Page 10 of Shot Through the Heart

“Okay, if it makes you blush, then I’m going to be a goner.” Even as I say it, I can’t fight off the excited smile as I move the books over to my coffee nook that’s out of Harper’s reach.

“Speaking of SweetHeart stuff…” Eva says hesitantly after I’ve sat back down beside her.

I sigh, taking a giant gulp of wine so I can stall and attempt to gather my thoughts. Which, to no surprise, I fail to do, seeing as how I haven’t been able to think straight since the moment I laid eyes on Greyson.

“I still don’t understand what happened today,” I whisper, staring blankly down into my glass.

Eva places her hand on top of my knee and gently squeezes.

“The second I found outwhoyou were about to meet, I tried?—”

“I know.” I cut her off. “It’s not your fault. I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault. Maybe my own for not thinking to ask for the client’s name beforehand, but I was just so excited for my first one that…”

Shaking my head, I take another sip of wine.

“So…what happened?” Eva probes. There’s no doubt if I told her that I wasn’t ready to talk about it, she’d easily pivot and spend the rest of the night distracting me.

However, I don’t think I can process today on my own.

“Honestly, I might have blacked out,” I start but pause to glance over at the girls as they play happily with Harper’s toys and lower my voice before continuing. “I knew there was achancethat I would see him when I moved here. But like, I thought maybe a run-in while we’re at the same restaurant or the mall, type of thing. Not like this!”

“Have you talked to Paige about it? She can probably get you out of it,” Eva offers and I shake my head.

“I only told her that the contract was signed and that I would update her later. But I also offered all of that to him. I tried saying we could get someone else and he just said no to every option I gave.”

“Why is he even hiring someone like you? It’s not like he has a shortage of fangirls around him. Even when I’ve seen him out with Lilly and Paige, there’s always a line of women waiting for him to just say hi.”

“That’s what I thought too!”

Greyson is a good-looking man. Okay, that’s putting it mildly. He could easily drop hockey and go into modeling. When he first approached me in high school, I couldn’t even make eye contact for more than two seconds without turning into a babbling tomato. It shouldn’t have surprised me that time wasverynice to him. Unlike five years ago, he now has a nicely groomed beard, and his dark, wavy hair is long enough to be pulled back from his face. Somehow, he seemed taller, but maybe that was the way his newly formed muscles strained against his shirt. The Florida sun seems to have been kind to him too, tanning his skin and showing off the tattoos that weren’t there when I last saw him.

But it was those damn shining brown eyes that kept making me lose my breath.

It doesn’t make sense. The contract was for me to attend six events over the course of the next three months with him. The events themselves don’t sound bad. Most of them are fundraisers put on by the team. But why is he hiring someone to be seen with him?

“Maybe something happened with a crazy ex that hasn’t hit the tabloids yet and they’re trying to lessen the blow?” Eva suggests and I try to ignore the way my stomach sours at the thought of Greyson with another woman.

“Maybe,” I grumble and down the rest of my wine just as Zoey calls out for Eva to come see the tower they built. While she goes to see their work, I get up to refill our glasses and continue to try to process everything that happened today.

I had for sure thought that Greyson would immediately take me up on the offer for someone else to take my place or to leave and get back in touch with Garrett. But then he went and insinuated I was an ass for assuming that. It took all my effort not to snap back.

Why agree to keep me around for three very public months now? None of it makes any sense. He was the one who sent me away, even knowing I was pregnant with his child.

The folder in my hands feels like a stack of bricks. Or better yet, a neon sign alerting everyone I passed on the way over as to what’s inside. I stare down at the papers and try to find the courage to ring the doorbell.

I just need to see Greyson. Need for him to hold me and tell me that everything will be okay.

The past two weeks have been the worst ones of my life. It’s the longest we’ve ever gone without talking to or seeing each other since we met freshman year. I had always thought I didn’t need anyone. I’d even gotten used to being alone. But going without hearing from Greyson for fourteen days has shown me just how much he truly ingrained himself into my life.

I can only imagine how painful these past few weeks have been for him too. I finally got one of his friends to give me an update on his injuries, and when I heard how bad they were, all I wanted was to be by his side.

Sadly, his mom explained that because of his condition, the hospital was only letting immediate family in to see him. I tried multiple times to see him, and the last time I did, his mom took the care basket I put together for him, saying she would let him know I stopped by. When he was discharged four days ago, I thought I’d finally be able to see him. Only to not even make it past the same door that looms over me now. Apparently, he was still in pain and barely awake due to the pain meds. I tried explaining that I wouldn’t do anything more than sit beside him, but his mom told me he didn’t want any company.

Normally, I’d let things move at his pace. He’s the one who took the brunt of the injuries in the accident, so if he says he needs rest and alone time, I want to give him that.

However, the call back I got from the doctor two days ago changed everything.

My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I finally ring the bell. After what feels like an eternity of waiting, the grand mahogany door swings open, revealing his mother.

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