Page 24 of Now and Forever
How she had missed the evenings in the library the most. She had tried and tried but despite all her efforts, she could not banish those memories. They were too special for that.
Behind her, her phone chimed on the bed. Picking it up, she smiled at the notification. Lately, she had been talking to a few of her old friends. Just the other day she met up with Lydia, a girl she used to hang out with in choir, for lunch. Lydia had seen her Instagram post about applying at Oakes University and had direct messaged her saying she was also at Oakes and that they should meet.
It was nice seeing old faces even if she had to artfully dodge all the questions about what happened at Juilliard. Golden sighed and walked out into the backyard where the detached garage was. Since she had no car, the building was mostly empty save for a few garden supplies neatly lined along the wall. Her thoughts swirled as she picked out a few tools.
When she had graduated, the entire school had made such a big deal about her Juilliard acceptance, there had even been an article in the local newspaper. The whole town had seemingly celebrated her entry to the prestigious school and predicted big things for her. Now look at her.
Shame wrapped its hand around her chest making it hard to breathe as she walked to the front carrying her tools. Stopping, Golden looked up at the sky and closed her eyes, counting to ten.
"Golden?"
Opening her eyes, Golden stared in surprise at Grayson as he stood beside his midnight blue Aston Martin parked in front of her house.
"Mr. Rosebank! What are you doing here?" she asked, more than surprised to see him.
His gaze sharpened at her words as he walked up the sidewalk.
Golden blushed, correcting her error. "I mean, Grayson."
Satisfied, his expression softened. "I've come to see you." Seeing the question in her eyes, Grayson continued. "I realized as I went home that you and I had no one there waiting for us at either house." His mouth ticked up at one corner in a rueful smile. "So why not spend the evening together?"
Golden opened her mouth and then closed it. She didn’t know what to say. This couldn't be happening right? She looked an absolute mess too. Her hair was covered in an old bandana and she was wearing oversized basketball shorts and a badly faded t-shirt with more than a few moth holes in it. Why God?!
"Um okay, yes of course. I would love to. Let me just put these back up," she said, hurriedly picking up the assortment of tools she had dragged out. "I was about to tackle these flower beds."
Coming over to her, his expensive leather shoes sinking into the grass, he stopped her. "You don't have to stop. I can help you."
Okay, now she knew she was dreaming. Giving him a flat look, she just stared up at him in silence.
Grayson laughed. "This perception you have of me as a high-maintenance snob is categorically incorrect."
"No, I'm sorry. I don't think you're high maintenance, it's just that you'reGrayson Rosebank," she stressed. "Your family owns this town. What would people think if they saw me out here putting you to work like a commoner?"
His jaw locked while his eyes glinted at her and Golden couldn’t help but laugh.
"Just give me the shovel and tell me where to start," he growled, taking the shovel from her hand.
"But your clothes." She pointed at him in alarm. He was wearing dark blue slacks and a light blue button-down. The overall look was pretty casual for him but she knew each article of clothing cost a fortune.
Grayson glanced down at his clothes and shrugged. "Don't worry about my clothes, I have a change of gym clothes in the car."
She smirked at that. "Omar is still ever prepared, I see."
"The man has started to pack snacks and waters in the car in case I get stranded. And I'm pretty sure he has secretly started canning food in the cellar." He began to take a step toward the overgrown flower beds when she made a noise under her breath. Letting out a sigh big enough to shift his shoulders, he turned back at her with a defeated smile. "It's going to bother you unless I change, isn't it?"
Relieved he understood, Golden nodded emphatically. It may just be her imagination but she could swear she could see the curtains moving in the houses across the street. If she had one of the Rosebanks out here working in her garden dressed in his fine clothing, her face would be plastered in the morning paper and real discussions of stoning her in the town square would commence.
Grayson lifted his hands in defeat and gave her a handsome smile. "Fine. I'll get changed," he said, turning back to his car and grabbing a gym bag from the trunk.
Setting down her own equipment she hurried to her door and showed him inside her house. A ball of nerves settled in her stomach suddenly. Grayson had never been in her house, ever. He had met her aunt of course but only outside the house and in town, never inside the house. And although she had told him of the cramped nature of her aunt's house in the past, Golden would've rather died than let him actually go in and see it. However, things were different now. Very different. The place was practically empty but somehow that was just as bad.
Her stomach shifted painfully in shame as he stepped over the threshold into the house. Which was worse, a house brimming with stuff or a house that showcased just how pathetic and lonely her life was? His footsteps echoed against the wood floors with each step and it felt as if each one just accentuated the emptiness of the house.
"You can use the guest bathroom up ahead," her voice trailed off as she looked back to see Grayson stopped in the middle of the living room looking into her open bedroom.
Panicked she glanced at it praying to God there wasn't a pair of panties sitting out or anything.
"That bed is massive." The statement was quiet, his gaze intent on the bed.
