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Remi
I hesitated outside Greyson’s West Hollywood home, my heart pounding in anticipation of seeing him. He’d asked me to come over to talk before we went out for dinner, and I couldn’t help feeling apprehensive about what he wanted to talk about. I had an important work trip coming up tomorrow — a chance to dig up some dirt on the band that had been dominating my every thought — and I didn’t want anything to distract me from it. I knew that Greyson wasn’t excited about me going on tour with a rock band and that he didn’t want me to be away for so long, but my career was just as important to me as his career was to him. This was the chance to prove myself.
Greyson lived in a beautiful Spanish hacienda-style house on a side road just off Sunset Boulevard. It looked like something straight out of a movie. The terracotta roof tiles contrasted against the white stucco walls, while vibrant bougainvillea vines crawled along the exterior, adding a pop of color. Despite its charm, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight would be anything but idyllic.
I let myself in, making my way through the tastefully decorated interior full of sleek, modern furniture and eye-catching artwork. Greyson had always been one for aesthetics, and it showed in every aspect of his life, including his home. But what I loved best about his home was the backyard oasis. It was a tranquil retreat, complete with a sparkling pool, an outdoor kitchen, and cozy seating areas nestled among lush greenery. I headed straight to the backyard, hoping it would ease my troubled thoughts.
I wrapped myself in a green throw blanket and cuddled up on the sofa, waiting for Greyson to get home. My eyes fluttered shut as I listened to the water fountain gurgling somewhere behind me.
Sometimes it still felt surreal that I was dating Greyson Durant. He was a worldwide celebrity, adored by millions of fans, wealthy beyond imagination, and breathtakingly beautiful.
I’d been completely star-struck when I interviewed him. It had taken all of my willpower not to gush over him like a slobbering fan. He was even more gorgeous in person than on TV. He had a tall, muscular frame with broad shoulders, a flat stomach, and toned arms. His facial features were classically handsome: a strong jawline and deep, captivating blue eyes. His thick, dark hair that swept across his forehead was always stylishly tousled.
The first time I met him, during that very first interview, I was prepared for him to be an egomaniac. Instead, he was kind and down to earth. It was the first time I’d ever felt attracted to any of the celebrities I’d met, and I’d met lots of them due to my profession.
As I got to know him over the weeks of interviews and follow-up sessions, my attraction only grew deeper. His honesty about himself, his charm, and his intelligence all shined through. He was the entire package. When he admitted that he felt a connection with me, well, let’s just say, it took me a long time to feel comfortable receiving his attention. I didn’t feel worthy.
One of the things he said that he liked about me was that I treated him normally. He once told me that most of his fans expected him to be ruthless like his character on Devious, Colton Grimaldi, and it left them disappointed if he didn’t act that way. He despaired that most of his life seemed like an act. But he was nothing like Colton. Deep down, he was a kind soul with a big heart.
If I had any doubts about dating a big Hollywood celebrity, they’d vanished over the holidays. Greyson and I had spent all our free time together, and he’d been wonderful with my mother and sister when they came to spend Christmas with me. He’d been a big hit with them and won them over effortlessly. Outside of the spotlight, Grey was an unpretentious and down-to-earth guy.
I heard some noise from inside the house and knew he must be home.
“Remi,” Greyson greeted me with a smile as he walked into the backyard, moving with an innate air of confidence and sex appeal. He must have just arrived home from taping Devious, still wearing his effortlessly stylish wardrobe from the set. It still never ceased to amaze me how sexy he was every time I saw him.
He strode over to the couch and leaned down to give me a quick kiss.
I sat up and patted the couch cushions for him to sit next to me. “Hey, Grey,” I replied, trying to stifle a yawn. “I almost fell asleep. Too many late nights doing research.”
“So, you’re leaving early tomorrow morning, right? How long will you be gone?” He sunk down on the couch next to me.
“Yep,” I confirmed, taking a deep breath. “At least a week. It depends on what I find. I’m going to scout out the hometowns of some of Ghost Parker’s members for my assignment. See if I can find any interesting stories from their pasts and do a little ghost hunting. And I have a few interviews lined up.”
Greyson raised an eyebrow, his tone shifting from friendly to concerned. “Digging up dirt from the past, huh? I don’t know, Rem. That seems kind of intrusive, don’t you think?”
“What?” I bristled at his accusation, my defensiveness kicking in. “I’m just doing my job, Grey.”
He placed his hand on my leg in a placating manner. “Look, I know you’re ambitious and want to prove yourself, but sometimes I worry about how far you’ll go for a story.”
I crossed my arms. “Seriously? It’s just research. I interviewed you and I did a damn fine job. My piece was fair and honest. I didn’t exploit you or make you look bad. Why are you on my case about this?”
Greyson stared at me for a moment, his eyes searching mine before he finally spoke. “Do what you have to do, Remi. Just... be careful, okay? Don’t let ambition steer you the wrong way.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. I knew Greyson cared about me, but the tension between us felt palpable. As much as I wanted to brush it off and enjoy our evening, I couldn’t help wondering if there was more to his concern than he was letting on.
As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over Greyson’s backyard oasis, we sat in silence for a few minutes. The air was thick with unspoken thoughts and feelings, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
“Remi, there’s something I need to talk to you about,” Greyson finally said, his voice soft and hesitant. I turned my attention toward him, my heart thudding in my chest, as I braced myself for whatever he had to say. “It’s not easy for me to discuss this, but I think it’s important that we talk about it.”
“Okay,” I whispered, encouraging him to continue.
He took a deep breath, running his fingers through his perfectly styled hair. “I’ve been struggling with my emotions lately. I don’t want to keep anything from you, so ... here goes.” He paused, gathering his courage before revealing his truth. “You know that I’m attracted to other men, and I told you about the one man I had deep feelings for. Well, as much as I’ve tried to ignore them, those feelings haven’t gone away.”
For a moment, I felt like the ground had given out beneath me. I blinked, trying to process the information as Greyson continued to pour his heart out. “I haven’t acted on it, but I can’t ignore these feelings any longer. It feels unfair to you, Remi.”
“Grey,” I started, my mind racing with questions and confusion, yet I couldn’t find the right words to express them. “I thought you said that man didn’t return those feelings? I don’t understand. Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because I love you,” he replied earnestly, his eyes pleading with mine. “But I need to figure this out, Remi. I need to do some soul-searching and come to terms with who I am.”
