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Chapter 21
Michael dropped me off at the front of the house. "I'm still not sure about this," he said quietly as I unbuckled myseatbelt.
I shrugged. "It's not really your choice," Ireplied.
He sighed, turning to me. "No, you're right. It's not. But promise me something, if anything happens or if you decide that you're not happy here, you'll callme."
"Do you promise that you'll pick up the phone?" Iasked.
He nodded, his eyes serious. "Iwill."
"Okay, then. I’ll call if something happens." He let me get out then and waved as he reversed the car and headed back towards the road. I watched him go for a moment more before turning and heading inside. As soon as the front door closed behind me, a shout drew myattention.
"—fuckingfault!"
I moved further into the house, turning towards the livingroom.
“—out of your head and fucking deal withit!”
I paused in the doorway, my eyes wide as I took in the scene before me. Marv was panting, blood smudged between his upper lip and his nose as he held Grayson by the front of his shirt. Grayson, too, looked worse for wear with a darkening bruise on one cheek and mussed hair. Texas and Bellamy stood off to the side, Bellamy frowning and Texas sighing while Knix stood between Marv and Grayson with hands held outplacatingly.
“Now, calm down, we—” Knix wassaying.
“Harlow?” Texas was the first to notice my presence. “When did you getback?”
All eyes turned towards me—even Grayson’s and Marv’s. “Uh, just now,” I replied. “What’s goingon?”
Marv looked back at Grayson and scowled as he released him. "Nothing," Marv grunted, turningaway.
"Doesn't look like nothing to me," I said stepping further into the room. I put my hands on my hips. "What's going on?" Idemanded.
Everyone looked rather uncomfortable as I trailed my eyes around the room. I blinked in surprise as even Texas looked away from my stare. The person who finally spoke wasGrayson.
"I'm leaving," hesaid.
I froze as a sharp dagger stabbed into my heart. I turned hurt eyes on him, but he didn't look at me. "I'm going back home to see if I can clean up the mess Teddimade."
"Fucking tell her the rest, asshole," Marv growled. "Don't fucking leave it atthat."
Grayson sighed. "It's complicated," hesaid.
I huffed. “Don’t make me say it again,” Isnapped.
He jerked his eyes up and looked at me like I was crazy. “What?” heblurted.
I stalked forward and reached for his shirt like Marv had. I grabbed ahold of the fabric and yanked him forward, throwing him off balance so that he nearly fell into me. I didn’t care. If that was what happened then so be it, but he caught himself at the last moment, staring down at me as though he were looking at a newperson.
“If it’s too complicated,” I said between gritted teeth, “thenuncomplicate it.” I emphasized the last bit with a pointedglare.
Grayson backed up and I released his shirt, waiting expectantly. He took a step away, reaching up and scratching the back of his head awkwardly as he avoided my face. “It’s—I’m…” he huffed a breath and looked back at me, meeting my gaze finally. “I’m going away for a while,” he finallysaid.
I swallowed reflexively as I dropped my arms. “How long is a while?” I asked. There was silence from the others as they watched us, but the tension in the room ratcheted up anothernotch.
“I’m not sure,” Grayson admitted, dropping his hand away from his head. “I have some things to take careof.”
“Things like Teddi.” It wasn’t a question but astatement.
Still, he answered. “Yes,” he said. “I think I know how to get her off my back and if I can, then it’ll be over withher.”
