Chapter 19
19
Grayson Hawk
“Expecting company?” Silas asks as the echoing sound of someone knocking drowns out the sports announcer on the T.V.
Asher kicks his feet up, resting them on my coffee table and Braxton grabs another slice of pizza out of the box next to his legs.
“Maybe it’s Gia,” Silas says chuckling.
“She’s probably still fuming from you dismissing her for your hot neighbor,” he adds.
“Or maybe it’s the hot neighbor,” Brax interrupts just as another knock echoes through the room.
“I’ll get it.” Hayes hurries for the door before I can stop him and pulls it open.
Just over his shoulder I can see the top of her head and wonder why in the hell Tori was outside my place. My first thought is one of these idiots parked in her sister’s spot and she was here to let me have it again.
“I thought we discussed the rules of dating Gray.” Hayes looks back over his shoulder. “Eighteen bud, they got to be eighteen.”
“Haha.” Tori fakes a deep imitating laugh as she stares at one of my best friends. I may not know the girl well, but I know her well enough to sense that she is about to verbally kick him in his nuts. “You should take your act on the road, you’re hilarious.”
“I’ll have you know that plenty think I’m funny.”
“If you’re referring to the pack of clowns behind you then that’s not saying much.” Hayes glances back arching a brow.
“Who is this kid?”
“And here I thought it was only the women in your life that were dumbasses.” Tori pushes passed him and enters my apartment. “But the male company seems to be even worse. Kinda makes the hyenas of the night seem smart.”
“Hyenas?” Fed asks, looking around the room.
“Your pal here brings home some doozies, but I’m sure the rest of you don’t do much better.”
“Wow.” Brax chuckles.
“Anyways I came over to ask you for a ride.” She ignores the guys and looks at me. “My sister agreed to let me paint my room but since she’s about to finish her first bottle of wine and is already popping the cork on the second, she can’t take me.”
I stare at the girl that has not once hidden her ill opinion of me.
“I’d call Vivian, but she’s on a date.” She uses air quotes when saying date. “I saw pictures of the guy and he looks like a goober so if she’s smart she’s about as drunk as my sister at this point. I’d have to be if I was forced to sit across from the Joe Dirt lookalike. Apparently she lost a bet, because I can’t think of any other reason why she’d show up for that one.” Tori rolls her eyes.
“So I figured after all the nights you’ve kept me up with the thumping of your headboard on the wall, you kind of owe me.”
“What the fuck?” Fed whispers, but not too quickly.
“Get your head out of the gutter.” Tori scowls at him. “His bedroom is back-to-back with mine and the walls are thin.” Then she looks back at me with furrowed brows. “Are all your friends this bright?”
This time I laugh, because how the hell could I not. “Meet my neighbor,” I tell the guys.
“She’s a human tornado,” Braxton states and it’s the first time since she entered the apartment that she smiles.
“More like a category five hurricane.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “So about that ride.”
I’d spent the last hour listening to the guys carrying on about Tori. I filled them in on my first encounter with her, then all the others that followed. They left my place holding their sides wishing me luck which I’m sure I will need.
Pausing outside the door to Skye’s apartment I do something I’ve never done. I smooth my shirt, run my fingers through my hair, and take a moment to slow my racing pulse. I don’t get nervous, not when showing up at any woman’s house.
But this is different and I still have no fucking idea why. She came out of nowhere. This woman I can’t shake. A weird, unexplainable connection, that was triggered by a half smile.
Lifting my hand, I knock and rock back on my heels as I push my hands into my pockets.
The sound of footsteps can be heard on the opposite side just before the door opens and I am met with not one but two eager teenage girls.
“Glad to see you found your way,” Tori says with a smile. I got a smile. “Rachel, this is Grayson, Gray meet Rachel.” She points to her friend and said friend stares up at me with her lips parted slightly.
“This is your annoying neighbor?” Rachel asks, still staring at me.
“Yep.” Tori nods.
“Annoying?”
“You are.” She wrinkles her nose.
“He’s hot,” Rachel says. “Like really hot.”
“Oh my God,” a complaining growl comes from behind the two girls and I peek over their heads. All I can see is two feet peeking out from beneath a blanket on the couch. “Kill me now.”
“Stop being so dramatic,” Tori interjects and I do what I always do, just stand there and stare.
“She’s hammered,” Tori states. “When I told her I went to your place to ask for a ride she put the wine away and switched to vodka. She’s such a lush.”
“Tori will you please shut up!”
“Is there something I should know?” Rachel asks, looking at Tori then behind her to the seat of feet.
“My sister has the hots for flaming boxers here.” She juts her thumb toward me and my heart races. What? “She won’t admit it, but she does.”
“You are so grounded,” Skye whines.
“Okay boozy.” She rolls her eyes. “If you remember any of this tomorrow then we’ll talk about it over breakfast.”
“I’m thinking we should put this trip off until she’s thinking straight.”
“It’s okay,” Tori assures me. “Vivian is on her way over, she is sober with a capital S and she’s up for a painting party. However that one won’t make it another thirty before she passes out. So you’re off the hook.”
I’ll admit, I’m a little disappointed.
“She really that drunk?”
“She only had two shots, but empty stomach probably isn’t helping.” There’s a thump, followed but a grown of pain.
I move quickly, brushing passed both of the girls and find Skye sitting on the floor between the couch and coffee table. “Ouch,” she says, holding her knee.
Bending down in front of her I push the hair back away from her face and she tilts her head back, looking up at me. “You okay?”
She nods, so slowly it makes me laugh.
“Feeling good, huh?”
Again she nods.
“You really don’t want me around do you? I make you that nervous?”
Another nod.
“Why?” I figure if there is any time to get it out of her, now would be it. People tend to say more than they should say when drunk or tipsy.
“I’m,” she pauses, closing her eyes. She stays that way for a good thirty seconds and I hear Tori laugh.
“She is going to feel this in the morning.”
“Skye.” She opens her eyes and locks them on me. “How about I help you get into your room and you sleep this off.” When her eyes widen again I chuckle. “I didn’t ask if I could join ya sweetheart, just figured I could get you there then go.”
“Mm’k.” She nods very slowly and I lean in, hooking her legs and waist, before lifting. Her head lays over onto my chest and her eyes close.
“Which room?” I ask Tori and she points to the hallway.
“First door on the left.”
I start in that direction just as there is a knock on the door.