan?”
“If Grey doesn’t jump your bones, I will.” Kellan winked.
“Again, we’re just friends,” I reminded him. Despite my insistence, my face grew warm at the thought of Grey doing anything close to what Kellan had suggested.
“Friends can sleep with friends.” Kellan stretched with a yawn. “Anyway, I’m going to take a nap. Actually studying for finals for once is kicking my ass.”
With that, he got up and left Josh and me alone.
“How are you doing?” Josh asked once we were alone, his nearly permanent look of concern deepening into something close to downright fear for my life.
I shrugged. “I’m fine.” It wasn’t convincing even to my ears.But what could I say? That I’d spent the past few days freaking the fuck out about a stupid invitation from my stupid just-friend?I couldn’t admit that because, with all the effort I’d put into convincing Josh and Kellan that I was fine to go to the wedding, I’d managed to dig myself into isolation and couldn’t risk asking for help for fear of ruining my pride.
Plus, I definitely didn’t have the time to tell him everything I was freaking out about. The panic over meeting Grey’s mom, what his family would think of me, what the whole thing meant in the grand scheme of my relationship with Grey was just the tip of the iceberg. I forced the thoughts away. Everything would be fine. I was just overthinking, as usual.
Josh looked like he wanted to call my bluff, but at that moment, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
It was a text from Grey.I’m outside.
“I have to go,” I said.
Josh nodded, swallowing whatever words of concern he’d been about to speak. “Good luck,” he said, then, in a singsong voice, “Make good choices!”
