51. Grady
GRADY
It’s the first day back after spring break, and I’m toast.
After my forest fling, an intense four days of truncated spring training, and then the truth explosion that went off in Football Frat, I’ve returned to classes anything but refreshed.
Shit, it’s hard to concentrate when all I can think about is Blake and how to fix things between her and Wily.
She was still asleep when I left this morning. So was Wily.
From what I can tell, things are still pretty frosty between them, and I’m not sure how to fix it.
I really need to?—
I stutter to a stop when I round the corner and find Teah waiting outside Athletes Hall. There’s a little spot in the sunshine where she used to stand and wait for me.
And now she’s waiting for Mac.
My stomach sinks and I clench my jaw, looking away from her pretty face. She’ll always be beautiful. She puts in the effort to be just so, and I always appreciated that about her. I love her style. She’s got a great sense of fashion and knows exactly how to highlight her best features.
Blake’s like that, too, although she seems to do it with way less thought.
An image of her makeup-free with her blonde curls in a messy ponytail hits me. She was so raw and unchecked in the forest… and she was fucking gorgeous.
Swallowing, I move forward, knowing I’ll cross paths with Teah and having to be okay with it. I need some lunch if I’m gonna get through afternoon classes and a weights session.
Teah glances up from her phone just as I pass her.
“Hey, Grady.” Her smile is instant, like she’s forgotten we’ve broken up.
Shit, it’d be so natural to pull her against me and kiss her hello.
But she’s not my girl anymore.
“How are you?”
“Uh… yeah.” I shrug.
Her nose wrinkles, her eyes telling me she knows I’m anything but good.
I glance away from her. Damn, it’s all so familiar. She knows me better than anyone, because I let her all the way in.
“How was your spring break?” she asks, her voice cautious, like she can tell it wasn’t great.
Well, she’s wrong.
“It was amazing.” I force a smile. “Went hiking and had…” My voice softens. “I had the best time. ”
“I bet you did.” She grins. “You and the forest have always been one.”
My lips twitch before rising into a genuine smile. “Yeah.”
“Well, I’m glad that part went well. How was the rest of it, though?” She touches my arm. “Are you okay?”
I nod, then for some reason end up spilling, “Things are a bit rough at Football Frat.”
“Oh no, what happened?”
“Wily’s pissed off with me.”
She blinks in surprise, her glossy lips parting. “I heard about his injury. That’s awful. But… why is he mad at you?”
I wince. “Because he saw me making out with his sister.”
“What?” She laughs. “You didn’t. Grady Newman. Bro code!”
“I know.” I cringe, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I know.”
“Unless…” She lets the word hang until I look at her again. “She means something to you. Like, you didn’t just break bro code because you were horny, and there’s more to it.”
Licking my lips, I nod. I have to, because there is more to it. Sure, Blake makes me hornier than I’ve ever been, but there’s definitely more to it.
“Oooo… how hard are you falling?”
Okay, talking about this with my ex is too weird. All I can do is shrug and try to get out of this conversation.
She catches my eye, and I give her a pained smile before looking away again. “You still with Mac?”
“Yep.” Her voice goes quiet .
I purse my lips, still hating the fact that she moved on with someone who is so completely opposite to me.
“I swear I never cheated on you, Grady.”
“Yeah, I know.” I swallow, this antsy, restless feeling starting to eat at me.
I can’t even explain it.
Talking to Teah like this is so familiar and easy. Our relationship was always drama-free. No irate brothers. No secrets. We were just us. My mom and dad and Emma all adored her. Her parents liked me.
Easy.
Easy, easy, easy.
But—
“Well, I better get going.” Teah points past me, and I turn to see Mac sauntering out of Athletes Hall. He’s staring at me with an intensity that’s off-putting. What does he think I’m trying to do? Steal her away? That’s not my style.
“Hey.” Teah’s smile is all loved-up and gooey as she rushes past me and straight into his arms. He lifts her off her feet, his lips twitching when she wraps her arms around his neck.
He looks at me again, his she’s mine vibes impossible to miss.
Yeah, I get it buddy. You won.
Turning away from the lovefest, I head inside, my mind overtaken with the feel of Blake in my arms.
Have I won too?
Being in the forest with Blake was perfect. We were caught in our own little world, but that’s not reality, and I’m not sure how I’m gonna win Wily over or what to do about Blake .
Should I fight for her?
Wily’s not gonna be okay with some lame-ass fling. I need to commit to Blake. Which means I need to commit to helping her and taking on all the shit she’s going through right now.
I want to be with her. I love being with her… when it’s just us and the world’s not trying to disrupt what we’re doing.
Damn, I wish I could just disappear back into the forest the way she wants to. That would be fucking perfect.
But it’s not life. We can’t become hermits just because we don’t want to face the conflict.
Her future is so uncertain. She needs to tell her parents the truth. She needs to figure out what she’s going to do with her life.
Do I really want to throw myself into the middle of it all?
And now I’m back to worrying that if I do… she’ll figure out that I’m not the best choice. Just like Teah did, she’ll work out that I’m too boring and set in my ways.
She’ll realize she wants something better—someone more exciting—and I’ll be left alone all over again.
Shit. I don’t know what the fuck to do.