Page 17 of Grayson

“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.” Lifting her finger she holds it only inches from my nose and glares at me. “Stay away from her. She’s not emotionally built for the kind of relationships you want.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a whore,” she says without hesitation. “Besides, her opinion of you isn’t all that great anyway. She knows all about your activities.” She air quotes the word activities. “She and her sister have heard them firsthand and all I’m saying is Skye is a friend. I like her and she doesn’t need some guy messing with her head. Even if that guy is my cousin and best friend, I will hurt you if you hurt her.”

“Never even said anything to her.”

“No but you are watching her like she’s a gazelle and you’re a hungry fucking tiger searching for food.” I can’t help but laugh at Scar. “I’m serious.”

I knew she was but what she didn’t know was the reason I was staring was because I still didn’t understand why the minute I got close enough to her it was like she stole all my air.

I’m not used to connecting with people, or women. Yes, physically has never been a problem but this was something else, something more. All we shared was a few words and I felt like she’d kicked me in the nuts. My stomach was in knots, just like Atticus had said. And nothing pisses me off more than the fact that he’d picked up on that right away.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Scarlett’s eyes narrow as she stands up and fists the edge of the table. “Of all the nights for that bitch to show up.”

Following her gaze the heaviness in my stomach quickly shifts to an emptiness as I see what’s got Scar so pissed.

Gia.

“I swear if she comes over here.” Scarlett doesn’t get the chance to finish her sentence as Gia notices me, grins across the bar and starts to move in our direction.

“If a catfight breaks out in here, Coop is going to be pissed,” Hollywood adds too loudly and Scarlett shifts her annoyed look to him. He holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m just saying.”

I’d never really noticed it until now. I guess I’ve never been in a room with Gia and Scarlett at the same time, but Gia smirks and a triumphant gleam settles in her eyes when she stops next to the table. Like she has some power over Scarlett. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

“Hey.” She squeezes past Hollywood and steps in closer to me, placing her hand on my forearm. “I was supposed to leave town tonight but it got delayed.”

I look over to find Scarlett glaring holes in the back of Gia’s head. But what bothers me more is that Skye is watching Gia close. The slow glide of her hand over my arm, before spreading her palm over my left pec.

“So I was on my way back to my hotel room and thought, why not spend the night with my favorite guy instead.”

My stomach grows sour when my gaze locks with Skye.

12

Skye Simmons

I shouldn’t be watching, but I can’t seem to look away. The woman currently rubbing all over Gray is gorgeous. She is also the same woman I saw leaving his apartment more than a few times.

Scarlett looks like she’s about to attack, with her lip curled up in annoyance.

“Your favorite guy.” Scar laughs and slams her drink down on the table, the contents spilling a bit, and gaining the attention from all those close enough to hear over the music. “There’s so many, I’m not sure how you can keep them all straight. How does one determine her favorite when she is with a new one each week?”

“It has everything to do with the tongue.” I choke on my drink quickly grabbing a napkin to cover my mouth. Did she seriously just say that? “You see, Gray here does this thing with his tongue.” The woman leans in and rubs up on him a little more. “He curls the tip and?—”

“Okay,” he barks, nudging the woman back a bit to gain some space. “Enough.” He looks between Scarlett and the other woman. Then he glances at me, surprising me.

Holding my stare the two women continue to bicker.

“Excuse me,” I say as I step back leaving everyone behind and walk toward the restroom. Stepping inside I lock the door and brace my hands on the sink. Breathing in slowly before letting it go. I look up at my reflection.

Dark eyes, highlighted by the excessive amounts of makeup Vivian applied during what she referred to as my makeover. It doesn’t look bad, it’s just more than I normally wear.

After a few minutes I splash some cold water on my face and pause with my hand on the handle. With one last deep breath I twist and pull open the door, immediately letting out a surprise yelp when I find Grayson leaning against the doorjamb, waiting.

I place my hand over my chest and try to slow my racing heartbeat.

“Sorry,” he says with a chuckle. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

---