I make my way back to the girls, I pass Grayson, his eyes looking dazed and fueled with anger. I kept my eyes on him as he disappeared into the locker room.
“Hey… ready to go?” I smile at my friends who were gathered with the
opposing team.
They all formed a gaze that held trouble.
“What is it…?” I walked up slowly with caution.
“We are all hanging out at the clubhouse tonight to celebrate the win.” Verina throws me a coy look as I groan.
“Margo, you promised me that we were in and out.” I fold my arms together.
“Yes… of course but you wouldn’t mind.” She probed as I darkened my gaze. I look at the hockey team with uncertainty.
“They’re going?” I ask.
Verina smiles back, “Maybe.”
“I’m sorry guys but I’m going home. I’m tired.” I start to walk away as Margo’s hand shoots out to grip my arm.
“Anna, come on, please come.” She whispers as I turn to look back at the boys, with nervous gazes.
“Have fun with us.” She asks so nicely I felt my body heat reach an unhealthy temperature.
“I have to catch my father before he leaves for Fiji.” I let out.
She sighs, “It was your plan to let the boys party, and this is the perfect way to get back at Liam.”
Did Liam mean this much to her?
“Fine.” I seethed out painfully as she hugged me tightly. “But I’m only doing this for you.”
“I love you.” Margo starts to lead everyone to her car, and the boys start to get into their sports cars, driving away before Grayson could come out.
 |
Everyone left and I had been sitting outside, waiting for a phone call that never happened, so I took it upon myself to call him.
It went straight to voicemail, so I leave a message.
“Hey Dad, I’m just calling to see if you are going to be here at all for the following week, I could even fly out to you if you want.” I let out a tear but wiped it immediately. “I just don’t want to spend my birthday alone this Thursday,” I mumbled.
I ended the call, my heart thumping. I delete the message. He out of all people didn’t need to know that I was being pathetic without him.
But I was.
I heard the door slam open, I jolted up, making eye contact with Grayson as he stopped to keep his steady gaze on mine.
“Great.” I let out exasperated as he shook his head at me annoyed.
He started to walk away from me as I moved to block his way, and he let out an annoying huff.
“Cassian, get the fuck out of my way I just want to go home.” He tries to avoid me as I walk closer, his eyes roaming down my body, I let out a shiver.
“Oh, Mr. Prince, are you upset with me?!” Mine and Grayson’s eyes meet, almost as if he challenged me.
“I suppose. You are the reason why my team isn’t getting the rest they need.”
“You could’ve said no.” I fold my arms.
Grayson and I had been bickering since we were young, nothing I ever did satisfied him.
One time for Halloween I dressed up as this really pretty princess that had a beautiful pink dress, he accidentally poured black paint on it from his gooey costume.
So, I wanted to get back at him.
For Christmas when we were eight, all the founding families of Hawthorne had to attend the Christmas party that the James family hosted, Margo and I made fake treasure maps that Liam and he followed to the lake, where we pushed them in.
He was practically a popsicle when he came back inside.
Or in middle school science, our class had a contest on which person could grow the most flowers, I was for sure going to win.
But the next morning, someone mysteriously cut off all my flowers with safety scissors.
Then I got back at him by telling his crush, Sophie Jackson that he practiced kissing a snail.
And before I thought to myself that I was evil and to say sorry, he would always come back with another plan to antagonize me.
And I couldn’t help myself. It was a hobby. He rolls his eyes, my lips curving.
“Don’t look so tough, Cassian. I can still see the mascara stains you have, about God knows what.” He advances on me, tilting his head, I start to walk backward, my body hitting the wall.
He almost looked feral; his eyes gleaming darker blue.
Hunger.
He lets his hand travel to my waist still hesitating on actually touching me, preventing my full body from hitting the remainder of the wall.
“And you’re so tough?”
“Yes, actually.” He smirks, “I am.”
His hand felt nice on me, he squeezed as I let out a breath, his eyes resting on my lips.
Kiss me.
“Is that what you tell yourself every day?” I swallow, getting the smell of his cologne.
“You should really get to the party. You wouldn’t want to keep your boyfriend waiting.”
I shiver, “Aren’t you going?”
He forms a smirk, pulling his hands away from me. Now looking at the clear pathway that he made for himself by moving me. “Thanks for getting out of my way, Dove.”
Grayson starts to walk away, I couldn’t resist myself, letting my hand grip his, “No!”
He turns back to me, his smirk never leaving his face, “Are you concerned for me or something?”
I let go of him, his skin felt like fire on hold. “Dove, I can handle myself.”
He huffs out as I smile, “Why did you walk out of your house in a rush yesterday? You looked pissed.”
His eyes grew dark, my heart stopped for a moment.
Sore subject.
“Looks like I’m not the only one with family issues.” I teased.
He shifted his body towards me, muscle and all its glory he walked me back towards the wall, “Don’t talk about my family like you know them.”
I attempt to push him back, “Then don’t talk about my father like you know him either.”
He turns around, “Except, I know what I’m talking about, and your little phone call is the evidence I need, you have nothing on me.” He laughs, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it, and putting it in between his lips.
I felt foolish and embarrassed. I stalked in front of him. His eyes lingered on mine as I took the cigarette from his lips, threw it on the ground, and stepped on it.
Before pointing at the “No smoking” sign on the wall, “You should really stop smoking those cancer sticks, it’s not good for you.”
“And you should really stop messing with things that are bad influences on you.” He leans down.
I roll my eyes, “If you are talking about yourself, trust me. You are no temptation, Prince.” I leaned closer, I was practically drugged.
“Why aren’t you going to the party?” I asked as he pulled his hockey bag over his shoulder.
“I have shit to do.” He mutters. “Like what?”
“Mind your own fucking business.” He pulls away as his bag unzips, and a bouquet of flowers falls on the cement floor. His face looked furious. His face was tainted with disdain as the roses fell to the ground, now unpresentable. “Fucking hell.”
I let myself fall to the ground, picking up the flowers and handing them over to him, “I’m so sorry…”
“I don’t need your apologies.” I swallow, pulling away. “I didn’t know you—”
“—You don’t know anything about me, Adrianna. So, stop acting like you fucking do.” He pulled his hockey bag over himself.
He starts to walk away to his car before I finish my sentence, “I’m sorry.”
“That. Stop fucking saying sorry. Stop feeling sorry for everything too. It pisses me off. Maybe feel sorry for yourself. Go home instead of trying to figure out my life.” Grayson yells.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Let me tell you this, Dove.” His voice sounded thick with hate.
“You have lived in a fucking cage all your life, everything bad that’s going to happen to you.” He smirks, “You fucking deserve every bit of it.”
“The heartbreaks.” He continues, “The loss.” He meets my face, but the burn on my eyes made me resist meeting his.
“You’re nothing without your money, your parents, and your fucking appearance.” He laughs, “If you ask me… that would be the only reason I would be able to stand being with you for more than five minutes.”
I laughed, feeling the tears forming but there was no way in hell I would let them fall.
“You are such an ass, Prince.” I lick my lips to suppress my anger. “You think everything revolves around you.”
He leaned back just to listen to me.
“You are a selfish arrogant asshole that has nothing better to do with his life other than try to make my life miserable.” I smile.
“Your previous comments about me just proved once again that you might be the stone-cold heartthrob. You put up this front that you are the worst and that your family is the best, but you will never grow up.”
“You really think someone would love you when you are so repulsive that no one can stand even staying before you end up dumping them in a corner anyway!”
I yell back as he turns around shutting his car door.
The fucking nerve.
GRAYSON
Her mother fucking nerve.
First, she ruins my mood by being at the game. Second, she ruins the fucking flowers I bought for August. Third, of course, she
insults me and tramples all over my boundaries.
She never knows when to stop, when to fucking begin. She’s just an expert on how to ruin my fucking day.
I grip the steering wheel, pull out of the parking lot, and turn my head over to the side mirror, she stood out, rummaging through her purse. Probably her keys, before running over to her car.
I sped out of the parking lot, hoping that I caught August before she left her job.
She’d always leave last, she helps clean up, and never accepts help from anyone. I grew to admire her in that way. She always cared for others more than herself.
I turn over to the cafe down the street from the movie theater, the lights dimmed down as she emerges out the front door with her keys.
I jumped out of my car, the ruined bouquet in hand, her eyes met mine, she hurried to her car, but I reached it before her.
“Grayson. Please.” She mumbles.
I swallow, “August, please just give me a chance. I’m sorry for pushing you away and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I love you.” I handed her the flowers. “I do love you.”
She looks up at me, “I’m sorry Grayson, now is just not a good time…” “I didn’t see you on campus today.” I interrupt her as she frowns.
“I couldn’t make it. I had work.”
I hold her hand, “If you need the money, I have the money August.”
She pulls away, “Will you knock it off, Grayson!” She throws the flowers on the floor, “This is over. Do you understand me?” She huffs out as I feel my chest break and constrict.
“I’m going to win you back. Is that possible?” I ask with a plea. “Is it possible to win you back?” I say with my heart on the line.
She looks up at me, “Not right now.” I felt my heart burn as she looked away. But she stopped and stood back up to face me.
“Grayson.” She whispers, her hand on my cheek, “I love you so much.” I felt my heart lift, “So then what’s the problem?”
“I want you to take care of yourself and your family issues first… Once they take you seriously and your relationship with them is rebuilt, I know you can handle a relationship. I will take you seriously.” She smiles at me. The smile that I love so much.
She kisses my right cheek, holding my heart on her sleeve.
Then she got back into her car. Closing the door, turned it on and drove away.
Leaving me with a shred of hope, a shred of maybe there was a way to get her back.
