Page 86 of Shattered Hearts

Chapter Thirty

Grayson

“It was a good party last weekend,” Knox states as we sit on the mountain overlooking Ashwood Creek. It’s one of my favourite spots to come and think. I’ve been here countless times with Macie and Laynie, but right now, I needed to be with someone I could confide in without being teased or gossiped about.

My feet kick nervously as I lean back on my hands, taking in the view. It’s one of those perfect winter days when the sun is weak but shining down over everything, the land glistening like diamonds. Fields of grass, trees swaying in the breeze, and cars rumbling below. It’s perfect.

“Yeah, it was,” I murmur half-heartedly. As a whole, it was great. Exactly what I wanted when I was younger, but Laynie… that was hard to hear.

Knox turns to me, his boots digging in the dirt as he drags a hand through his dark, short hair. “Did you get anything good?”

I snort. “Yeah.” I hold up my new helmet. “This one doesn’t have a dint in the side.”

“That’s a positive,” chimes Knox, taking it from me.

I let out a breath and lean back on my hands again. Knox’s stare is on me, and I peer sideways to see him wrestling with a thought.

“What is it?”

“Well, I don’t want to impose, but is something bothering you? I’ve become a pro at picking up emotions, especially after my dad left.”

Chewing on my lip, I nod. “Yeah. Something happened.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

My throat works as I sit up, dusting off my hands. “Something happened between Laynie and I.”

That grabs Knox’s attention. His eyebrows rise to his hairline. “What?”

“Well, we kissed.”

He gasps, and I smother a laugh. Macie would gasp as well if she found out. “That’s awesome.”

I give a small wince.

Knox’s brows drop. “Not awesome?”

“I mean, it was great. Exceeded my expectations…”

“But?” he drawls.

I sigh. “What happened after wasn’t as awesome.”

His face falls. “Oh.”

My jaw ticks. “She told me she’s not sure if this is what she wants. For us to be together.”

“What?” Knox exclaims, almost falling off the edge of the mountain. I hold onto him. He settles beside me, digging his heels in the dirt. “Why wouldn’t she?”

“Because of the baby.”

We’re both quiet for a long minute, the sound of birds flying above all I can hear, along with my heartbeat. Knox speaks up, “I kind of get that.”

My brow lifts. “You do?”

He nods. “Yeah, I mean, she’s probably scared.”

“I bet she is. I am too.”