Page 20 of Stars and Scars

I give him a look and chuckle.

“I guess you CIA guys all have nerves of steel and sleep like babies at night.”

He flinches, and something dark passes behind his eyes. Grayson tightens up his hands on the wheel, and sets his jaw hard.

“You might be surprised. I’ve made…mistakes.”

A slight tremble enters his voice. I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing. Grayson the Ghost, showing real human emotion. It makes me feel bad for him, because there's clearly some tragedy he’s keeping under wraps.

But on the other hand, it makes him look so much more human and the magnetic pull he exudes grows tenfold stronger. Now he’s not just a fantasy for me to dismiss. He’s a real human being, and a human being I wouldn't mind getting to know better.

Since he seems done talking for the moment, I turn my attention to my phone. I see that my content team has edited and posted my brief video with Grayson. My eyes widen when I see that there’s one singular theme to the majority of the comments.

OMG he is so hot!

Looks like he walked off the cover of a romance novel.

You guys are just 2 cuuuuute :) :)

My face burns with embarrassment. I hadn’t expected that reaction, and it makes my attraction to Grayson that much more humiliating.

Which of course means he stares right at the screen when we stop at a red light.

“What’s all of that?”

“Well…”

I punctuate my words with nervous laughter.

“Everyone seems to think we look really cute together.”

“Everyone? Who’s everyone?”

“My followers.”

“Oh.”

He frowns, and I can’t tell how he’s taking the news. I close my screen and purse my lips.

“What?” Grayson asks.

“I was just thinking, I should make a post about getting my life threatened more often, if it means I get to meet guys.”

He cocks an eyebrow at me, but then goes back to driving. I sigh and roll my eyes.

“I can tell you want to say something to me, Grayson. Why don’t you go ahead and say it?”

Grayson’s hard expression softens a little.

“It’s nothing bad. I just…you seem self aware, and more jaded than I would expect.”

Now it’s my turn for a dry chuckle.

“You think I’m all bubbly and happy all the time, like I am in my videos? Puhleeeze.”

He grunts. “I guess I don’t really know you.”

Grayson turns those soulful eyes on me again, and I get all melty inside again.

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