He studies me for a second, then goes on. “He invited me to the bachelor party.”
I stare. “He didwhat?”
“Yeah. Was definitely as a challenge, mostly.” His tone goes dry. “Subtlety isn’t really his strong suit.”
“Please tell me you said no.”
He doesn’t say a damn thing.
I sit back in my chair. “Gray. You saidyes?”
“I did.”
“Why?” The word comes out sharper than I mean it to, and I immediately force an apologetic face instead. “You didn’t have to do that. You’re already coming to the wedding with me. That was already more than enough.”
He picks up his glass again, unbothered. “I know.”
“Then why would you agree to go to Aaron’s bachelor party? That sounds like actual hell.”
A corner of his mouth moves. “It does, yeah.”
“So?”
He shrugs, taking another sip of wine like he has all the time in the world and I’m not slowly unraveling in his kitchen. “I wanted to.”
I frown at him. “No one wants to go to their fake girlfriend’s asshole ex-boyfriend’s bachelor party. That is not a real desire any person has ever had.”
That gets a brief huff of laughter out of him.“Probably not,” he agrees.
“Then why on earth did you accept?”
He rolls the stem of the glass between his fingers, gaze drifting toward the living room, then back to me.“I didn’t like the idea of him thinking he could call you a liar. Or make you look stupid. Or insult you any more than he did.”
My chest tightens.He says it so simply, like it’s obvious, like protecting me from Aaron’s bullshit is the most natural thing in the world.“You didn’t have to take that bullet for me.”
His gaze stays on mine. “I know.”
“Then why…?”
This time, when he shrugs, it doesn’t feel dismissive. It feels careful. Like there’s more behind his teeth than he's willing to say.“Because I wanted to,” he repeats slowly.
I should leave it there. I know that. He’s holding back, and I shouldn’t push. But my stomach feels like it’s somersaulting and my brain still feels full of bees, and I can’t help myself.“When you told him we’re together…” I start, my fingers fidgeting in my lap, nerves threatening to make cheese sauce climb up my throat. “Did you mean as far as Aaron is concerned, or…?”
I can’t make myself finish the question.
Or everyone? Or me?Or you?
Grayson sets his wine glass down. He looks at me,reallylooks at me, direct and steady and so deliberate that I forget I’m supposed to breathe. “As far as everyone is concerned.”
Every bee in my head just… stops.
I stare at him.
He pushes his chair back and stands, and I don't know what to do with that, don’t know how to react. My heart is beating so hard it feels ridiculous, like my body knows something huge has just happened before my mind can catch up.
“Carly,” he says, quieter now.
I stay exactly where I am as he takes a step toward me, leaning over my chair. His gaze flicks past me toward the doorway, checking for Penelope, listening for the television in the other room.
