Page 11 of Rules We Break

He shrugs. “My parents can’t make it to the dinner. Like I said. It’s nothing.”

“Why? Why can’t they make it?” It’s no secret that Alex’s family have never celebrated his accomplishments and my skin’s heating with the force of my anger.

“My brother has some kind of thing that day.”

“What kind of thing? Like an award?”

“No. No, like a zoom call or something with some boss. She didn’t really get into it.”

Rage flashes through me. “Are. You. Kidding. Me? They canceled over your brother’s freaking Zoom call? That’s why they can’t come?”

“It’s okay, Kitten.” Alex gives me a sad smile. “I didn’t expect them to come anyway.”

I growl low in my throat. “Whatever this is, it’s absolutely not okay.” I turn to River who looks just as pissed as I feel. “Do you still have that friend with the private jet?”

A dark smile curves his lips. “You going to confront them, Love?”

“No one hurts what’s mine.”

CHAPTER4

MIA

By the timeI’m standing in front of Alex’s childhood home, I’m practically vibrating with pent up emotions. Anger, disgust, sadness all tumble in my stomach. The Graysons are about to get a big surprise.

Alex had mentioned to them that I was in town and stopping by to collect some ancient trophy he’d left at their place. His mom basically said they’re hidden somewhere in the basement and good luck finding it. She’s lucky I’m not actually here for that.

“You don’t have to do this, Kitten.” Alex says from directly behind me, his breath coming out in warm puffs against my neck. He’d spent the entire flight trying to dissuade me from confronting his parents, but there was also a light shining in his eyes every time I told him they can’t treat him like that.

River’s wearing a black wool coat with the collar popped up against the cold wind. December in Canada is several degrees cooler than it is in Boston. He knocks on the door but doesn’t smile when Mrs. Grayson opens it.

“River, I didn’t know you were coming.” Alex’s mom says, genuine surprise in her voice. Her breath catches when she peers around him and spots Alex and I.

“You didn’t mention you were coming too.” She says to Alex.

I step forward, head held high, shoulders back and stride right to her. “Mrs. Grayson, is your husband home? I have something to say to both of you.”

She swallows hard and her brows pinch together. It reminds me so much of Alex it’s almost painful. “I’m not sure–”

“Just let us in, Mom.”

She steps aside, and I walk past her. The house is comfortable. Orange-red floors that were all the rage in the early eighties. There’s a brown suede sofa, with a knit blanket lying over the back. It reminds me of my grandma’s house. I asked Alex if he ever sent them money and he heavily implied it was beneath them.

“George!” Mrs. Grayson practically shouts Alex’s father’s name, and he comes through the doorway and a genuine smile takes over his face.

“Alex, I didn’t know you were coming.”

“He’s here because I asked him to come. I wanted to speak with you both about his celebration dinner.”

Mr. Grayson glanced at his wife then back to me. “I thought we already explained we can’t come to that.”

Any hope that it’s just Alex’s mom being the problem is squashed with those words.

Screw this. I square my shoulders and stare them down like Sidney taught me.

“Thank you for meeting me. I’m sorry for showing up here on false pretenses.” I walk deeper in the room and the couple moves to stand beside each other, both looking weary. Good. They should be afraid of me. Alex and River stay at my back, never interrupting me, but I can feel their anticipation.

I don’t look at them when I say, “I refuse to believe you don’t love him the way I do. Not when he’s not only sweet and kind, but determined and loyal. You raised an amazing son who puts his entire heart into everything he does. As his parents, you have to see that.”

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