Page 42 of Could Have Been Us
“What happened?” I ask as I hand it to him.
Grayson fills me in on all that happened at dinner. I’m . . . floored. If I didn’t know him as well as I do, I would have called him a liar to his face because what he’s telling me is disgusting and incomprehensible. His father has always been a piece of work, but sleeping with Grayson’s ex is a little much, even for him. Although, I’m not sure why I’m surprised after the ultimatum he gave to his daughter.
“Wow.”
“Yeah.” He lifts the bottle toward me. “How about that.”
“So, you fought with Jess?”
He nods. “I was pissed and took it out on her.”
“Which caused her to run.”
“And almost die,” Grayson adds. I can hear the pain and fear in just those three words.
“She’s here. She survived.”
“I’m going to marry her.”
I grin at that. “You should.”
“Soon.”
“I figured. You never were one to wait once you made up your mind.”
“We’ve always been that way. You and I were reckless for a long time . . . and we made lots of mistakes, but also had a lot of fun.”
I lean forward, forearms resting on my knees. “I’ve definitely made my share of mistakes.”
Grayson sets the beer down. “I want you to be my best man.”
My eyes widen. “What? You have three other brothers.”
“I know, but you’ve always been more family to me than anyone. You’re my best friend, and when I marry her, I want you standing next to me. Will you do it?”
Guilt like I’ve never known before rises, filling me until I feel like I might choke. I nod, unable to speak without being sure I won’t tell him about Stella.
“Yeah?” he asks.
“Yes,” I croak and then drain my beer, the feeling of betrayal too much to handle.
Chapter 12
Stella
“So, we’re going into business together,” my brother Oliver says as he throws his feet onto my table.
“I feel like we’ve always been in business together.”
“Yes, but now we’re going to take all our life’s savings and toss it in. It’s a good thing none of us—well, other than Gray—have a relationship or kids.”
Right. None of us.
Oliver is my twin. He knows me sometimes better than I know myself. But he has never asked a direct question about why I went to stay with our grandmother.
I’ve waited for him to call me out on why I didn’t go to South Carolina and went to Georgia instead. Because as wonderful as Ollie is, and he is truly the kindest and most wonderful of the Parkerson brothers, he’s not timid . . . not with me.
“Listen, if you’re going to live with me, you shouldn’t do . . . that.” I point to his feet.
