Page 24 of Grayson

“Skye.” The sound of Scarlett’s voice isn’t what I’m dreading as I turn around and force a smile. “I thought that was you.” Quickly she moves in for a hug and I do all I can to avoid looking at the man standing behind her.

“Tori,” she wastes no time offering my sister the same greeting. I’ve quickly grown quite fond of her. She is so sweet, after one night I had no doubt in my mind she and I would be friends.

What I have noticed about Scarlett though is she rarely goes anywhere without Gray. They are like two peas in a pod, cousins but more like siblings with an incredible bond.

“Mm.” She lifts her nose and breathes the yummy smell of pretzels baking. “Now I want a pretzel, mind if we join you?”

Before I can speak Tori pipes in, “You can, but the ass can sit across the food court.”

“Tori.” I nudge her with my elbow.

Scarlett snickers before covering her mouth trying far too late to cover her laughter.

“What?”

Please, will the ground open up and just swallow me whole. Tori has that look, the determined, irritated, I have nothing to hide look. This is only going to get worse, so much worse.

17

Grayson Hawk

I can sense how uncomfortable Skye is. What I don’t know is if that feeling is because I am here, or her sister’s distaste for me. I can barely look the kid in the eyes after Scarlett informed me that she’s had a front row to all the noises of my many hookups.

I’m a fucking pig, and she’s been forced to overhear it all.

“She is not a fan of yours,” Scarlett announces, almost proudly, her shoulders squared, a smirk on her lips. She loves to see me get knocked down a notch or two. She also loves when I’m challenged without a win in sight.

“I can tell,” I tell my cocky cousin narrowing my eyes at her. “But in her defense I have been a bit of an ass, so it’s warranted.” Looking away from Scar I find Skye watching me worrying her lip. The second our eyes lock I feel that familiar pressure on my chest once again. Why does she have to be so beautiful? And why has it taken me so long to notice?

“She could have called me so much worse,” I say, still watching Skye, triggering her to look away and toy with the strap of her bag.

“An ass, maybe a whore,” Tori says, who I now know is Skye’s younger sister. “Probably even a disrespectful walking dick with ears, would you like me to go on.”

“Oh my God, Tori, will you please stop!” Skye says in an irritated tone, her nostrils flaring as she glares at her sister. “You need to apologize.”

“No,” I interrupt, triggering all three ladies to look at me. “It’s alright, she has the right to her opinion.”

“Okay so maybe I took it too far, but could you at least do me a favor?” I offer the young girl a nod. “Keep the hyenas you bring home quiet. Stuff a sock in their mouths for all I care, but for the love of God shut them up.”

It’s impossible not to laugh at her, she may be mouthy but the girl is a character.

“Or hell, I don’t know, pick some less theatrical girls. You do know that half of them are fake, why do guys feed into that stuff anyway. Do you truly like those types. Woman that pretend you are God and they worship the ground you walk on? A woman shouldn’t have a mind of her own?”

“She should,” I agree.

“So why the bimbos?”

“Tori.” Skye again offers her sister a pleading stare.

“I’m just curious.” She shrugs.

“I know it’s no excuse but growing up I didn’t have the best role model when it came to women,” I say, surprisingly not feeling like the walls are closing in on me. Scarlett’s entire body shifts and I see her turn to me out of the corner of my eyes. She knows that me talking about anything from my younger years, anything regarding my mother at all, is something I rarely do. In fact I generally avoid it at all cost.

“My mother took off on my father and I before I turned six and like I said I know it’s no excuse but staying detached is much easier than getting hurt.”

Tori stares at me, saying nothing right away. I can almost imagine the shock on Scarlett’s face, when she hears me talk of my past so freely.

“Well you are right, that is no excuse,” the younger girl says without an ounce of remorse or sympathy. “Buck up pansy, my parents both got killed in a car accident when I was twelve. At least your dad is still here. Besides your mom was the idiot for running off. You shouldn’t be an idiot too, what is that gonna prove.”

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