Page 130 of My Lucky Charm

Her eyes jump to mine. “Gray could get in trouble, and you could lose your job.”

I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants. “I know.”

“Eloise.” She’s using the maternal big sister tone that lets me know she means business. She was being so kind, so understanding, but in typical Raya fashion, she just can’t leave things be.

“Stop it. I already told you, there’s nothing going on with Gray and me,” I say. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“I’m sorry, Eloise, I just—”

“You just don’t trust me to make good decisions,” I say. “And why would you? My track record is littered with mistakes.”

She doesn’t argue that point. “I really am sorry for butting in, El.” She looks away, and I can see she’s being honest.

“I know you think you’re looking out for me, but at some point, I have to start looking out for myself. I’m going to make mistakes. But you have to let me. Because honestly, tiptoeing through life is never going to work for me.”

Her forehead pulls, and she straightens. “You’re implying that’s what I do.”

I scoff. “I’m not implying it. I’m saying it out loud. You’re so afraid of a wrong move, you’re frozen. In a holding pattern. Completely immobile.”

She holds up a hand, as if to silence me.

“Maybe I put myself out there too much,” I say. “But you don’t put yourself out there at all.” I reach across the table and cover her hand with mine. “You and Gray have that in common.”

She frowns. “I doubt I have anything in common with Grayson Hawke.”

“No, you actually do,” I tell her. “He keeps everyone on the outside too, only in his case, I think he’s worried about losing his focus or not being the best. And in your case, you just don’t want to get your heart broken again.”

“That’s not true,” Raya says. “I also don’t want to lose my focus. Work is important to me.”

“Well, there you go,” I say. “That’s such a lonely way to live.”

She seems unaffected by this, like any concern for her well-being fails to penetrate her outer layer. “Promise me you won’t let history repeat itself.” Her raised eyebrows punctuate her sentence in a predictable, maternal way.

I respond with an annoyed look. Did she hear a word I just said? “I need to get going.”

How well has caring about people worked out for you?

After this whole conversation, this warning about falling for bosses and losing jobs and litigation, the last words Gray said to me still ring through my mind.

I’m such a fool for thinking it could work.

Chapter Thirty-One

Eloise

Irush back to Gray’s building and take the elevator up to his apartment, trying to figure out how I’m supposed to feel about—and what I’m supposed to take away from—my conversation with Raya.

I nervously bounce as the numbers light up above the door in the elevator.

Raya’s warning reminded me that a relationship with Gray could cost me my job, but it could potentially cost him so much more. I would never, ever want to cause trouble for him, and even if I technically report to Coach Turnrose, I work for Gray.

But that’s not even half of what has me on edge.

The memory of the way I left here last night is too fresh to ignore.

I thought, for a fraction of a second, that he might actually open up to me. Or maybe that was his version of opening up. Maybe he’s never going to share feelings about his father. Speaking only in matter-of-facts, resolved to move on.

Never mind that those feelings obviously still affect him. Or that sharing them with someone might be good for him.

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