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“Even if that’s true, you don’t need to be in a place like this.”
I look out at the various attendees scattered about the ballroom. It’s mostly men here, which I thought was good at first because it gave me more options, but now I realize it’s just more opportunities to be creeped out. The whole place reeks of desperation and bad buffet food.
“This isn’t what I imagined my love life would look like,” I admit. “But I live in a community of mostly elderly people and I work from home, so there’s not a good way for me to meet people.”
“You met my brother. I know he acts like a grumpy old man, but he’s only thirty.”
I smile at Grayson’s joke. “Your brother and I arefriends.”
“Adrian doesn’t have friends.”
“I know, I volunteered to be the first one.” I keep my tone light, but deep down my heart squeezes for the stoic man who lives next door. At least he has his family, that’s more than I can say. Somehow, his loneliness bothers me more than my own.
“Well, could you take one for the team and be his girlfriend too?”
I shoot Grayson a flat look that has him laughing. “There are two sides to a relationship. Your brother has to be willing, too.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is, you’re waiting on him.”
I shrug, avoiding his sparkling blue eyes. While Grayson is nice, looking at him only makes me wish I was with Adrian. Grayson’s charisma and openness is fun to be around, but there’s something about the thrill of winning a smile from Adrian that feels better than the ones Grayson freely gives everyone.
He makes a contemplative noise, drawing my attention back to him. One of his hands drags through his hair and he bites his lip like he’s considering something, then he shrugs.
“He might get mad at me for telling you this, but Adrian told me to check on you.” I almost knock over my drink in shock. “I called to bug him about you being here and he went into protective caveman mode. He almost sounded like he wanted to drive down here himself.”
“Seriously?” I squeak out. My thoughts are racing too fast for me to grab onto any of them.
“Yeah, he told me to make sure you were okay and no guys were taking advantage of your kindness.”
My heart warms like hands around a hot mug of tea. It’s hard to keep my feet on the ground after hearing that, even though it could just be him being protective over me like a friend.
“Is he naturally protective?”
Grayson eyes me, considering. “Only over people he really cares about.”
“So it’s not a side effect of his job, then?”
“That might play a factor, but it’s certainly not the main one.”
“Okay, he cares about me. But is he attracted to me as more than a friend?”
He gives me a look like it’s obvious, making me blush.
“Then why won’t he make a move?” I ask.
Grayson drums his fingers on the bar counter as he studies me. “It’s not my story to tell,” he finally answers.
“Thereisa story though?” I pry, not able to stop myself. “It’s not about me, then,” I whisper to myself and then stiffen when I realize I said it aloud.
“No,” Grayson says and my brows furrow. But then I realize his eyes are fixed over my shoulder. I glance behind me to find a guy stomping away.
“You can’t scareeveryoneoff.”
“I’ve seen him around. He’s … handsy.”
I shudder. “I think I might be ready to go home.” I pull out my phone to check the time and my heart skips when I see that I have messages from Adrian.
Sunshine: I think he likes me.
