Page 134 of Always Been Yours

Lexi comes twirling into my room, happier than anyone has a right to be in front of me right now.

Okay, that’s mean. I know its mean… and I don’t actually feel that way. Except maybe I do right now. A little.

“Why are you twirling around? You look like…” I let the sentence die off, not wanting to talk about Stella or Daisy. It hurts too much.

Never letting me take the easy route, she asks, “Who? Daisy?” She stops and looks at me sitting on my bed, in only a bra andunderwear. She gives me an exasperated glare. “Because I’mhappy, you bitch. Hurry up and get dressed. I’m leaving in ten.”

Reluctantly, I walk to my closet. “Why’re you so happy?”

“You’ll see.”

I grab my white sweater and booties before meeting Lexi in my room. “What do you mean,I’ll see?“ Nothing good can come from that phrase out of her mouth.

“You need pants.” She walks to my dresser, thumbing through the options.

“I’m wearing the red flairs.” I point to the other drawer. She opens it and throws the pair to me. Slipping them on, I say, “Please tell me what’s going on. You know I hate surprises.”

“Velvet is perfect for a Christmas fair. Good choice.” Usually, I can play into her deflection for a bit but I’m at my wits end here, on the verge of a panic attack at having to interact with Grady in less than thirty minutes. And Iknowhe’s going to want to talk about us. I’m honestly surprised he’s given me the week and a half I asked for.

But truthfully, the thought of not talking to Grady tonight is worse.

The small possibility that he’s changed his mind since then, that I’m too much and I don’t giving enough back, is the outcome that hurts the most.

“I can’t do this tonight, Alexandra.” Werarelyuse each other’s full names, so she knows I’m serious right now. “What the fuck is going on?”

She bites the inside of her cheek, considering letting me in on the surprise. When her hands slip into her pockets, I know that I’m getting an answer.

“Your brothers and Knox helped Grady plan something for you. It’s not asmallgesture but I promise it won’t feel like abig, public declaration either. But it’s sweet.“ She gives me a small smile and nods. “And he wants to talk to you. I’m in charge of getting you there.” She’s been Grady’s biggest supporter since he moved back, so I’m not surprised by her change of loyalty.

Rolling my eyes, I finish getting ready and let Lexi drive me to my impending anxiety attack.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Grady

I stand at the end of the pier, only slightly worried that Lexi’s more likely to pull a Thelma and Louise than she is to bring Vivi here. She’s been a huge supporter of our relationship so far but she’s always going to be a bigger supporter of Vivi—as it should be.

Knox, Asher, and Hudson helped me get everything ready. The three of them are further down, staying out of sight so I can have this one moment with Vivi before the fundraiser starts.

I know what tonight means for her and the school, so I wanted to show her that what’s important to her, means everything to me.

As my nerves start to grow, I see headlights pull into the parking lot a few hundred feet away. The car turns off, but it takes a couple minutes before I see her bright red hair half piled on top of her head in a messy bun, the rest is in loose waves down her back. With her white and red outfit, she looks like an adorable candy cane. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was intentional.

It feels like hours before she finally begins her ascent up the stairs. I hold my breath, counting the seconds until I see her beautiful face. A week and a half feels too long now. Vivi isn’t just a part of my everyday life, she’s ingrained into the very essence of mysoul. Even if she decides she doesn’t want to be with me anymore, I know that she will always carry part of me with her.

The moment the top of her head crests the staircase, her eyes widen in shock. She stops with only a few steps left, her mouth opening and closing—searching for the right words. The woman who almost always has a retort is speechless.

“Grady… I—what?” She lightly shakes her head. “How did you do this?”

I give her a small shrug. “I had some help.”

“But… in a week you turned our fundraiser into…” She trails off. Her eyes are lit up with awe, but I can’t help worrying that I overstepped. I promised her that we would follow all of her plans for this.

And I let Asher talk me into going completely rogue.

“Do you hate it?” I ask desperately, glancing over my shoulder.

She shakes her head, tears brimming her eyes. “No,” she says through a watery laugh. “Iloveit.“ She takes a few steps toward me, toward the winter wonderland we somehow pulled off.

---