Beyond What is Given(34)

“I have to go.”

“You always have to go,” I whispered, and immediately regretted opening my mouth when his eyes closed. “Grayson, go. It’s okay. We can talk, or not talk, when you get back. I’ll be here.”

He opened his eyes and held me captive with a single longing look. “You’ll be here.”

“I’ll be here. I promise. But you do have to do one thing first.” I wrinkled my nose.

“Oh?” That smirk came back out to play, and I just about sang the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

“Take another shower. You’re covered in brownie mix.”

He looked down as if he’d forgotten he wore the sticky mess and sighed. “Right. Okay.” He paused, glancing at my lips, which still hummed from his kiss. His fingers covered mine, and he leaned into my palm. “I have to go.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Yes, you do.”

He nodded, then turned and pressed a kiss into the palm of my hand. Then he left me standing in a brownie-splattered kitchen.

“I think you’re good for him, for whatever my opinion matters,” Mia said, looking over the half wall at the mess we’d created.

“I’m not sure I’m good for myself, let alone Grayson.” I wet the kitchen sponge and headed to the counter. “But your opinion means a ton, Mia. I’m so sorry you walked in on that. Slightly mortified, actually.”

“I just graduated high school. Trust me, I’ve seen worse. Just not with Grayson. It’s nice to see him happy.” I raised my eyebrows at her, and she grinned. “Well, as happy as he gets, I guess. Oh! I almost forgot my phone charger!” She raced up the stairs.

Ellie Goulding blared out of Mia’s phone on the counter. “Mia!” I called out. “Your phone!” She didn’t answer.

I peeked at the caller ID. Parker. Grayson’s other little sister. “Mia!” I yelled a little louder. I debated for about five seconds before swiping the phone on.

“Hi, Parker, this is Sam. Mia ran upstairs for just a second, but she’ll be right back.” I kept my voice chipper. Wait, was that a scoff on the other end?

“Sam, as in Samantha. Of course.”

That tone was anything but friendly. “Did you want to hang on?”

“No need, if you can just pass a message to my sister and brother for me?” Her voice changed to syrupy sweet, and my spidey-senses tingled.

“Absolutely.”

“Tell Grayson that they’ve transferred Grace to OBH for a bad kidney infection. Her parents made sure to get the room with the pullout couch for him, since, you know, he barely leaves her side when he’s here. He’s such a good boyfriend, don’t you think?”

Boyfriend. My stomach lurched. No. Not again. The counter took the brunt of my weight as I leaned over on my elbows. “Yeah, he’s something else.”

“Well, it was nice to meet you, Sam. Tell Mia and Gray I’ll pick them up at the airport?”

“Absolutely.” My voice didn’t shake, which was hard to believe when the rest of me trembled. Breathe. Just breathe.

“Bye now!” She hung up without waiting for me to respond, and left me staring at the phone when Mia walked in.

“Sam? You okay? Is that my phone?” Her forehead puckered.

“Parker called. Something’s wrong with Grace’s kidneys, and they just transferred her to OBH. But there’s a pullout couch so Grayson can stay with his girlfriend.” That sounded normal, right? Maybe a touch flat, but at least I wasn’t screaming…just internally.

“Oh man, that’s the last thing she needs.” Mia rubbed her hands over her face.

“So he has a girlfriend?” I asked, my voice cracking on the last word.

She stilled, then slid her hand down her face. Truth sang out from her eyes, no matter how she tried to hide it. “Grace…Grace is really complicated. Like amazingly, soap-opera-worthy complicated, and it’s just not my place. I promised him.” She whispered the last part, a plea in her brown eyes to understand.

Oh, I understood all right. You’re so incredibly stupid. Well, at least you didn’t f*ck this one, right? “You guys need to get going or you’ll miss your plane.”

She skirted around the wall into the kitchen and took my hand, which was suddenly freezing. “You need to let him explain. Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t be that girl who freaks out over a miscommunication. Just give him a chance.”

“Name one reason why I should,” I asked.

“Because he’s alive around you. You’re the first reason I’ve seen him smile in almost five years. Seeing him here…with you, it’s like having him back again. You don’t see it, but I do. That’s why I came here. The minute he said your name in the car, it was like…a light clicked on. I had to know you. Please, give him a chance to explain.”

What was there to explain about a girlfriend back in North Carolina? Of course that’s why he went home as often as possible. How stupid could I have been? I took my hand back and gripped the kitchen counter.

What the hell was wrong with me? Was I only attracted to guys who were already taken?

“Mia?” Grayson called, barreling down the steps. “You ready? We have to go now or we’ll miss our flight.”