Page 3 of Royal
The fight had been stupid, too. Just a disagreement about where we were going for spring break. Some buddies were taking a trip to Cancun, and Grayson wanted to go. I’d said I’d rather rent a cabin by the lake and relax for the week.
“You’re a damn buzzkill,” Gray had said, pulling away from me. His eyes were already glassy from all the shots. “You never wanna do anythin’ fun anymore. I had to practically drag you here tonight.”
“I’m a buzzkill for not wanting to blow a shit ton of money on a stupid trip we won’t even remember because we’ll be shitfaced the whole time?” I responded. “Whatever.”
“I’ll just go without you, then,” he said.
“Fine.” I’d had enough of his attitude.
He’d stormed off after that, and I’d been trying to find him ever since.
I knew he was just being an ass. Since he was pissed, he was intentionally avoiding me and probably drinking with Patrick, one of the buddies he’d met this year. Being ignored got under my skin, which was why he did it.
Two weeks ago, I thought we couldn’t be happier. Now? All we did was fight and fuck. Repeat. But as much as he got on my nerves, I still loved him. He couldn’t help the way he behaved at times. His asshole dad was to blame for that.
Me:Quit acting like a child and talk to me.
My phone rang.
“Gray?”
“Since you’re not getting the message,” he said in a voice that didn’t sound like him at all. Too…distant. “We’re over, Royal.”
“Over?” I stopped in the hall, plugging my other ear because the party was so damn loud. I couldn’t have heard him right.
“Yeah. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what?”
There was a pause.
“Be with you,” he finally said. His voice cracked on the last word.
“Are you seriously breaking up with me over the phone?”
“Get off the phone,” another guy’s voice sounded on his end of the line.
“What the fuck?” I said. “Who’s with you?”
More mumbling from the other guy.
“Gray! Fucking answer me.”
He hung up.
I kept the phone at my ear, too stunned to move. Five years of being with Grayson. I finally felt whole for the first time in my life because I was no longer hiding from myself. Falling in love with Grayson had made me a better man. A happier man.
And he’d just dumped me.
I couldn’t breathe. My heart cracked, and I lifted a shaking hand to place over it, trying to hold myself together. I couldn’t imagine not being with Grayson. He wasn’t just the love of my life; he was my best friend.
He’s drunk.
Grayson pushed people away when he was scared. I needed to talk with him face to face, so I could get a read on him. I was used to his mood swings. This time was no different.
“Looking for Grayson?” Michaela asked. She was in my Business Communication class—the class I had an exam in the next day.
In a daze, I focused on her. My head was spinning from the call.
