Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
STELLA
W ith my morning coffee in hand, I open the sliding door that leads out to the glorious, monstrous deck at Gray’s parents’ house, thinking that I’ll steal a few minutes alone to sit and enjoy the sunshine. Maybe meditate. I’m wrapped in a blanket because, although the sun is out, this is October in the Pacific Northwest, and it’s cold this morning.
But too pretty to resist.
I close the door behind me gingerly and turn to find a seat, almost tripping over where Maya and Sidney are sitting, enjoying their coffees.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I turn back for the door. “I didn’t realize you two were out here. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Sit,” Maya says, gesturing to the seat next to her. “You’re not interrupting anything. We’re just taking advantage of the sunshine.”
“That was my thought, too.” I sit with a grateful smile, tighten the blanket around my shoulders, and take a long, deep breath. “I don’t know how you ever leave this spot.”
For the next ten minutes, no one says anything. We sip coffee and relax, watching the calm lake and the reflection of the evergreen trees and the other homes that hug the shore on the other side.
“Where did you grow up?” Sidney asks me softly.
“Seattle,” I reply. “In a condo, in the middle of the city. My parents own and run an investment firm downtown, and it’s always been easiest for them to have a condo near their office. But they also have a house on the Oregon coast, and we visited there as much as possible over the years. I’ve always preferred something like this to the craziness of the city.”
“Gray lives downtown,” Maya says.
“Actually, his building is right next door to my parents,” I reply with a smile. “In the same complex.”
“Small world,” Sidney adds. “It’s crazy that you’ve never run into him before.”
“Have you ever visited him there?” I ask and sip my coffee. I know that I’m getting a bit of the third degree. And that’s okay. I don’t actually mind.
“A couple of times,” she confirms.
“Then you know how big the buildings are. There are a lot of people there. I’m not sure when he moved in, but I haven’t lived at home since I was eighteen.”
“That makes sense,” Sidney replies with a soft smile. “Sorry, I haven’t had enough coffee yet, and I also haven’t had a chance to properly grill you. Even though I already like you, we’re pretty protective when it comes to Gray.”
“I get it,” I say with a nod. “I have about a dozen cousins who are super protective. And don’t even get me started on all the aunts and uncles. Family protects each other. It’s as it should be.”
“I love that you’re close to your whole family,” Maya says and snuggles down in her blanket when the sun hides behind a cloud. “We don’t really have a lot of cousins.”
“Not all of mine are related by blood,” I admit. “The Montgomerys believe in bringing everyone into the fold, whether they’re born into it, married into it, or are brought in via friendship. I mean, Leo Nash isn’t my biological uncle, but I will always call him Uncle Leo.”
“Wait.” Sidney holds up a hand. “Leo Nash is your freaking uncle ?”
“He is.” I wink at her. “We have a colorful family.”
“I don’t get starstruck very often anymore,” Sidney admits. “I mean, no matter how many times I meet Dolly Parton, I feel like I’m going to cry and throw up all at once. Still, for the most part, I can hold it together. But Leo Nash? I’ve had a damn crush on that man since I was ten.”
“You and most of the women in the world,” I say. “It’s a good thing his wife, Sam, has a thick skin and lets so much roll off her back.”
Before I can say more about my family, the sliding door opens, and Gray pokes his head out, frowning at the three of us.
“It’s forty degrees out here,” he says.
“But the sun is out,” I reply. “And it feels nice.”
“Are you up to going to the hospital with me to meet my mom?” he asks and leans his broad, muscular shoulder on the doorjamb.
“Sure.” I’ve been here for two days. Gray and I are headed back to Seattle first thing tomorrow morning, and I know that his mom wants to meet me before we go.
I want to meet her, too. We would have gone yesterday, but she wasn’t doing well with the pain in her hip, and we all felt it was best to wait.
“Is she feeling better this morning?” I ask him.
“Dad called and said that she seems to be, so we should go up and see her.”
I stand with my coffee and walk toward him, but he doesn’t move to let me inside. He just smiles and then dips his head to kiss me softly.
“Don’t do that in front of Mom,” Maya suggests, making me laugh.
“Actually, do,” Sidney disagrees. “It’ll make her ridiculously happy. She keeps talking about seeing us all get married and have kids, and I’m like, no. Absolutely, not.”
“We’ve known each other for about a week,” I remind them all.
“Yeah, well, that’s a week longer than the two of us have been seeing anyone,” Maya says reasonably. “Tell her we’ll be up later today.”
“Will do,” Gray replies and steps back so I can walk into the house. I rinse my mug, set it in the dishwasher, and then hurry upstairs to the room I’ve been staying in to get dressed and put on some makeup. I have it down to fifteen minutes from start to finish, and then I comb my fingers through my hair and give myself a once-over in the mirror.
I’m wearing a blue, flowy blouse and jeans with white sneakers. Very casual, but still put-together.
My Louis Vuitton bag completes the outfit, and when I walk back downstairs, Gray’s waiting for me. He looks amazing in a black sweater and jeans, and I want to pull him upstairs and have my way with him.
Later, Stella.
The ride to the hospital only takes about ten minutes, and Gray knows exactly where to go for parking. On the way inside, he takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze.
“No need to be nervous,” he says.
“I’m actually not,” I reply and smile at him when he glances my way. “I probably should be, but your dad and sisters have been so nice to me, I know that I have nothing to worry about.”
“You’re right. And I’m glad you feel so comfortable with them all.”
We climb into the elevator with two other people—one is crying, the other is patting her back. They get off on the third floor, leaving us alone in the car.
“Someday,” Gray says conversationally, rocking back on his heels, “I’m going to pin you against an elevator wall and fuck you blind.”
If I had a drink of anything in my mouth, I’d have spit it out.
Instead, I press my lips together and then slowly turn my head to look up at him.
His jaw is tight, and his eyes are narrowed. When I thread my fingers through his, they tighten around mine.
I can almost smell the sexual tension.
“Do you have a specific elevator in mind?” I ask after clearing my throat.
Gray licks his lips and then shifts his gaze to mine. “Yes, actually. I do.”
“Are you going to tell me?”
The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors open.
“No,” he says as we walk out onto the floor.
This man is just so…intriguing. Sexy as hell but also interesting. The sex is not just the best of my life; it’s also more. More intense, more intimate.
I told his sisters that I’ve known him for a week, which is absolutely true, but it feels like we’ve known each other for years. I’m completely confident and at ease with him. I trust him implicitly.
And that rarely happens with anyone outside of my family.
When we reach what must be his mom’s room, I see that the door’s closed.
“Maybe she’s asleep,” I suggest.
“She was awake thirty minutes ago,” Gray replies, shaking his head. He looks around for a nurse and flags one down. “Hi, I’m Jeanie’s son. Is she with the doctor?”
“No, I just saw your father go in, actually.”
“Oh, perfect.” Gray knocks on the door, pushes inside, and then comes to an abrupt halt, making me run into his back.
I peek around his shoulder and grin.
Gray’s dad has Jeanie’s face cupped in his hand, and he’s kissing her as passionately as if they’d just been married yesterday.
Gray clears his throat, but they don’t jump apart. Instead, David brushes his nose over his wife’s and then turns to us.
“Good timing,” he says.
“Well, some things haven’t changed,” Gray replies and shoves his hands into his pockets. “I brought Stella to meet Mom, and this is what she has to witness?”
“I think it’s sweet,” I reply and move around Gray, holding out my hand to Jeanie. “Hi, I’m Stella.”
“Oh, it’s lovely to finally meet you,” Jeanie says with a wide smile. “I’m sorry I wasn’t up to visitors yesterday.”
“Please, don’t be sorry,” I say. “And if you’d like to make out with your handsome husband for a while longer, we can come back.”
“I’m due in surgery,” David replies and smiles gently at his wife. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Have a good surgery,” Jeanie replies, and when David leaves, she presses her hand to her heart sweetly.
Just how I saw Gray do after our first date.
“Now, come talk to me,” Jeanie says and pats my hand. “I’ve heard so much about you. Not just from Gray, but from my whole family. And I admit, I was getting jealous that I hadn’t had the chance to talk to you yet.”
“Well, here I am.”
“Gray, darling, I could use a sandwich and some fruit.”
“It’s ten in the morning,” Gray reminds her.
“Okay, then I’d like a breakfast sandwich. From the cafeteria.”
“That’s code for she’d like time alone with you,” he informs me and leans over to kiss my cheek. He whispers in my ear, “I won’t be long.”
“I could go for some fruit, too. I skipped breakfast,” I tell him with a smile as he walks out the door and closes it behind me. “You raised a handsome, kind, intelligent son.”
“I know,” Jeanie says with a happy sigh. “He and my girls are wonderful people. And, sure, their dad and I had a hand in that, but it’s just who they are.”
“I like your family very much.”
“I do, too. Now, tell me all about you. I want to know everything , and start at the beginning. Don’t leave anything out.”
“We could be here a while.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she reminds me, and I settle in, ready to tell this pretty, sweet woman all about myself.
“We’re grilling,” Keaton, Olivia’s younger brother, informs me. It’s Saturday, the day of the cousins’ party, and Keaton just arrived with Liam. Now, they’re standing around the grill with Drew.
“We usually just get pizza,” I remind them, and three pairs of stubborn male eyes meet mine.
“We want ribs and steaks,” Liam says firmly. “You know, men food.”
“Pizza isn’t men’s food?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “I didn’t realize there were gender-specific nourishment choices.”
“You know what I mean,” Liam replies. “We want to grill meat.”
“Okay, but please don’t burn the house down. Did you guys buy groceries?”
“Yes,” Keaton says. “And some of the others are bringing sides.”
“As long as I get food, that works for me,” I reply and walk back into the house where Olivia and Vaughn have just walked in, carrying a big bowl of what looks like potato salad.
“Hey,” Liv says with a big smile. “I guess we’re switching up the menu this time.”
“I guess we are,” I agree. As soon as Liv sets the bowl on the counter, I hug her close. “I haven’t talked to you in a hundred years, and I have so much to tell you.”
“Are you okay?” Liv asks as she pulls back and frowns at me. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” I shake my head and then smile over at Vaughn. “Hi.”
“And that’s my cue to go find the guys.”
“Out back,” I tell him. “By the fire.”
“Men make fire,” Vaughn says in his best impersonation of a caveman, making me chuckle.
But before I can tell Liv about Gray and going to Idaho and being with his family, more cousins hurry through the front door, carrying salads and potatoes and bread. More food than we’ll ever eat.
Actually, that’s not true. The boys will eat it.
“We are catching up tonight ,” I say to Liv, jabbing my finger into her chest bone. “Even if that means after the party and everyone goes home. It’s happening.”
“I’m good with that,” she says as Danny and Brandon come through the door, followed by Gray.
“We’re heeeeeeere,” Danny sings as he dances inside and presents a charcuterie spread on a gorgeous piece of wood.
“Yay,” Liv says and hugs Danny. “I haven’t seen you guys in forever. When’s the wedding?”
“In two weeks,” Brandon replies.
Gray comes to my side, slides his arm around my waist, and leans in to whisper in my ear. “I missed you last night.”
I smile up at him. “Yeah? Good.”
His eyes narrow, and Liv clears her throat.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” she says and holds her hand out to Gray. “I’m Olivia, Stella’s best friend.”
“Grayson Sterling,” Gray replies. Liv’s eyes go round, and she turns to me.
“The old attorney?” she demands.
“Old?” Gray asks, his eyebrow raised.
Brandon and Danny bust up laughing.
“Turns out he’s not that old,” I say to Liv. “You can’t judge a person by their name.”
“You thought I’d be old?” Gray asks.
“Well, yeah. Sort of. But I was wrong.”
Gray smirks and takes my hand, bringing it to his lips to nibble on my knuckles.
“So romantic,” Danny says with a sigh. “Our divorce attorney is the man you can’t keep your hands off. I mean, between work parties and a trip to meet his family, you’d think you’ve been dating for years.”
Liv stares at me for a long moment, hurt brimming in her big, green eyes, and then turns and marches away, slamming the sliding glass door behind her.
“What did I say?” Danny asks.
“I haven’t had a chance to fill her in,” I reply and sigh. “I’ll be back. Make yourselves at home. The guys are about to grill up some ribs and steaks. There are drinks in the fridge and outside in a monster-sized cooler.”
“We’ve got this,” Brandon assures me, and I hurry after Olivia. When I find her, she’s standing next to Vaughn, but her eyes shoot daggers when I step outside.
“Let’s talk now ,” I say and pull her away from the guys to the far side of the yard, where we can be alone. “Why are you mad?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Stella. Maybe because you’re having an entire relationship with a stranger, and you haven’t told me anything at all. I had to keep my relationship with Vaughn a secret, and you knew everything. You’re my fucking best friend, and you have so much happening that I don’t know anything about. But Danny sure knows, doesn’t he?”
“You don’t get to be jealous over Danny,” I say, shaking my head. “I work with him, and I never see you, Liv. Never. You don’t call me back or return my texts. Yes, he knows about Gray because of who Gray is. He works with Brandon. He’s our attorney.”
“And you’ve been attending work parties with him and going to meet his goddamn family , and I know nothing. ”
“I called you!” I yell and throw my hands in the air. “I called you to ask you what I should do and tell you everything, but just like always, now that you’re with Vaughn, you had to get off the phone—probably to bone him. I needed you, and true to form lately, you had to go. So, no, you don’t know what’s been going on with me. Because if I want to have a conversation with you, I have to fucking chase you down. Yeah, I was there for you when you were dating Vaughn, but I can’t say that you’ve been there for me in quite a long time . For the first time in our lives, I can’t depend on you, Liv.”
“Bullshit.” She shakes her head. “And you don’t return my texts either, Stella.”
“No, it’s the absolute truth.”
“All you have to say is ‘I need you, Liv,’ and I’m right there.”
“ That’s bullshit. Why else would I call you after midnight? I wouldn’t.”
Liv chews her lip and narrows her eyes at me. I’ve seen her this mad but never directed at me, and it makes me physically sick.
“Friendship is a two-way street, Liv. I can’t always be the one to hunt you down so I can see you or confide in you. Yeah, you’re busy with your job and going to Vancouver to spend time with Vaughn, but you do still have people here who need you. I never thought you’d be the kind of girl to forget everyone else.”
I shake my head and walk away because if I keep talking, I’ll say even more that I don’t mean and will regret later.
I’m on the verge of tears. I hate fighting with Olivia. They never last long, but I’ve never been this hurt by her.
“I need a minute,” I say to Keaton and the other guys as I march through the house to the guest bathroom, locking myself inside.
I’m just so pissed.
There’s a knock on the door, and I shake my head as I lean on the vanity.
“I’ll be a minute.”
“Open up,” Gray says, his voice firm but kind.
I take a deep breath and then cross to the door to unlock it. When Gray comes inside, I let him fold me into his arms and hold me tightly.
“I don’t like to fight with Liv.”
“From the way she brushed away tears as she left, I’d say she doesn’t like it either.”
“She left?”
“Well, they were about to, yeah.”
I push away from him and hurry out of the bathroom, just catching Liv before she can open the front door.
“Don’t go.”
“It’s probably for the best,” she says, not looking me in the eyes. “We can talk later.”
“I don’t want you to go,” I repeat and step between Liv and the door. “Let’s just call a truce. We’ll work it out tomorrow.”
She takes a long, deep breath. Vaughn doesn’t say anything at all, just watches the two of us with wary eyes.
“I am hungry for some ribs,” Liv says slowly. “But Keaton might murder me by poison.”
I grin, relieved that the worst of it has passed. “Then we’ll all die together. Come on.”