Page 14 of All In

“Okay. But what about work? Didn’t think about that.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then he’s shifting to look at me. “I… uh—I already have the week off.”

I scrunch my nose up. “Why?”

Avoiding my gaze, Gray shrugs. “No reason. Just felt like it.”

“Well, it really worked out perfectly, I guess.”

Humming, he nods. “Sure did. You ready to finish the movie?”

We turn our attention back to the TV without another word, but the whole time, my stomach is doing little flips. It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to just exist with Gray. No fiancé, no wedding plans, no ‘I need to get home to Josh.’ Just us hanging out like we always used to.

My heart thumps. Being left at the altar is ass. I can’t believe he embarrassed me like that, but… it will be nice to spend that time with Grayson. So maybe in the end, that’s my silver lining.

I’ve slept in Gray’s guest room many times. It’s comfort to me. My home away from home. But tonight… tonight, it just fucking sucks.

Not the room. No, that’s not the problem. The problem is my mind. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about today.

I never wanted a big wedding. I always pictured something quiet and intimate. No fanfare. No big crowds. No fancy tablecloths or centerpieces or lavish, expensive arches.

I would have been happy with a small backyard wedding, with only our closest friends and family in attendance. For one, I can’t believe I let Josh sideline all my wants. Well, it was more his family than anything else. But it doesn’t matter. What was I thinking? All that, and for what? To be left at the altar? I mean, fine, if he didn’t want to marry me, I guess it’s better to know before we actually got married.

It just sucks. And what does it say about me that the biting humiliation of standing there with all those people looking at me is somehow worse than the fact that I’m a single man now?

You’d think I’d be more upset about that.

Rolling onto my side, I pull the blankets up around my face. They smell like Grayson. Sort of. They smell like Gray’s house, which is a bit of a poor substitute for actually smelling him.

Maybe it’s not the room that is my home away from home but Gray himself. I don’t even remember a time without him. He’s been around as long as my memories exist, and he’s always been the person I ran to when I was having a bad day or a hard time.

I flop onto my other side, trying to get comfortable. It’s pretty much useless. Even if I could get my body into a comfortable position, I don’t know how to get my mind to shut the fuck up.

It’s like a cruel game. Every time I close my eyes, I see Andy’s face as he walked toward me. I see the people in the crowd, whispering to each other and staring at me like there was something wrong with me. Or like I had done something wrong.

Fuck this.

With a sigh, I toss the blankets off myself and climb out of bed.

The hallway is dark, but it doesn’t matter. I know Gray’s house like the back of my hand. I could walk it blindfolded, and given how dark it is, I may as well be.

I push open his bedroom door and creep inside, closing it quietly behind me.

It doesn’t matter. As soon as it clicks shut, Gray shifts in bed. “Harlow?”

“Sorry,” I whisper, tiptoeing closer to the left side of his bed. It’s been a long time since I’ve done this, but it feels just like it used to.

Lifting the blankets, I crawl in. It’s warm from his body heat, and his scent is stronger here, instantly soothing my loud and fucked-up brain.

I shuffle closer and closer until I’m pressed against him.

Gray turns onto his side, then wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer.

I know it’s probably not healthy, but I really don’t give a fuck about that. I’ve always sought comfort from Grayson, and he’s always given it to me.

With a sigh, I nuzzle into his chest, breathing in the scent of him.

“You okay?” he whispers.