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I loved Grayson just the way he was, and I had no problems being the only one he showed his softer side to.
Markus wrapped an arm loosely around Lia’s waist. “We should get going. Elias and Danni are expecting us.”
Lia was the first to sniffle. “Damn it,” she muttered, then stepped out of Markus’s embrace.
I met her in the middle, and we threw our arms around each other. “We can have coffee tomorrow,” I reminded her.
She nodded against my shoulder. “I know, but it’s not the same as living with you and not needing a reason to see you.”
I knew exactly what she meant, but I had a feeling we’d find plenty of reasons to see each other every week. At least, that was what I kept telling myself so that I didn’t make this any harder on them.
“Alright, my turn,” Markus said, grinning at me.
Lia backed up, and I hugged my brother. We’d been hugging more often, which had felt weird at first, but only because hugs weren’t part of my upbringing. Now, I didn’t think I could ever go without them again.
“You’re going to do great things here, Sis,” Markus said to me once we pulled apart.
“Thank you for believing in me,” I replied earnestly.
He chuckled. “It was easy to do.”
“Alright,” Lia sighed heavily. “We’re not making this a thing. We’ll see you in a day or two. Everything is totally fine.”
Markus backed up and kissed the top of Lia’s head. “Then, let’s go home.”
I leaned into Grayson as we waved goodbye to our family, and within seconds, they were gone. Teleported to another House.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Grayson said as we turned to head back into our home.
I shrugged, not really ready to talk about it, but he stopped me at the door, turning my body until I faced him and lifted my chin. “It’s okay to be sad even if you can see her anytime.”
I took a shuddering breath. “Good, because I’m really fucking sad.”
He grinned and gathered me into his arms. “It’s going to be…”
His words trailed off, and I jerked back. “What?”
Grayson wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were facing the sidewalk we’d just left.
I turned my head, expecting to see Lia and Markus there for some reason—maybe a second goodbye—but it wasn’t them.
It was a woman. One I’d never met before, but I knew her the moment our stares met.
Holy fuckity fuck.
It was my mother.
She had the same white hair as I did. Her skin was a few shades darker than mine, but her smile reminded me of my own.
Her lighter blue eyes blinked, and she lifted a hand to wave awkwardly. “Beth—Kinsley?”
I nodded, unable to form any words while I stayed frozen in front of our door.
“I’m Rosella,” she said quietly, then added, “Your mother.”
I glanced up at Grayson, and his eyes softened as he nudged me lightly forward. “Go.”
My feet hesitantly carried me back toward the sidewalk. I wasn’t sure what to think, especially since I hadn’t yet decided if I’d wanted Grayson to look for this woman. I knew deep down that my resistance to finding her had mostly been because I was afraid that she’d have moved on, not wanting to be found.
