Page 63 of The Spotlight Effect

I should have been scared because we end up in Santa Monica outside of a little shop. It looks homey but interesting like one of those places you pass by while driving somewhere and you wonder what it's like inside. The shop has stained glass double doors, orange and white low lighting, and it smells of pine and spices.

The shop has candles, jewelry, band shirts, vintage shoes, sweaters, crystals, and books all on display. There are a few other random things like teddy bears, comic books, writing kits, and fandom merch. It’s a shop of many things.

While Grayson speaks with the owner, I got a bit distracted by the Harry Potter stuffed animals on one stand. “Alexia!” Gray calls my name, and I hurry through the maze of fancy sleeves and bookcases to the counter.

“Yes, Popstar?” I respond as I exit one aisle and see him.

“This is Alexia… My, um, my Alexia,” Grayson says to a brown-haired lady dressed in a lovely floral dress.

“Hi,” I reply, kind of meekly.

His Alexia?

What does that mean?

Why did he say that? And why do I like it?

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Gray's Alexia,” the lady says humorously.

“She’s a shy one,” the woman adds.

“Oh, she’s normally bolder than this,” Grayson says.

“I’m Cadence, a friend of Gray’s mom,” Cadence says.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” I say.

“I’ll give you kids some space while I go handle things in the back,” the lady says and leaves us.

“So, what’s special about this place?” I ask.

“When I was younger, my mom would bring Bea and me here all the time, and we’d help out and eat home-baked cookies. This is her best friend's shop, but a year before their divorce, we stopped coming. My dad said we shouldn’t be seen around here in places like this,” Grayson explains.

“That’s awful. Your dad’s a bitch,” I reply, looking over at some sleeves.

“He’s definitely more than that,” Grayson says. I look over and see a ring and necklace shelf and decide to go take a look.

On the shelf, I find two silver butterfly necklaces. “Do you like them?” he asks, standing behind me.

“Butterflies are my favorite animal,” I respond.

“I’ll buy them,” Grayson says, and he does before I can stop him. I take one and he takes the other. I take a picture to show off our matching necklaces, just to have for myself. We stay a few minutes in the shop and help stock up and clean and then we leave her to lock up. Grayson insists our next spot be to get food and then we can go on a drive before he takes me home.

This strangely feels like it’s turning into a date and it’s the best one I’ve ever been on.

“Thank you for showing me somewhere important to you,” I say fiddling with my new necklace.

“No need to thank me, I wanted to,” he replies. I look over seeing the silver butterfly necklace that matches mine shining around his neck in the moonlight. I can’t believe he’s actually wearing it. It’s cute that he is wearing it even though he obviously doesn’t have to.

We get to-go orders fromIn-N-Outwhich I get super excited for. I love their animal-style fries. Grayson got this burger where the buns are onions. I personally don’t see the appeal but maybe it tastes good. We ride around and listen to music while we eat.

“You know this wasn’t so bad,” I say.

“See, I told you this would be fun,” Grayson says, taking a sip of his Dr.Pepper.

“This is the best I don’t know what to call this I've ever been on.” I realize it was never established what this is. Is it a date or are we hanging out?

“This is the best time I’ve had in a while, also you know you can call me Gray instead of Grayson,” he tells me.

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