Page 47 of Grayson

Skye Simmons

“What’s going on?” Tori asks, looking between me and Vivian. “Why do you all look like the world’s ending?” She glances back over her shoulder to where Scarlett is sitting on the couch.

“Nothing.” I force a smile.

If I’d had it my way neither of them would be here. But apparently they both feel I need a sitter and I don’t. Truly I am okay.

I haven’t talked to Gray in two days. Partly because I avoided him after I left his apartment when I’d thrown myself at him and he rejected my advances. I made sure to leave early and stay gone all day. I also agreed to let Tori spend the night at Rachel’s for a second night. Now he’s at the station for his shift and I turned off my phone to avoid the messages he’s sent.

I felt foolish, climbing into his bed and telling him I’d give him sex if that’s all he wanted. Truth be told, I couldn’t do that sober, because though the sex is really good, I needed more.

“Lying isn’t your strong suit,” Tori challenges me. “So cough it up or I’ll be forced to figure it out on my own.

“There isn’t anything wrong,” I attempt to assure her once again.

“Since you’re here,” she points to Vivian, “and you’re here,” she adds pointing to Scarlett, “that only leaves one option.” I watch as she pulls out her phone and lifts it up. “Someone was an asshole or did something that’s going to piss me off.”

I can’t move around the counter fast enough as she walks away dialing her phone.

“Get that.” I wave my hand at Scarlett and she gives me a confused look. “Oh my God,” I start to panic. “She is calling Gray!”

“Maybe her giving him a good ass chewing is a good thing.”

“Nothing about that is good.”

I hear Tori’s voice echo down the hallway and I freeze staring in the direction. “What in the hell did you do?”

She isn’t yelling but her voice is raised and full of irritation.

“Because I left here two days ago and she was happy. She was worried about you after the news talked about the fire, but she was still happy. The same kind of happy that she’s been since she started seeing you. So again I’m going to ask what did you do?”

She grows silent. My heart is racing as I look to Vivian for help and she only shrugs.

“You told me that you wouldn’t hurt her.” Tori’s voice rises louder. “You said that she had you wrapped around her finger.”

“Go stop her,” I plead with Scarlett and watch as she carefully gets up off the couch and starts down the hallway just before I hear Tori yell.

“I trusted you!”

Tears fill my eyes and I blink them away. I find myself wondering when the two of them had this conversation she is referring to.

A few minutes later Scarlett comes out and offers me a sad smile. “Gray told me to tell you that tomorrow after his shift he’ll be over to talk.”

Lowering my head to the counter, I rest it on my arms and feel the emotional exhaustion take over.

“Skye.” I glance over my shoulder to find Vivian standing there nibbling nervously on her lip.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Um.” She points toward the front and that’s when I see him. Grayson is standing inside of the entrance of the salon, his hands both pushed into the front pockets of his jeans. His expression is stern, his jaw set, his eyes focused on me.

“I told him you were with a client, but he said he only needed a minute. He didn’t look like he was willing to take no for an answer.” My chest feels like it grows tighter.

“Do you need me to take over?” I break eye contact, looking down as we hover over my client Caroline’s head. “You’re just curling now right?” I nod knowing the last thing I want is to give in and let her finish. I don’t want to face him, I’m not ready. And I definitely don’t want to do any of it here. I’m at work.

“Here.” Vivian takes the iron from my hands. “He’s not leaving without talking to you first.”

Breathing in deep I release it slowly and offer her a nod. Wiping my now sweating palms on my pants I start to move toward him. Gray watches my every move, his lips pressed in a tight line, his gaze dark and focused.

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