Something Right, page 5
“Sounds like you’re too busy to babysit,” I note.
“Not Friday. Friday I’m free,” Lucy confirms.
Perfect timing, actually. “Oh, well, if you want to babysit then I can go to the bar with Kelsey,” I coo with my daughter in my arms.
“Ah, Fridays at Rooster Sin. Predictable.” Lucy’s tone feels like she is the wizard of knowledge, and it’s humorous.
“That’s funny, because I am sure my brothers mentioned I should check out two-for-one on beers. I guess I will see you there,” Grayson gloats before popping a cookie into his mouth.
“Shouldn’t you be her designated driver?” Lucy suggests to her brother.
“Uhm, I think I’m good,” I interrupt. “I don’t really drink much, if at all.”
Grayson leans against the kitchen cupboard casually. “I don’t know, B. I should be setting an example for the young one.” His tone is pure trouble as he indicates with his head to Lucy. “Let me be the designated driver for the night. You don’t have to worry about driving.”
Walking to the other side of the kitchen, I say, “Really, I’ve been fine the last four years, so I’m sure I can handle another night without your assistance.”
“Mommy, he has a shiny car,” my daughter states her thoughts as she plays with the fabric of my sweater.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re heading to the same destination,” he tries to persuade me.
“Maybe you’ll want to leave at a different time, so it wouldn’t work,” I try to justify as I reach for the Tupperware.
“I mean, unless you have other plans then I’m good. Happy to work around your schedule.” His eyes never blink as his cheeky look remains fixed.
“It’s better this way,” Lucy says to me. “Last time you went to Rooster Sin, you were rocking those skinny jeans you have. I mean, guys must have gone crazy.”
I did look hot that one time, with black skinny jeans that fit me like a glove.
Grayson’s eyes go wide. “Now I’m definitely picking you up and we can drive together.”
“Cool,” Lucy says before I can speak. “Text me what time you want me to come over on Friday. We’ll take the cookies and get out of your hair. A lifesaver, as always. Thanks, Brooke. Make sure my brothers buy you a drink or two Friday.” Lucy quickly throws cookies into the Tupperware box.
It’s a blur what happens the next few minutes until I’m alone with Rosie and realize that Hurricane Grayson just came through, and I suddenly feel like I am going on a date this Friday.
It’s the opposite of what I should want in this moment.
What’s worse is that nobody comes out of a Friday at Rooster Sin unscathed…
The sounds of Walker Hayes play on the radio as I sit on the front seat in Grayson’s car. The smell of leather is slightly overpowering, as he keeps his SUV clean. We’ve been quiet the last two minutes.
It was easy to be distracted when Lucy arrived, and I got her settled with Rosie and a box of mac ‘n cheese. Then I went out to the driveway to find Grayson leaning against the front of his car waiting for me.
Admittedly, his scorching look is way better than what my mind has been imagining the past few days as I prepared for tonight. He’s even rocking the jean jacket he had back in the day; he must have done that on purpose to get a rise out of me. I used to love when he would take it off and drape it over my shoulders to keep me warm, because I was his girl.
As I wrap hair around my finger, I remind myself that this isn’t a date. Kelsey will be there, Knox and Bennett too. It’s a usual Friday night at the local bar. Nothing special.
My sweater dress with ankle boots is just the ticket to feel cute and comfortable.
“Temperature okay?” he asks as he focuses on the road.
In the car, yes. My body, not exactly.
“It’s fine.”
“So, do you go to Rooster Sin often?”
“Not a lot, maybe once a month. I can’t be on mom duty twenty-four seven.” It’s important for me to have a night off, and I don’t need to feel guilty about that.
He side-glances to me. “That’s good, B, you deserve a break. And since you’re off mom duty, then tell me something non-child-related.”
I grin at this request. “Not much to say. Bluetop is the same as it’s always been. The band tonight is pretty good. Or at least improved from a few months ago since rumor has it that they actually practice now. Everyone still gossips like crazy, and I’m sure Sharon Clark will latch onto you like the old days.”
In high school she didn’t care who was in a relationship or not. She went for guys like a vulture in heat. Now in our twenties, she’s no different.
“I’m positive she and Bennett hooked up at one point,” he mentions, and I am not surprised.
“Probably. But it’s nice that all the Blisswood guys show up, considering your vineyard is kind of competition.”
Grayson’s low laugh sounds almost humorously evil. “Not even close. Olive Owl is an establishment with high standards and wine. Rooster Sin has peanut shells on the floor and cheap alcohol.”
“True.” It’s no secret that the Blisswood family has done well financially.
We pull into the parking lot, with the neon sign blinking up high and people heading into the bar. The sound of music and people chatting already hits us and we’re not even out of the car yet.
“I would open the door for you, but considering you gave me death eyes when I helped you into the car earlier, lesson learned.”
Hopping out of the car, I stand on SUV’s running board and point my gaze to him over the roof of the car. “Yep. Not a date, just neighbors carpooling,” I proudly state my opinion.
When he hits the lock button on the fob of his car, his pointed look sends excitement through my body.
“Sure, sweetheart, whatever you want to tell yourself.”
Heading to the door, I’m not blind to the fact that he’s walking next to me, or that his hand casually falls to my lower back as he opens the door for me. A gentleman he is, but with me, it feels more like territorial claim, and my nipples respond to that fact.
Entering the bar and the room is happening. A man whistles as the band retunes between sets, and there’s a solid line of people sitting at the bar.
“What are you drinking?” Grayson offers by leaning to my ear, his breath hitting my skin with warm heat.
“Oh, uhm, just a beer is fine.”
He steps back and I swear his eyes glimmer at me. “Sounds good. Want to sit somewhere?”
“I think Kelsey or your brothers saved a table.” I begin to scan the room, and halfway through my search, I have a strange feeling that I should be pissed off, yet I am somehow excited.
There is not one best friend or Blisswood brother in sight.
Pulling my phone out of my bag, I see a text from Kelsey.
Kelsey: Sorry. Forgot I need to do the laundry. I’m sure you’ll have fun.
A laughing emoji accompanies the message. I quickly respond.
Me: Wow! We will be having words.
Grayson nudges my arm and offers me a bottle of beer.
“Find them?”
Gulping my drink, I hide any nerves I may have. “No, uhm, Kelsey had to cancel. Your brothers, where are they?” Stupid question, as I know the answer.
He steps around me with a sly yet so ridiculously smooth grin. “They may have had a change of plans.”
“Right.”
“Come on, there’s a quiet booth in the corner.”
“Let me guess, you had that planned too?” I give him an inquisitive look as I bite my inner cheek.
“Nah, that’s just fate giving us a hand. Now come on, let’s have a good night,” he urges, and without hesitation, I follow to our small intimate table in the corner where he chooses to slide next to me when he could easily sit across from me.
With our arms brushing as he sits close, he glances to his side to plant his sight on me.
“Time to be honest with me,” he says. “Something I’ve been wondering about.”
“What’s that?”
“The truth about Rosie.”
Immediately, my heart sinks.
6
GRAYSON
It’s taking all my power not to crash my lips onto Brooke’s mouth, covered in pink Chapstick that I bet tastes like watermelon. The slight catch of her breath and her eyes having a hint of fear tells me she’s afraid of what direction I’m going to take our conversation.
“What about Rosie?” A wave of protectiveness fills her voice.
I can only offer her a reassuring smile as I nudge her arm with my own. “I mean, if Rosie wasn’t in the picture, would you still be this reluctant around me? I get it, I do. But I can’t help but wonder.”
A look that can only be described as relief spreads across her face, and I really hope I manage to touch her by the end of the night.
“Grays,” she begins, and I can see she’s debating what to say. “I think last time around is your answer. We didn’t even last an hour before we ended up naked.”
“Good times,” I acknowledge before I take a swig of my beer from the bottle.
I love it when she blushes, and her head turning slightly to the side makes me want to fucking dive into the spot on her neck that is begging me to nip and suck.
“I don’t really want to talk about it, Grayson. The fact is you are only back because your father put it in his will; otherwise, you have no reason to be here.”
I struggle to answer, because to everyone, that’s what it would seem. But I am back, and reminders of what I’ve walked away from are overbearing and inescapable. Seeing Brooke again makes me remember that I always thought what if. What if I asked her to move to the city, what if I reached out more, what if I was an actual man who fought for what he wanted.
But alas, at eighteen I was an idiot, and four years ago I was blinded by my career. And even though I debated how to make it work until the moment she crushed me with her news, I don’t want to sound like a selfish asshole who didn’t know how to navigate your ex being pregnant with someone else’s kid.
“Maybe it’s good that I’m back,” I admit aloud for the first time.
Her head perks up in surprise as she focuses her attention on me. “How so?”
“I don’t know. The slower pace of life is kind of refreshing. It’s actually relaxing. Not the roping-in-a-teenager part, but the routine, you know? Make sure Lucy actually shows up to class, draw my designs while working from home, lunch with my brothers on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, I miss how anything and everything can be delivered in ten minutes when you live in the city or the options of what you can do on the weekend. Staying in fancy hotels and traveling business class kind of loses the wow factor after a while. I guess the hustle is missing from Bluetop,” I reflect as I lean back casually.
“It’s not like we’re in the complete boonies,” she teases me, because she is a proud Bluetop citizen—never tried to leave, and I don’t think she ever wants to. “I mean, I still manage to make it to a Target without needing to road trip it. Plus, the coffee in town has gotten better since this hip couple from Portland moved here. And not to mention, Sally-Anne even won the best pie in the state last year.”
“Is that why there was a line a mile long outside her bakery last Saturday? I wanted to pick up some cinnamon rolls, but that plan went out the window when I saw the waiting time.”
“Oh, that’s a shame you missed out.”
Damn, I love the way her lips wrap around the bottle.
I have to grin. “Nah, she saw me, and I flashed my smile then she let me skip the line.”
Brooke’s cute and bubbly laugh erupts. “It’s no joke, that Blisswood charm. Your father was the same way. He would always pick up muffins for me since taking Rosie to a bakery is like walking through a minefield.”
I scratch my chin as I stiffen slightly from the mention of my father.
She picks up on it. “You never really… I don’t know… Are you at peace with how the last year went?”
“I did visit him in the hospital. Maybe not like Bennett or Knox did. I would normally drive up and back the same day. Quick visits, and yeah, we were okay in the end. He even stayed with me in Chicago a few times when he had treatments. But we were never not okay, you know? We were just neutral,” I explain, and her hand reaches out to squeeze my arm for comfort, and it’s the best comfort I’ve had in recent months.
“I know. And you seem okay, actually. Maybe even calmer than a few years ago.” Her eyes linger over me, and I wonder if she feels just as warm as I do in this moment. The understanding between us is still strong, we don’t need a lot of words.
Our eyes hold, and I wonder what would happen if I touched her hand. Like she’s mine. It would be even better if I were to take her out of here and give her a bruising kiss to remind her that whether we like it or not, no matter if factors align, we will end up in each other’s arms. We don’t need to know anything else when it comes to one another.
Before I have a chance to interlace our fingers, a deep voice interrupts us. “Grays! Grayson Blisswood, the legend returns.”
Looking up, I see Coach Dingle. He appears the same as he did when I was on the varsity baseball team. Old, a donut too many, and the image of a good man who goes to Sunday church and invites the whole team over for dinner.
“Coach Dingle,” I say as I stand to shake his hand.
“I heard you were back, and I was hoping to run into you. I would love for you to stop by the field.” He slaps a hand on my shoulder.
I laugh at the mere suggestion. “It’s been a while since I played. Not sure you want me on your field.” Sure, I go for a run a few times a week and lift some weights, but I’m not benching anything spectacular.
“Nonsense. I’m sure you still have that arm in ya. And those boys don’t need someone to show them the ropes, they have the skill already.”
“Still hoping to make state?” I give him a raised brow.
He waves a hand at me. “Boy, we will. No, they need someone as a role model, to listen to. We have some good boys on the team, but they lack a little direction. Missing someone in their life to give them a hand.”
“Again, me?”
He squeezes my shoulder. “Yeah, you, Mr. Big Shot. I’m sure you have a lot to offer.”
“I’ll think about it,” I say.
Dingle grins and shakes my hand before bidding me farewell and wishing Brooke a good evening.
As I slide back into the booth, Brooke is trying not to giggle. “You are still the town’s golden boy.”
I shake my head at her opinion. “If only they knew. I’m the guy who has no problem firing someone and can get a little demanding.”
“Oh, I know.” The way she playfully says that as her eyes go bold and she drinks from her beer makes me intrigued.
“Care to elaborate?”
She quirks her mouth as she chooses her words wisely. “You’ve definitely changed in some departments.”
Moving closer to her, I rest my arm behind her on the back of the booth. “In bed, you mean?”
“Something like that.”
In my head, I remember a few years ago with her. Pinning her to the bed with one hand and sliding her dress up with the other. That was before I made her beg for me and flipped her to her stomach. And that was only round one. It’s true, I like it one way in the bedroom department—with me in charge.
This night feels like it’s looking up for me. Conversation runs easily, and I think she is enjoying the night despite her initial hesitation.
“Want another drink?” I offer, and to my surprise, she doesn’t debate and nods in agreement.
Quickly, I make my way to the bar and order another round. Rooster Sin is always fast, and I get our drinks quickly. When I return to the table, I notice Brooke swiping on her phone, the weather app.
“Here you are.” I slide the beer to her.
“Thanks. Just checking the weather. There’s a front coming through later tonight so I want to make sure I’m home for Rosie. She hates storms.”
“Most kids do, right?”
“That they do.” She offers me her bottle to clink in cheers, a sort of peace offering.
“To neighbors.” I crack a smirk.
“Neighbors.” Her eyes study me, and it feels like nobody’s in the place but us. “So, did you have this planned all week?”
“No, really, I meant it when I said fate. Literally, Bennett called me as I was waiting in your driveway.”
She squints one eye at me. “Hmm, I may investigate that story.”
I hold my hands up in surrender. “By all means, do.”
“OH. MY. GOODNESS.” Holy fuck, the obnoxious voice of Sharon Clark hasn’t changed.
Brooke and I glance up to the blonde-haired woman with a dress too small who is towering over us.
“Well, isn’t this a throwback. Grayson and Brooke two-point-oh.” The gum she chews only adds to her squeaky voice.
From instinct, I wrap an arm around Brooke’s shoulder to pull her closer to me.
“Good to see you,” are the only polite words that I can think of.
“You two are, like, together again?”
“Catching up,” Brooke corrects her with a mundane tone.
Sharon casts her gaze on me as if she’s assessing a prize. “Oh, so Grays, you’re on the market?”
I can feel Brooke cringe in my hold. I’m going to guess it’s from Sharon’s choice of words.
“You know, something tells me I am probably going to be busy with this one here.” I indicate to Brooke and offer Sharon a wink.
Sharon lets a sound of discontent escape. “Well, call me if you want to have a fun night sometime.” She wiggles her fingers in the air before heading off to some friends.
Brooke clears her throat, and I have to glance at her with an amused look. “Okay there?”
“Sure. You should take her up on her offer.” Her eyes try to avoid me.
“Never going to happen. Plus, there’s someone else I want to make me an offer.” I wait for her to shoot her gaze my way.
The moment she does, I feel like I have her.
