be prepared to risk it all to gain the best one of us.”
GRAYSON
I thought Mr. Simons’s goons would have taken the hint when I drove off from the stadium after the game. I didn’t anticipate that they would be waiting for me after my first class back at school.
I was so grateful Parker wasn’t with me.
I haven’t heard from her since the game day and I really want to ask her why she isn’t calling me back. I did not want to have that conversation in front of debt collectors that would result in having to talk to her about my father.
She was already so quiet and hesitant in discussing anything about her home life or her history.
The last thing I wanted to do was scare her away with stories of my mob-attracting dad. Hell, part of the reason I was so attracted to her was the absence of drama.
“Mr. Simons is requesting a meeting with you, Grayson,” goon one tells me as he approaches in his tight black T-shirt and black jeans in the middle of the quad.
Goon two stoically waits by their outlandish sparkling black sedan.
“Mr. Simons will have to learn to take NO for an answer.”
“We will wait until you have a moment available, of course,” he states quietly, moving off to the side.
PARKER
So I hadn’t heard from or seen Grayson in five days.
Not that I was counting.
Or staring at his past text messages.
And in no way did I stare forlornly at his empty chair during my last sociology class.
I was completely fine with having no clue as to why he was all in my face about going on a date and didn’t bother putting up a fight for me to answer his last question that seemed to burn in my pocket.
I wasn’t, at all, replaying Nate’s and my conversation through my mind, worrying that I made the wrong decision about Marissa and not replying ‘yes’ to Grayson.
When Nate asked if I wanted to go to Francesca’s Ristorante again this evening, I didn’t for a moment feel sad that I wouldn’t be having dinner with Grayson. It didn’t even cross my mind that this could have been our first date. I know how lucky I am to have built such an amazing friendship with Nate. Therefore, I of course jumped at the chance. I was completely ecstatic that only friends wanted to take me to possibly the most romantic restaurant in town. It was less pressure. I could enjoy myself more because it meant I could relax. Eat as many garlic bread rolls as I want without the fear of looking gluttonous.
As I began to get dressed for the evening, I decided I was going to wear one of my happiest outfits. Because I was. Happy. Completely immune to Grayson’s absence in my life.
If my black dress was a little tighter than I normally wore that was because I knew it could be a bit chilly at Francesca’s and tight dresses always made me feel warmer. And so I decided to wear my new stiletto heels because Nate was tall, and it was always easier to talk to someone when you could look them in the eye. In no way was I dressing up in case I ran into Grayson. I didn’t care in the slightest if he saw me and rued the day he decided to stop messaging.
And okay, so maybe as soon as Nate picked me up, I slid into his car and, when faced with the very similar physique of the man of my dreams, all of my self-talk about being happy and not feeling sad or rejected hit a wall and I burst into tears. Fortunately, by the time we pulled into the parking lot, I had been able to refresh my make-up and start all over again with my pretend happy internal monologue.
We sit at the same table we always do, and I’m finally able to give Nate a genuine smile after he beguiles me with his latest conquest story. Before the garlic bread rolls arrive, I glance over Nate’s shoulder and I’m captured in a furious storm of deep blue. Grayson doesn’t bother saying anything. He simply gestures with his head and walks outside. I’m so grateful to see him I want to weep all over again. Instead, I grab my small clutch and race out after him. I imagine that Nate
GRAYSON
I thought Mr. Simons’s goons would have taken the hint when I drove off from the stadium after the game. I didn’t anticipate that they would be waiting for me after my first class back at school.
I was so grateful Parker wasn’t with me.
I haven’t heard from her since the game day and I really want to ask her why she isn’t calling me back. I did not want to have that conversation in front of debt collectors that would result in having to talk to her about my father.
She was already so quiet and hesitant in discussing anything about her home life or her history.
The last thing I wanted to do was scare her away with stories of my mob-attracting dad. Hell, part of the reason I was so attracted to her was the absence of drama.
“Mr. Simons is requesting a meeting with you, Grayson,” goon one tells me as he approaches in his tight black T-shirt and black jeans in the middle of the quad.
Goon two stoically waits by their outlandish sparkling black sedan.
“Mr. Simons will have to learn to take NO for an answer.”
“We will wait until you have a moment available, of course,” he states quietly, moving off to the side.
PARKER
So I hadn’t heard from or seen Grayson in five days.
Not that I was counting.
Or staring at his past text messages.
And in no way did I stare forlornly at his empty chair during my last sociology class.
I was completely fine with having no clue as to why he was all in my face about going on a date and didn’t bother putting up a fight for me to answer his last question that seemed to burn in my pocket.
I wasn’t, at all, replaying Nate’s and my conversation through my mind, worrying that I made the wrong decision about Marissa and not replying ‘yes’ to Grayson.
When Nate asked if I wanted to go to Francesca’s Ristorante again this evening, I didn’t for a moment feel sad that I wouldn’t be having dinner with Grayson. It didn’t even cross my mind that this could have been our first date. I know how lucky I am to have built such an amazing friendship with Nate. Therefore, I of course jumped at the chance. I was completely ecstatic that only friends wanted to take me to possibly the most romantic restaurant in town. It was less pressure. I could enjoy myself more because it meant I could relax. Eat as many garlic bread rolls as I want without the fear of looking gluttonous.
As I began to get dressed for the evening, I decided I was going to wear one of my happiest outfits. Because I was. Happy. Completely immune to Grayson’s absence in my life.
If my black dress was a little tighter than I normally wore that was because I knew it could be a bit chilly at Francesca’s and tight dresses always made me feel warmer. And so I decided to wear my new stiletto heels because Nate was tall, and it was always easier to talk to someone when you could look them in the eye. In no way was I dressing up in case I ran into Grayson. I didn’t care in the slightest if he saw me and rued the day he decided to stop messaging.
And okay, so maybe as soon as Nate picked me up, I slid into his car and, when faced with the very similar physique of the man of my dreams, all of my self-talk about being happy and not feeling sad or rejected hit a wall and I burst into tears. Fortunately, by the time we pulled into the parking lot, I had been able to refresh my make-up and start all over again with my pretend happy internal monologue.
We sit at the same table we always do, and I’m finally able to give Nate a genuine smile after he beguiles me with his latest conquest story. Before the garlic bread rolls arrive, I glance over Nate’s shoulder and I’m captured in a furious storm of deep blue. Grayson doesn’t bother saying anything. He simply gestures with his head and walks outside. I’m so grateful to see him I want to weep all over again. Instead, I grab my small clutch and race out after him. I imagine that Nate
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