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“Jake—"
“And you,” he yells, cutting off Grayson and turning back to me. He’s so angry, but his eyes soften when he looks at me this time. “Don’t you understand, Si? He never sticks around. He’s going to leave. And then where does that leave me? Out a best friend and left trying to put back the pieces of your broken heart.”
“Jake… you’re wrong,” Grayson tells him. “I would never hurt her. I told you that at the cabin and I meant it.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Jake spits back. “Save the bullshit. I know your track record, man. I’ve watched it happen so many times I’ve lost count.”
“I don’t expect you to believe anything. But I’m telling you I’m not that guy anymore, and I mean it. I’m not going anywhere. And I’m really sorry that we didn’t handle this better, but I’m not going to stop seeing your sister because you don’t like it.” Grayson’s eyes snap to mine, clear with intent. “I love her. I love her, man. So, whether you like it or not, I’m not going anywhere.”
He loves me. He just said he loves me.
Jake looks at Grayson, and he seems stunned by his admission. He turns his gaze to me briefly before saying, “I have to go.”
“Jake, don’t,” I beg.
He turns for the door, leaving me with tears staining my cheeks and a hole in my heart. He walks out the door, slamming it shut behind him, and I let him leave.
There isn’t any other choice.
I have to let him go.
* * *
I can still hearthe echoes of the door slamming when Grayson crosses the room and takes me into his arms. I lean into him, letting him hold me up. Without a word, he guides me to my bedroom. He finds one of his T-shirts in my closet and then takes off my clothes, pulling the T-shirt over my head. He pulls back the covers and tucks me into bed, kissing the crown of my head and telling me he’ll be right back. Ten minutes later he returns with a cup of tea, which he sets on the bedside table before stripping off his T-shirt and joining me in bed. He pulls me between his legs, and I rest my head against his chest. Once I’m in his arms I feel like I can breathe again.
“He’ll come around… I promise. He just needs some time.” Grayson murmurs, running his fingers through the strands of my hair.
“I hope so.”
“Give him time,” he says into my hair. “He loves you too much not to.”
I have to believe that, but I also know how stubborn Jake can be. And I saw how hurt he was. It feels like there is a ton of bricks sitting on my chest. I stare at the ceiling and try to concentrate on Grayson’s fingers in my hair but all I can think about is my brother and the look on his face when he saw the two of us together. I squeeze my eyes shut. I can’t just lie here.
Flipping off the covers, I pick up the mug of still-hot tea and stand up.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“I need to bake. I’ll feel better if I can get my mind off my brother.”
Grayson flips the covers off and shifts so he’s sitting on the edge of the bed. “Then I’ll bake with you.”
I nod, knowing he’s feeling just as terrible as me. How could he not be? I take his hand in mine and tug him towards the kitchen.
I get to work gathering everything I need—butter, flour, eggs, vanilla— while Gray plugs in the mixer on the counter.
“What are we going to make?”
“Crinkle cookies,” I say, reaching for a bowl. “Do you mind turning on the oven for me? 350 degrees.”
“Got it,” he says, patting my ass on his way to the stove.
I swat at him with a kitchen towel. “If you want to bake with me, you’re going to need to behave.”
Grayson leans against the stove, crossing his arms over his sculpted chest with a sigh. “I’m having a hard time focusing with you wearing that.”
He thinks he’s having a hard time concentrating.Grayson Ford, shirtless, is enough to make any grown woman forget her first name.
But I manage to tear my eyes away, returning my attention to the task at hand. I cut the butter into the mixer, then add the sugar. I ask Grayson to turn it on, which he does, flicking the switch immediately to high and sending an explosion of sugar right out of the bowl.
