Page 106 of Swim To Me

“Today has been hellish. Someone slipped on the side of the pool, blood all over the place. The paramedic said it was a suspected concussion.”

My mouth pops open in shock. “Somebody fell and they’ve got a concussion?!”

“Yep, but they’re okay and stable, just being monitored in hospital for the night because of the blood loss. I’m stuck here doing the paperwork for the insurance. I’m supposed to clock off in an hour, but that doesn’t look like it’s happening any time soon. I’ll probably be here for most of the evening.”

I click my tongue in sympathy. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m still not halfway through this manuscript and it’s due next week.”

Grey exhales softly. “I know you’ll get it done, gorgeous, but don’t overwork yourself too hard, okay? Remember to take breaks.”

Those words are still ringing in my ears when the clock strikes five pm and most of the office staff trot to the door.

After my phone call with Grey, I’d managed to get a chunk of the book edits sorted through, powered by my extra cup of caffeine, so I don’t feel that much guilt when I decide to leave work for the day, too. It’s something I’ve been working on, that feeling of guilt, ever since my conversation with Aurelia, when she’d held me on her bed while my heart was breaking. I’ve been working hard to tackle the feeling, not allowing it to ruin my self-care or linger around for the rest of the day.

I follow the crowd onto the street beyond, stopping off at a local shop for a bottle of wine, before hopping on the underground tube with an idea in mind.

By the time I get to the tall, ornate, set of apartments in which Grey lives, it’s almost six in the evening. He usually finishes early on a Friday, so I’m almost sure he’ll have finished his shift by now and is probably already upstairs changing out of his lifeguard uniform and packing his bag to stay another night at mine.

He’s been staying at my apartment every night since we decided to give things another go, carving out a space for himself in my kitchen, on my sofa, in my shower, in my bed.

But after his text today about his difficult day at work, I’m thinking it would be nice to surprise him with a different plan, which is why I smile to the doorman and step into the marble foyer of his building.

“Can I help you, miss?” asks the bubbly redhead at the front desk.

“I-I’m Delilah Clark, Grey—”

“Oh yes.” Her long nails click clack on the keyboard in front of her. “Mr Millen has added you to his approved list. Do you have a form of ID on you I can take a quick look at?” I flash her the ID I keep hidden in my purse. “Great! Thank you! I’ll get you a key card to keep, which will be used in the elevator slot to get up to Mr Millen’s apartment. Keep it safe and the next time you come in you’ll just be able to go straight on up.”

I take the shiny black key card from her clutches with a smile. “Thank you so much for your help.”

“My pleasure, Miss Clark.”

Heels clicking against the flooring, I jamb my knuckle into the button to call the elevator, ducking inside when it arrives. Thankfully, I’m the only one inside, so nobody is around to quirk their eyebrows up at me or watch as I struggle to understand how to use the key card I’ve been given.

I feed the sleek square into the slot above the panel, hit Grey’s floor number with my thumb and breathe a sigh of relief when the button flashes green and my brand-new key card is spat back out at me. But still, the elevator doesn’t move from the ground floor and I’m beginning to think I’ll be trapped inside here forever, until pixilated words flash across the panel.

ACCSESS GRANTED.

The elevator begins to glide upwards smoothly, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I bypass the other floors, giving me a tiny glimpse of other apartments in the high rise building, before the doors are pulling open and I’m stepping out, walking the short corridor to Grey’s door.

I knock politely and step back while I wait for Grey to open the door.

Except, it isn’t Grey who opens the door.

“Hi,” I breathe, my free hand coming up to tug at my ear. “I’m—”

“Delilah, isn’t it?” the man standing in front me asks. He’s slightly intimidating with the tattoos crawling up one bicep, disappearing beneath his tight shirt and then peeking out again on the side of his neck. “I’m Hudson, Grey’s younger brother.”

I hadn’t even thought about Grey’s brother being here when I hopped on the tube to come surprise him. But of course, Hudson would be here; he’s living here for god’s sakes. I kick myself for not remembering, and then lick my lips, attempting to find my words.

“Yes, I’m Delilah. It’s lovely to meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you. Grey even showed me a few pictures; he’s very proud of his family.”

Hudson laughs lowly, a matching twinkle in his green eyes akin to Grey’s. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m guessing you were looking for my brother?”

“Yeah…” I hold up the wine bottle in offering. “He rang me today, said he wasn’t having a very good day at work, so I thought I might surprise him. But if he’s not here…”

“Bloody paperwork is taking him ages. I don’t think he’ll be back for at least another hour or so.”

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