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“My parents are cutting him off,” Grayson admitted. “He’s been trying to stockpile enough money for when they do. He’s here with our Aunt Malinda. She has noidea.”
I shook my head, confusion still whirling in my mind. “How do you know? How did you find out that he wasstealing?”
Grayson released my arms, but didn’t back away. His head lowered and he heaved a breath before looking away. “I found his stash,” he admitted. “I paid someone to sneak it all back. He’s furious with me. The only reason he hasn’t taken a swing my way is because I haven’t told our parents. If they knew, they would cut him off now instead oflater.”
“Why are theywaiting?”
Grayson shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know what those people think. They do a lot of shit just because. Josh has a problem. It’s not just thestealing.”
Grayson’s face was a mask of anguish and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to him. “Hey,” I said, placing my hands on his cheeks. “It’s going to beokay.”
“No, Harlow. You don’t understand. He won’t listen to me. He won’t listen to anyone. He doesn’tcare.”
I bit my lip and made a split-second decision. Before I could second guess it, I voiced the idea aloud. “What if we got him to give back what he’s stolen this time?” I asked. “Then we get himhelp.”
“He won’t give it back unless he gets caught,” Graysonreplied.
“He is caught,” Isaid.
“No offense, Harlow. You’re beautiful and not exactlyintimidating.”
I rolled my eyes and dropped my arms to cross them over my chest. “Yea, I’m not intimidating, but we both know that I’m not herealone.”
Grayson’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he realized what I was suggesting. “No, not just no, but hell no.” He shook his head. “They would rather chuck me off the side of a cliff than help me withJosh.”
“He’s not wrong,” Texasreplied.
I had to stop myself from telling them both to shutup.
“Here’s the deal,” I said. “I’ll talk to them about helping your brother as long as you continue to watch him and make sure he doesn’t steal anything else. We’ll figure out a plan. It should just be tonight. Tomorrow, we can get someone here to take him off the Island.” Hopefully, Marv or one of the guys would have an idea of how to do that. “You said it yourself,” I continued. “He has…otherproblems?”
Grayson stared past me at the bubbling fountain, his face concentrating on something further away. “If I can just get him into rehab, maybe that willhelp.”
“Are your parents willing to pay for that?” I asked. It was a serious question to consider. There had been a waitress I had worked with, fresh out of rehab and in some serious debt because of it. Thankfully, she had received a much better job offer several months into working at Alex’s Diner and gone off to better things. If Grayson’s brother couldn’t afford rehab, and his parents refused to pay for it, he might end up in her situation. But it was possible his situation wouldn’t improve the way hershad.
“I’ll pay for it,” Grayson replied. “I don’t care how much it costs. I just want him clean andstable.”
“You can do that?” I didn’t even think he had ajob.
He smirked, returning his gaze to mine. “I can do a lot ofthings.”
“Ugh. Fine. You’re paying then.” I paused. “What kind of rehab facility does he need to goto?”
Grayson rubbed a hand down his tired face. “Drugs,” he said. “I’m not exactly sure what all he’s been taking, I think it might be more than just pot. If it was just pot, that’s not a big deal – it’s getting legalized throughout the states anyway. But I’m pretty sure it’s more thanthat.”
I stepped forward, placing my hand on his shoulder. “It’s going to be okay,” Ipromised.
“Tell him to meet you in the room you and Marv are sharing tonight at seven,” Texas saidquickly.
I relayed the information and Grayson agreed. “I’ll walk you back to the garden party,” he suggested, moving so that his hand grazed my lowerback.
My eyes followed his movements as we strolled back through the rosebushes. The sounds of music rose over the tops of the plants and we stepped around a gardenia bush to the back side of the dance floor. As we did, a woman paused and offered us a bouquet of white flowers with a sunny smile. Just as I was about to shake my head, Grayson passed her a twenty and took the bouquet, handing it tome.
I blinked down at the flowers, and he leaned over to kiss my cheek. Shocked, I jerked away from him and he turned with a ridiculously proudsmirk.
“Tell your boyfriends I’ll see them tonight,” he said over his shoulder before striding away. My hand reached up and touched the spot on my cheek where he had kissedme.
“What did he say?” Marv asked, startlingme.
I jerked my hand away from my face guiltily, though he had to have seen the kiss. “He said to tell you and the guys that he’ll see youtonight.”
Marv didn’t reply, and instead directed me back across the dance floor to our original table. As I sat, I contemplated just what kind of history the guys might have with Grayson and why they might dislike him so much. As the string quartet struck up a new song, I figured I would find out soonenough.
