“Thanks for showing me that spot on the roof,” I murmur to Declan. I look over at the large hospital building as we pull apart. “It was my favorite part of being here.”
“Of course, Soph. Anytime.” He grins, reaching up to slide his fingers through a few strands of my blue and blonde hair. His gaze softens a little, and I think for a moment that he might kiss me like he did back on the roof, in front of Gray and Elias and Max as if it’s a totally normal thing to do. And even more surprising is the realization that I want him to. Not to piss Gray or Elias off, not to make anyone jealous.
But just because it feels right.
I can see him considering it, see how much he wants it too. In the end, he just presses a kiss to my forehead, gently tugging on the strands of my hair that are wrapped around his fingers. But even that feels significant somehow.
Like he’s claiming a piece of me, making sure everyone here knows.
Gray makes a noise in his throat as Declan and I separate. His gaze flicks between the two of us and then to Elias before settling back on me. “You ready?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“All right. Let’s go. I don’t want you on your feet too long.”
Ignoring the implications of that, I step back as Gray opens the passenger door for me. I climb inside the car while he walks around to the driver’s side.
After sliding into the plush leather seat behind the wheel, Gray reaches over me for my seatbelt, his chest brushing against my shoulder. Grabbing the buckle, he snaps it into place. His fingers linger against my thigh before he pulls away.
“You know I could’ve done that,” I say mildly, our gazes colliding. “Didn’t hurt my hands.”
“Thank goodness.” His lips twitch, and I almost think there’s a hint of amusement beneath his voice, but his expression stays serious.
Max waves goodbye before heading back across the parking lot to her car, and I see Declan and Elias start walking toward a car that I’m pretty sure belongs to Elias. Gray pulls out onto the street, navigating with confidence as he heads away from the hospital.
He doesn’t say anything for a while, and neither do I. Music plays softly from the speakers, and the silence between us makes an intense sort of anticipation slowly churn in my stomach.
Gray and I have always been explosive. Whether they’re good or bad, the feelings between us have never been tame. Never been gentle. When we come together, it’s like a lit match to gasoline, and I know this little arrangement for winter break isn’t going to change that.
“Are you okay?” I ask suddenly, breaking the silence.
The question hangs between us for a few tense seconds before he glances over, dragging his gaze away from the road for just a second to say, “I should be asking you that. Are you okay?”
It’s a non-answer on his part, but I don’t push. Instead, I blow out a breath, glancing out the passenger side window. “I’ll be fine. If I could just remember what the fuck happened that night, I think I might be great.”
I try to say it lightly, but he must be able to hear the weight of the words anyway. He nods, focusing his gaze back on the highway, and I catch the way his jaw clenches. His shoulders look tight, his whole body a little tense—like there’s a storm brewing inside him.
This isn’t the first time I’ve noticed the tension in him since I woke up. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, what personal demons he’s battling, but I wish he’d tell me.
The rest of the drive is quiet. I can’t think of anything to say, and just like Declan, Gray doesn’t try to fill the silence with small talk. If Elias was here, I have a feeling he’d be flirting up a storm, trying to keep things light, but that’s just his personality.
When Gray turns onto a private driveway, I perk up a little, realizing we’ve reached our destination. The long driveway is paved with brick and guarded with a high gate that Gray opens by pressing a button that’s been added to his car.
After pulling to a stop in front of the sleek, modern looking mansion, Gray shuts the engine off and goes around to the trunk, pulling my bag out for me. I don’t wait for him to open up the passenger door, slipping out while he’s busy with my bag and looking up at the massive house. I’ve been here once before, when Max and I crashed his party and I stripped in the living room. But it somehow looks even bigger and more impressive in the light of day.
He leads me up the wide stairs to the front door, then unlocks it and lets me in. Our footsteps echo a little as we step into the stylishly minimal foyer of white stone and marble. As I watch him kick off his shoes in a familiar way that seems out of place in a house like this, it finally hits me—
This is Gray’s reality.
This is his house. This is where he grew up.
Just like I became familiar with Brody McAlister’s shitty place and wandering hands, this is where Gray’s entire life exists. This wealth is what he eats, sleeps, breathes. Everything. This is where he’s lived his entire life. It’s the world he’ll continue to be a part of for the rest of his life. One day, he’ll inherit all of this.
And where will I be? What will I do?
I’m not even fucking sure.
“Damn,” I tease, following him deeper into the house, “where’s the butler? This shit is real, how many servants do you have?”
Even though I’m joking, Gray’s face hardens a little. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” he mutters under his breath, leading me through a living room that looks like it’s never been used. “Trust me.”
I bite my lip. I’m not sure exactly what his comment alludes to, but I get what he’s saying. Reality isn’t as sweet as the outside looks, which I guess is true whether you’re rich or poor.
But damn, I think, if I had all of this, I’d find it real hard to get pissed about anything.
“Like I said, my parents aren’t here,” he adds. “They're not going to be here for the rest of winter break, so it’ll just be you and me.”
We finally stop in a room that looks a little more lived in—it’s a bit less stuffy and more inviting. I could picture chilling in here with the guys, talking or messing around or some shit, and not worrying about breaking something valuable like I would in the other rooms I’ve seen.
I glance up at Gray. Despite my earlier joke about servants, I have a sudden strong suspicion that we’re the only two people in this house.
Worry still lingers in his eyes, but I catch a hint of heat simmering there too, contained and controlled in true Gray fashion. Vaguely, I wonder how long it will be before we end up with our clothes scattered on the floor around us, our sweaty bodies wrapped around each other.
Clearing my throat, I drop his gaze as I look around the room again, my attention snagging on a framed picture of a pretty girl, maybe fifteen or so.
I don’t have to work hard to guess who it must be.
Beth.
“She looks like you,” I murmur, picking up the picture from the side table to look at it closer.
They’re not identical twins, but the resemblance is clear. Even if I hadn’t spent as much time with Gray as I have, I’d know they were brother and sister in an instant.
“I wish I could’ve met her.”
The words come out before I have a chance to stop them. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true.