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Again, it’s shitty to take advantage of him, and as a bonus, he won’t warn me to stay away from Grey.
God knows, I should steer clear.But that’s the thing.I can’t bring myself to step back, not when our story might be laid bare for millions to read—and listen.Not when I fear this could push Grey to the cliff, teetering on the edge of addiction and self-destruction.
Instead of flying to Malibu,I choose to hit the road with my motorcycle.I need something to ground me, a raw connection to the road that can anchor my spiraling thoughts.The thrumming machine between my legs, the blurred streaks of evergreens that blend into the backdrop of my deepest fears.
I might not have Greyson, but I can’t fathom the thought of him getting hurt or hurting himself because of the memories of those days and the memories of her.I don’t even know if he ever thinks of her.We don’t mention ...I take a deep breath, trying not to remember her name, but those dark eyes stare at me with tenderness and love.
Embracing the nineteen-hour ride gives me something else to think about than the thousand scenarios in which Greyson may succumb to the depths of hell, surrendering to his inner demons.
It’s urgent that I get to him.He’s good at isolating himself when the world threatens to drown him.He withdraws into a shell, and what if that pushes him to reach for a drink, a pill, or shoot something into his veins to escape from reality?
The chilling thought fuels my determination and keeps me going, only stopping for a few breaks.
As I roll into Malibu, the bike purrs beneath me, a comforting hum that ends right as I park in the almost empty parking lot outside Black Out.It’s just the two of us now—the bike and Greyson’s green Bentley Bentayga.
As I wonder if I should go inside to look for him or wait for him to finish locking the place, I feel it—him.It’s the same irresistible pull that’s been tugging at my heart since we first met and is as familiar as my own heartbeat.
It started as just a connection, a need to protect him.But things between us evolved.They transcended from a friendship to so much more ...until we became nothing.
He began to see me as his enemy and hated me with the same intensity he once loved me.He still believes I’m the person who destroyed his entire life.
Will he ever forgive me?
ChapterSeven
Greyson
“Doyou need me to fly down to Malibu?”my wonderful and yet overbearing older sister asks.
“I’m fine, Piper,” I mumble, my focus split between going through the locks and the lightboards, ensuring everything is properly shut down before we close for the night.“Rhea needs you a lot more than I do.”
“Grey, I’m serious.If you need me, Finn will fly us to California,” she insists.
Does she even realize that it’s two o’clock in the morning?I suppose the concept of time becomes hazy when little Miss Rhea constantly cries her heart out, due to the discomfort of teething.
“I adore you, Pipe.You’re the best sister in the world, and I genuinely appreciate your concern.”I yawn.“But the last thing I need right now is my beloved, overbearing sister watching me like a hawk.If I need help, I’ll contact my sponsor or attend a meeting.”
She lets out a heavy sigh.“I just want to be there for you like you’re always there for me.”
“I’m fine.Focus all your energy on Rhea,” I insist.“She needs you a lot more than anyone else, okay?”
“But if you change your mind?”she insists, unwilling to let this rest.
She’s so much like Mom.I adore them, but they don’t understand that sometimes I need my space.
“You’ll be my first call,” I lie, masking annoyance and all the emotions I’m feeling after learning about that book.The truth is, I don’t want to discuss this with anyone just yet.
All I want is to figure out who wrote that fucking tell-all and make sure it gets unpublished.I have no idea what’s within its pages, but the reviews have left no doubt—it’s about her, and we’re included within that tale.
“You went silent.”Piper’s voice breaks the quiet on the other end of the line, her concern evident.
“I’m setting up the alarm,” I mutter, my footsteps leading me to the back of the building as I lock the main door.“Please tell me you haven’t mentioned this to our parents.Mom, Dad, and Pa can be pretty intense when they think I might lose my shit—which I won’t.”
“Nope.As far as I know, only Tucker, Kip, and I know.”
I laugh.Two out of our four siblings are plenty.And then there’s Kip.It’s no secret that if he’s aware, then his twin, Keith, must be too.They tell each other everything.It’s annoying sometimes, but I guess that’s the kind of relationship Piper and I have.She’s only ten months older than me, and we’re pretty close.
I’m glad our youngest sister, Winnie, is unaware of what’s happening.Hopefully, our parents will remain oblivious for as long as I need them to stay away.
